First Call, Last Call

First Call

ALAN AYCKBOURN is not exactly unfamiliar with the idiosyncrasies of the English middle-class, but he is out to observe another culture with an adaptation of a work by the Russian master of vignettes, Ostrovsky. The Forest sees Frances de la Tour (right) star as the aged aunt of an impoverished actor who gets caught in a network of intrigue, forbidden love and double-dealings.

National Theatre, Lyttelton, South Bank, London SE1 (0171-452 3000) opens 22 Jan

Last Call

SCOUSE ROCKERS Space, are poised to start touring following the release of their second album Tin Planet. The band will be minus Cerys from Catatonia, with whom they sung "The Ballad of Tom Jones", but there are many more songs in their repertoire. Tin Planet mixes diverse musical influences as seen in such hits as "Avenging Angels" and "Begin Again".

Manchester Academy (0161-832 1111) 21 Nov; Nottingham Rock City (0115- 912 9000) 23 Nov; Exeter University Great Hall (0990 321 321) 24 Nov; Birmingham Que Club (0115-912 9000) 26 Nov; London Brixton Academy (0171-771 2000) 27 Nov; York Barbican (01904 656688) 28 Nov; Liverpool Royal Court (0151- 709 4321) 18-19 Dec