Bolton Little Theatre

Hanover Street, Bolton (tel: 524469)

Corpse

A comedy murder mystery thriller involving twin brothers.

Runs Saturday, October 19 to Saturday October 26

Chester Gateway

Chester (tel: 01244 340392)

Bruised

A world premiere of a new play in three monologues following the lives of three lovers and their first exhilarating moments including their fears and uncertainties and the joy of love.

Friday and Saturday, 8pm, £10 and £8 conc.

Club Theatre

Oxford Road, Altrincham, Cheshire (tel: 0161 980 8572)

Inspector Drake and the Perfekt Crime

A spoof comedy murder farce directed by John F. Banks.

Runs until Saturday, 7.40pm, £5

Contact Theatre

Oxford Road, Manchester (tel: 0161 274 0600)

Peepshow

The story of seven lives in one large city revealing flashes of life in a tower block.

Runs until Saturday, 8pm, Sat Mat 4pm, £10 and £6 conc.

Library Theatre

St Peter's Square, Manchester (tel: 0161 236 7110)

The Odd Couple. After divorce, Oscar consoles himself with living a cheerful, carefree existence until Felix moves in and starts to perform all the domestic tasks causing anarchy.

Runs until Saturday, 7.30pm, Friday and Saturday 8pm, Thu Mat 3pm, £9.50 to £17

Octagon Theatre

Howell Croft South, Bolton (tel: 520661)

Freedom of Expression. An inspiration from the wild and generally rich culture of the East and the contrasting tranquility and order of the West

Runs until Saturday, free

Ratpack Confidential.Set in Las Vegas during the 60s and featuring a live band performing songs that made the era, including Pennies From Heaven, Get Happy and My Way.

Runs until Saturday, Sat Mat 2pm, £6.50 to £14.75

Oldham Coliseum

Fairbottom Street, Oldham (tel: 0161 624 2829)

Beautiful Thing

A heart warming story of love, relationships and families set on a grim south-east London council estate.

Runs until Saturday, November 9, 7.30pm, Fri 8pm, £5 to £13

Palace Theatre

Manchester (tel: 0161 242 2524)

Sunset Boulevard. The musical story of Norma Desmond, a now half-forgotten glamorous 50s Hollywood movie star who becomes infatuated with the handsome young writer she enlists to help with her comeback.

Runs until Saturday, 7.30pm, Wed & Sat Mat 2.30pm, £8.50 to £27.50

Royal Exchange Theatre

Manchester (tel: 0161 833 9833)

Mandela's Land

A series of plays celebrating the vibrancy of theatre writing in the new South Africa today.

The Dead Wait follows the life of a young white South African athlete who finds himself in the army and fighting in the Angolan War. On My Birthday shows the life lived in the chaos of the townships of the new South Africa.

Runs until Saturday, October 26, various performance times, £8, £5.50 conc. and under 13s £3.50