Events guide: What's on this week

In need of some ideas for something to keep you entertained this week?

Here are a few suggestions of events taking place in Suffolk between Friday, 4 December and Thursday 10 December, 2009.

Family Fun

Christmas is fast approaching and pantomimes are opening up across the county. At 6.45pm on Friday 4 December the Theatre Royal in Bury St Edmunds is opening its doors for the opening night of Jack and the Beanstalk.

The Theatre Royal plays host to Jack and the Beanstalk

The show, which runs until Sunday, 17 January 2010 is set in the time of King Arthur and follows Jack and his mother Dame Trisha Trott as they encounter the medieval credit crunch and a destructive beanstalk which is ruining the garden.

The show's director Abi Anderson has been putting the finishing touches to the production which she's confident will be a great success.

"The set has come together brilliantly while we've been in the theatre over the last couple of days and the music and songs are sounding great," said Abi.

Find out more about the show on the Bury St Edmunds Theatre Royal website.

Carol Concert

BBC Suffolk's annual Christmas Carol Concert returns to Snape Maltings on Saturday, 5 December with proceeds going to the BBC's Children in Need appeal.

Pudsey Bear is all ready for the carol concert at Snape Maltings

The Pakefield Singers and North Suffolk Youth Choir will be joined by jazz big band the Horn Factory as well as Hammond organist the Reverend Simpkins.

The concert has sold-out, but you may be able to check with the box office for returns. Tickets cost £10 for adults, £6 for under-16s and at least 45% goes to Children in Need. Vist the Snape Maltings Concert Hall website or phone [phone].

You will be able to see photographs from the event here on Monday 7 December and audio highlights will be broadcast on BBC Radio Suffolk on Christmas Day.

Food

The team at Jimmy's Farm in Wherstead near Ipswich invite you to their Christmas Festival on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December.

The farm will have its usual mix of children's entertainment, an opportunity to meet the animals and the offer of 'everything you need to create your perfect Christmas'.

Chef Valentine Warner is passionate about catching and cooking fish

There will be a farmers' market, gift and craft market, a variety of children's activities and celebrity Christmas cookery demonstrations.

The line up includes Masterchef finalist Chris Gates and star of BBC two Series What To Eat Now, Valentine Warner, who is hoping to include some fish recipes in his demonstration.

"I love my fishing, when I'm not cooking I'm fishing," explained Valentine.

The event runs from 10am - 5pm on both days and more information and details on how to buy tickets can be found on the Jimmy's Farm website.

American Football

The Ipswich Cardinals are preparing to celebrate their 25th anniversary in 2010 and are holding a rookie day on Sunday 6 December at the David Lloyd Leisure Club in Ipswich from 12-3pm.

They hope the day will bolster their squad and are keen for anyone interested in becoming a part of the club to come along.

The Cardinals will celebrate their 25th anniversary in 2010

This includes potential players, assistants and cheerleaders and visitors will have a chance to see demonstrations and meet the team.

"It's a bit like rugby in that any size of people can play and the big guys look after the small guys," explained head coach Ian Girling.

Prospective players need to be 18 or over, although 17 year-olds are allowed to train with the squad.

For more details see the BBC Suffolk Sport feature Cardinals searching for rookies and the Ipswich Cardinals website may also be of interest.

Theatre

The Eastern Angles Christmas production, Mansfield Park & Ride runs at the Sir John Mills Theatre in Ipswich from Wednesday, 2 December, 2009 - Saturday, 23 January, 2010.

Sally-Ann Burnett as Beethoven in Eastern Angles' take on Jane Austen

In what promises to be 'a long, long way after Jane Austen' the production offers pieces of Pride and Prejudice, slices of Sense and Sensibility along and portions of Persuasion in an alternative to the traditional pantomime.

Find out more by reading the BBC Suffolk feature

Review: Mansfield Park and Ride

and the Eastern Angles website has details on timings and tickets.