★★★☆☆ Friends! The Musical Parody opened its UK tour at Nottingham’s Theatre Royal, drawing crowds eager to see their favourite coffee-loving pals brought to life on stage. But is this show just for the die-hard fans who can quote every episode?

★★★★☆ Mary Whitehouse spent her life battling what she saw as filth on stage and screen, so what happens when she becomes the star of a play herself? The Last Stand of Mrs Mary Whitehouse asks whether this self-styled crusader is remembered as a beacon for decency or as a meddling censor whose grip on the arts destroyed creativity.

When you’re drawn to the world of theatre, film, or television, and comedy lies at your heart, you’re driven by a single question: what will equip you with the tools to make people laugh? Aspiring writers want to learn their craft—but is Writing Comedy by Ronald Wolfe a must-read?