Inspire Me - 9 great things to do in the next week

THE CATHERINE TATE SHOW LIVE

ARE you ready to meet sweary Nan Taylor, live and in the flesh? Then the Playhouse is the place to be on Monday when the critically acclaimed, award-winning comedian and actor Catherine Tate brings The Catherine Tate Show - Live to the Capital.

In never seen before sketches, the show will unite some of Catherine’s best-known characters, from her hugely successful BBC series including Irish nurse Bernie, Geordie Georgie, Essex girl Sam - and the return of a certain argumentative teenager. Oh, and of course Nan, who on hearing the news said: “She’s going on tour, is she? What a load of old s***.”

The Catherine Tate Show - Live, Playhouse, Greenside Place, Monday, 7.30pm, £29.50-£35, 0844 826 2826

MATT FORDE - IT’S MY POLITICAL PARTY (AND I’LL CRY IF I WANT TO)

FOR a man who watches Prime Minister’s Questions like it’s Match of the Day, it’s perhaps unsurprising that Matt Forde has been described as the most exciting voice in political comedy.

He brings his hit Fringe show It’s My Political Party (and I’ll Cry if I Want to) back to the Capital for one night only on Sundayb.

A unique show featuring interviews with the UK’s most notorious political figures such as Tony Blair, Alastair Campbell, and Nigel Farage, with such a volatile political climate, a raucous mix of political stand up and debate is promised.

The Stand, York Place, Sunday, 7.30pm, £15, 0131-558 7373

FIREWORK DISPLAY

LOOK up! That’s the advice at Meadowbank Stadium on Saturday night when what could prove to be the last ever fireworks display at the venue will see more than 12,000 rockets

Edinburgh’s biggest firework display, this year’s event will have a sci-fi theme with more than 50 sci-fi costumers mingling with the audience as well as a programme of music from some of the most famous movies of all times.

Attendees too are encouraged to dress up as their favourite characters.

Doors open at 6pm with pre-show entertainment starting at 6.30pm to get the audience fired up. The display itself will start at 7.30pm and last 25 minutes.

Meadowbank Annual Firework Display, Meadowbank Sports Centre, London Road, Saturday, 6.30pm, £7, www.ticketsource.co.uk/meadowbanksportscentre

A TALE OF TWO CITIES

“IT was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darknesss...”

Charles Dickens’ masterpiece A Tale of Two Cities tours to The King’s next week with Jacob Ifan, best known as PC Jake Vickers in the BBC series Cuffs, making his professional theatre debut as Charles Darnay. Interweaving one family’s intensely personal drama with the terror and chaos of the French Revolution, it is an epic story of love, sacrifice and redemption amid violence and world changing events.

King’s Theatre, Leven St, Tue-Sat, 7.30pm (matinees 2.30pm), £17-£30.50, 0131-529

TUK TUK - TIFFIN TINS

POPULAR Indian street food restaurant Tuk Tuk has launched a new lunchtime Tiffin Tins menu.

With a name inspired by the three-wheeled rickshaws of Asia that feed busy office workers, rickshaw drivers and hungry school children throughout the day, so in the same tradition, Tuk Tuk will be serving a new range of Tiffin Tins to the hungry workers and students of Tollcross.

Each tin is a mix of rustic roadside and railway station dishes made from the simple earthy, lovingly prepared ingredients and authentic spices.

Choose from classics such as Butter Chicken, Tuk Tuk Wallah Staff Curry, Railway Station Lamb Curry or, if you are brave enough, the Platform 5 Vindaloo.

The Tuk Tuk Tiffin Lunchbox will come with one serving of chaat, your choice of two of their signature dishes plus a side of rice or naan bread for just £12.

Tuk Tuk opened its doors in 2012 - directly across from the King’s Theatre - and has become renowned for its feel good atmosphere and family friendly environment.

Now one of Scotland’s most respected independent Indian restaurants, Tuk Tuk attracts of foodies and students alike every night.

Tuk Tuk, Leven Street, 0131-228 3322

GIANT PUB QUIZ

IT’S time to get quizzical as the St Columba’s Hospice Giant Pub Quiz returns next Thursday, November 10.

The team from Goose’s Quizzes come to the Corn Exchange with more trivia and general knowledge questions to get those cogs turning.

If you are up for the challenge and want a fun and relaxed evening, the pub quiz is for you.

Gather six of your friends and take a whole table or just bring a few mates for a smaller team. Or make it even more interesting by grouping together and having multiple teams and see who can score the highest on the leader board by the end of the night.

So, round up your pals and head along to try to win the £600 cash first prize. Entry is £15 each or £75 for a team of six and your ticket price includes a pie and a pint too.

Here’s a teaser to get you in the mood:

Which animal represents the Democratic Party in America? (Answer: Donkey)

The Giant Pub Quiz, Corn Exchange, Newmarket Road, 10 November, doors 7pm, 7.30pm start, 0131-551 1381

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET

FOR Robbie Durham, currently Johnny Cash in Million Dollar Quartet at the Festival Theatre, touring to the Capital is special.

The 28 year old grew up just south of the city but considers it home as his mother’s side of the family hail from Leith, Morningside and Stockbridge.

“My first ever experience of theatre was the King’s panto so I have real affection for the theatre scene here,” he says.

“To be able to play Johnny Cash back home is incredibly special. He’s an absolute icon.

“It’s also the first time my whole family has been able to watch see me which is great, if not totally nerve wracking.”

The musical finds Robbie working with 80’s heart throb Jason Donovan.

He says, “Jason has been great, he’s as bonkers as us all which is lovely. He has been open and kind with everyone. He loves a bit of banter.”

Million Dollar Quartet, Festival Theatre, Nicolson St, until Saturday, 7.30pm, £22-£42, 0131-529 6000

THE HONKY TONK MAN

WWE legend Honky Tonk Man makes his first Scottish appearance in 10 Years the Counting House next Thursday.

Known to millions of wrestling fans across the world for his Elvis style jumpsuits and guitar bashing antics, the Honky Tonk Man will be joining the stars of Discovery Wrestling as they celebrate their second anniversary of staging events across the capital with an Awards ceremony.

The man, considered to be the greatest WWE Intercontinental Champion of all time, will be telling stories from the road and recalling some of his greatest encounters with Hulk Hogan, the Ultimate Warrior and Jake the Snake Roberts.

Wrestling fans will also get the chance to quiz the Honky Tonk Man who has promised that nothing will be off limits.

Discovery Awards with the Honky Tonk Man, The Counting House, Market Street, 10 November, £15, discoverywrestling.com

SHAKESPEARE, HIS WIFE & THE DOG

SHARPE and The Bill star Philip Whitchurch is a Shakespeare scholar, with arguably the best private library on the Bard in the country.

So expect great thing when he brings his play, Shakespeare, His Wife and the Dog, to Summerhall next week.

Shakespeare, His Wife & the Dog, Summerhall, Wed-Sat, 7.45pm, £16, 0131-560 1581