Prehistoric creatures come to the stage of the Alban Arena next week when Dinosaur Zoo pays a visit next Thursday, February 19.

It uses puppetry to bring dinosaurs to life and with its mix of humour, daring and informative learning, has played to family and school audiences all over the world.

The life-like dinosaurs range from cute babies to teeth-nashing giants in a show that is aimed at children aged three and upwards.

Perforamnces are at 11am and 2pm and tickets at £15, £12 are £8.50 for schools are available from the Arena box office on 01727 844488 or go to www.alban-arena.co.uk

Fairport Convention with special guests Kevin Dempsey and Rosie Carson play the Arena next Friday, February 20.

Hailed as the originators of British folk-rock music, Fairport Convention has been performing for 45 years. Former members include Richard Thompson, Dave Swarbrick and the late Sandy Denny.

Fairport is still one of the busiest bands around with its current line-up of Simon Nicol, Dave Pegg, Ric Sanders, Chris Leslie and Gerry Conway.

The band also hosts Fairport’s Cropredy Convention music festival in Oxfordshire, attracting thousands of music fans every summer.

The performance starts at 7.30pm and tickets are £20.

* Fresh from Eddie Redmayne’s success in Sunday’s BAFTA awards, The Theory of Everything is being shown at the Arena next Tuesday and Wednesday, February 17 and 18.

The critically acclaimed film is based on the memoir Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen, by Jane Hawking and tells the extraordinary and heart-warming love story of two people against all the odds.

In 1963 Stephen Hawking meets and falls in love with Jane Wilde. When he is diagnosed with motor neurone disease, he is told that he will be left with limited movement and speech and that the disease will take his life within two years.

With Jane by his side, Stephen refuses to accept his diagnosis and finishes his doctorate, which includes his theory of the creation of the universe. The couple marry and start a family, and Stephen embarks on his most ambitious work to date, studying the very thing he lacks – time.

Evening performances are at 7.30pm and there is a Wednesday matinee at 1.30pm. Tickets for the matinee are £5 and £7 with £5 concessions for evenings.