THEATRE

The Clandestine Marriage (below)

Deborah Findlay gives one of the finest and funniest performances of the year. She and the sublime, vowel-mangling Susan Engel are the best double act since Absolutely Fabulous.

Queen's Theatre, West End Grimm Tales The Mouse, the Bird and the Sausage is not a Peter Greenaway film, but one of the tales adapted by the talented Carol Ann Duffy. Tim Supple's vivid production really is for children and adults.

Young Vic, Beyond the West End Hansel and Gretel Playwright Sheila Goff knows that the best Christmas stories are more than a little dark. Mark Ravenhill's production eschews brainless twinkling and opts instead for rich flavour - like gingerbread, in fact.

Midland Arts Centre, Birmingham