Hot tickets: weekend gigs, exhibitions and comedy

Weekend comedy

Frank Skinner and Friends
In 2009 Frank Skinner, pictured, returned to the stage with his fun-packed Credit Crunch Cabaret. He is now doing a similar stint - maybe he should call it Double Dip Delights. Each night the West Brom wag introduces different top acts but his riffs are worth the £16 ticket price alone. A terrific quickfire wit on TV, even better onstage.
Until tomorrow, then Jan 30-Feb 4, Noël Coward Theatre, WC2 (0844 482 5140, ticketmaster.co.uk)

Glenn Wool
One of the shows scandalously overlooked by the Foster's Awards at the Edinburgh Fringe last summer was this blazing return to form by the laconic Canadian hipster. The subject matter - airport security, terrorism, relationship break-ups - is well-worn but Wool puts a fresh spin on it.
Until tomorrow, Leicester Square Theatre, WC2 (08448 733433, leicestersquaretheatre.com)

Sean Hughes/Richard Herring
Former Never Mind the Buzzcocks captain Hughes headlines this monthly night hosted by obsessive blogger Richard Herring. The quirky supporting cast is also strong  - Thom Tuck is a Disney-fixated storyteller, Barry from Watford is an inspired spoof geriatric and Katherine Ryan is an appealingly kooky show-off.
Sunday, Lyric, W6 (0871 221 1729,
lyric.co.uk)

Weekend gigs

Explosions in the Sky
Instrumental Texans take their epic post-rock compositions to a major stage in support of last year's album Take Care, Take Care, Take Care. Songs less than 10 minutes long will be in short supply.
Tonight, O2 Academy Brixton, SW9 (0844 477 2000, o2academybrixton.co.uk)
 
Films of Colour
This promising indie band have gained exposure early on by securing the production skills of Tony Visconti for their forthcoming album and gaining the endorsement of his most famous charge, David Bowie.
Tonight, The Old Queen's Head, N1 (020 7354 9993, theoldqueenshead.com)
 
Bruce Hornsby
Pianist with a jazzy bent, big in the Eighties, who might get a smattering of hipsters in his audience at this show now that he's been acknowledged as an influence on the recent Bon Iver album.
Tomorrow, O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire, W12 (0844 477 2000, o2shepherdsbushempire.co.uk)
 
Josh Rouse & the Long Vacations
This American singer-songwriter makes his distinctly sunny music in Spain. His recent ninth album with his latest band contains more quality balladry.
Tomorrow, Union Chapel, N1 (0870 264 3333, unionchapel.org.uk)  
 
Martha Reeves & the Vandellas
The Motown veteran comes to the end of a week of shows in the jazz venue, leaving her fans Dancing in the Street once again.
Tonight, Ronnie Scott's, W1 (020 7439 0747, ronniescotts.co.uk)

Five best: theatre

THE MADNESS OF GEORGE III
Apollo, W1. Until March 31 (0844 412 4658, nimaxtheatres.com)
David Haig shines in Christopher Luscombe's affecting revival of Alan Bennett's study of the king's descent into madness.

OUR NEW GIRL
Bush, W12. Until February 11
(020 8743 5050, bushtheatre.co.uk)
Kate Fleetwood dazzles as a mother unsettled by the new nanny in Nancy Harris's dark tale of modern parenting.

LA SOIREE
Roundhouse, NW1. Until Sunday (0844 482 8008, la-soiree.com)
Last chance to see the sexy, slapstick, eye-poppingly scary spectacular.

THE LADYKILLERS
Gielgud, W1. Until February 18 (0870 950 0915, theladykillers.co.uk)
Peter Capaldi, Ben Miller and Clive Rowe are up to mischief in an innovative stage adaptation of the classic Ealing comedy.

NOISES OFF
Old Vic, SE1. Until February 25 (0844 871 7628, oldvictheatre.com)
Bright revival of Michael Frayn's blisteringly funny and clever farce about the precarious nature of theatre.

Five best: exhibitions

DAVID HOCKNEY RA: A BIGGER PICTURE
Royal Academy, W1. Until April 9 (020 7300 8000, royalacademy.org.uk)
Big, bold and brash new works in a huge show inspired by the East Yorkshire landscape.

HANNE DARBOVEN AND RAPHAEL HEFTI
Camden Arts Centre, NW1. Until
March 18 (020 7472 5500, camdenartscentre.org)
Two uplifting and beguiling shows of conceptual art.

ARNOLD NEWMAN
Chris Beetles Fine Photographs, W1. Until February 11 (020 7434 4319, chrisbeetlesfinephotographs.com)
Varied work by a master of the craft of photography.

ZARINA BHIMJI
Whitechapel Gallery, E1. Until
March 9 (020 7522 7888, whitechapelgallery.org)
Photographs, films and installations in her first UK retrospective.

ORI GERSHT
Imperial War Museum, SE1. Until April 29 (020 7416 5439, iwm.org.uk)
Photographs and films inspired by conflict in the artist's debut solo UK show.