Our Arts Editor Neil D'Arcy Jones casts his eye over the cultural highlights this weekend. 

1

Little Shop of Horrors, Mercury Theatre, Balkerne Gate, Colchester, until tomorrow, 7.30pm. £13 to £21.25 with discounts available. 01206 573948.

The very talented cast of CO2 make a welcome return with some great stand-out performances particularly Will Mugford as Seymour, Alex Terry as Mushnik, Lewis Tebbitt as Orin and Emily Lane as Audrey.

Oh and don’t forget Dominic Simpson’s plant.

2

Stand up at the Headgate with Zahra Barri and Charmian Hughes, Headgate Theatre, Chapel Street North, Colchester, today, 7.30pm, £6. 01206 366000.

What a cracking way to get this year’s Colchester Comedy Festival started than with two of the brightest and funniest comedians on the UK circuit.

3

SlackFolk, Piatto Café, Priory Walk, Colchester, tomorrow, 2pm. Free but donations welcome. 07850 773291.

01206 282920.

The town’s dedicated club to acoustic sounds returns with sets by When Rivers Meet, Columbines, Elly Tree, The Four Blokes Trio and Dave Rado. Colchester poet Barrie Strawson also reads from his works.

4

Colchester Heritage Tour with Sir Bob Russell - Tour A, starts from Colchester Arts Centre, Church Street, Colchester, Sunday, 10am. £5 donation. 01206 500900.

Now taking place all year round, Colchester’s High Steward and former MP has just finished his third season of fortnightly tours and is continuing monthly throughout the autumn and winter.

5

Things I Know To Be True, Mercury Theatre, Balkerne Gate, Colchester, Tuesday until Saturday, 7.30pm and 2.30pm (Thursday and Saturday). £27 to £12 plus discounts. 01206 573948.

A real theatrical treat with the world renowned return of Frantic Assembly in their new show, co-produced by State Theatre Company of South Australia.

Things I Know To Be True tells the story of a family and marriage through the eyes of four grown up siblings struggling to define themselves beyond their parents’ love and expectations.