Fancy perking up your week with a play, a gig, a musical or some comedy? Then take a look below at our roundup of the best theatre and live music taking place this weekend.

We've trawled Durham's various venues looking for what's happening in the world of entertainment this week, and we've come up with some plays and music for the evenings and weekend.

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#1: Gary Stewart plays Paul Simon, Durham Old Laundrette

Paul Simon is one of the most successful artists of all time, selling millions of records worldwide and writing some of the most iconic music ever produced, firstly as one half of Simon and Garfunkel and then as a solo artist. In this gig, Gary Stewart performs the songs both of Paul Simon and Simon & Garfunkel.

It's on Friday March 29, doors 7pm, and tickets cost £13 plus £1.30 booking fee. You can purchase Gary Stewart tickets* from the official booking page.

#2: Keith James plays The Songs of Nick Drake, Durham Old Laundrette

Nick Drake has become one of Britain's best loved singer-songwriters. He recorded three albums between 1969 and 1972, but was not until more recently that his music found acclaim and a wider audience.

Highly regarded singer and guitarist Keith James has played 1,500 concerts playing The Songs of Nick Drake, and has performed in the UK, Ireland, Holland, France, Italy and Spain, as well as Glastonbury Festival.

The concert is on Saturday March 30, doors 7pm, and tickets cost £15 plus £1.50 booking fee. You can purchase Keith James tickets* from the official booking page.

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#3: Jack Harris with support from Paul Mosley, Club Cotherstone

Jack Harris has been described as a 'natural and captivating song writing talent' by the Telegraph and a 'unique lyrical mind’ by Q Magazine, with beautiful music and excellent banter between songs. Feel free to take your own drinks and snacks.

It takes place at Cotherstone Village Hall near Barnard Castle on Saturday March 30. Doors are 7.30pm for 8pm.

Tickets cost £8 plus 80p booking fee. You can purchase Jack Harris tickets* from the official booking page.

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#4: The Creation by Joseph Haydn, Sunderland Minster

To celebrate their 70th anniversary season, Bishopwearmouth Choral Society is reprising its first concert. The Creation is an oratorio written between 1797 and 1798 by Joseph Haydn, and is considered to be one of his masterpieces. The oratorio depicts and celebrates the creation of the world as described in the Book of Genesis.

The Creation concert at Sunderland Minster is on Saturday March 30, doors at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £14 plus £1.40 booking fee, accompanied under 16s go free, students and income related benefits £8 plus 80p booking fee, gallery limited view seats £8 plus 80p booking fee.

You can purchase tickets* from the official booking page.

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#5: Best Foot Forward!, Gala Theatre

TIN Arts celebrates 20 years of Best Foot Forward! by recreating and re-imagining work that has featured as part of BFF since 2000. It is an annual celebration of fantastic, moving and memorable dance and performing arts works created and performed by artists with a learning disability, autism or both.

It's on Monday March 25 at 7.30pm.

You can purchase tickets, which cost £10 and £8 concessions, from the official booking page.

#6: Dad's Army Radio Show, Witham Theatre

The Witham Arts Centre in Barnard Castle hosts the Dad's Army Radio Show. Based on the classic BBC sitcom by Jimmy Perry and David Croft, it's performed by David Benson and Jack Lane - two actors playing 25 characters in a brilliant staging of three classic radio episodes based on favourite scripts from the original TV series.

The Dad's Army Radio Show is on Tuesday March 26 at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £15 and £13 for ages 16 and under.

They can be bought from the official booking page.

#7: Giovanni Pernice, Gala Theatre

The Gala Theatre Durham hosts Dance is Life, directed and choreographed by Jason Gilkison, Strictly Come Dancing's creative director. Dance is Life combines Giovanni's wit and charm with outstanding music, choreography and costumes. The show also features seven other world class professional dancers, including Strictly's newest pro, Luba Mushtuk.

Dance is Life takes place at the Gala Theatre on Wednesday March 27 at 7.30pm.

Tickets cost £30, £28 concessions, and £55 for meet and greet tickets. They can be bought on the official booking page.

#8: Beyond the Barricade, Gala Theatre

Beyond the Barricade is a two hour performance of the best of Broadway and the West End, featuring past principal performers from Les Miserables.

This is March 7's rescheduled concert.

Tickets cost £23.50 and can be bought on the official booking page.

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#9: Diego Castro Magas, Durham University Music Department

Diego Castro Magas is one of the foremost guitarists of his generation. Currently based in Chile, where he teaches the guitar and chamber music at the Catholic University of Chile (Santiago), he performs a wide range of repertoire at some the world's most significant music festivals and venues.

He performs on Friday March 29 between 1-2pm in the Durham University Music Department on Palace Green. It's a free concert and doors open at 12.45pm.

#10: Jen Brister, Gala Theatre

Comedian Jen Brister has been described as 'blisteringly funny' by The List. Join her as she clutches at all the straws trying to make sense of it all. As heard on Russell Brand’s Cloud Cuckoo on BBC Radio 2 and seen on Live at the Comedy Store on Comedy Central.

The show is on Friday March 29 at 7.30pm.

Tickets cost £12 and £10 concessions, and can be bought on the official booking page.

Feature image credit: Matthew Straubmuller (imatty35) - CC BY 2.0