ENTERTAINMENT LISTINGS: Friday to Thursday, December 8-14

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8

COMEDY

CHRISTMAS COMEDY GALA: £14, 7.30pm Chequer Mead, East Grinstead (01342) 302000. With headliner James Acaster.

KRATER COMEDY CLUB: Until Jan Dec 10, 7pm/8pm/10.30pm, £5-£36.50 Komedia, 44-47 Gardner Street, Brighton 0845 293 8480.

COMMUNITY

TEA DANCE: 1.30pm-3.45pm, £4.70 per person including tea/coffee, Southwater Leisure Centre, Pevensey Road, Southwater (off Cedar Drive). For more details call Southwater Leisure Centre on 01403 733208 or Colin and Margaret on 01403 734409.

WALK: 2½ mile, flat circular HDC Health walk along bridleways, country lanes and Downs Link. Meet 11am in the Country Park car park (off Cripplegate Lane), Southwater RH13 7UN. Can be muddy. 1¼ hours. Dogs on a lead. Parking charge £1.50. Jill 07780 701184.

CONCERTS

LCMF CHRISTMAS CONCERT: £15, 7.30pm St Michael’s Church, High Street, Lewes.

SEAFARERS ROYAL MARINES BAND CONCERT: £19.50-£21.50, 7.30pm Assembly Hall, Stoke Abbott Road, Worthing 01903 206206. Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines Collingwood.

GIGS

BANANARAMA: From £44.05, 7.45pm Brighton Centre 0844 8471515.

CHRISTMAS PACKERS: £6-£8, 9pm Latest MusicBar, 14-17 Manchester Street, Brighton (01273) 687171. Hosted by Nailor Swift.

DARK STAR RISING: The Star - Horsham, Roffey, 8pm.

FOLK NIGHT: St Edwards Hall, Pound Hill, Crawley, 8pm.

JELLYHEAD: The Swan, Crawley, 8.30pm.

THE ELEVATORS FAREWELL SHOW: £15, 7.45pm The Hawth Theatre, Crawley (01293) 553636. Blues Night.

THE THIN WHITE DUKE: £5, members free, 8pm Lewes Con Club, 139 High Street, Lewes 01273 473076. David Bowie tribute band.

STAGE

ALADDIN: £10, various times until Jan 3, Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells (01892) 530613.

DICK WITTINGTON AND HIS CAT: £14.50-£23.50, various times until Jan 14, Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne (01323) 412000. Starring Todd Carty.

JACK AND THE BEANSTALK: December 8-31, The Capitol, Horsham, 01403 750220, www.thecapitolhorsham.com.

OLIVER!: £14-£16, 7.30pm until Dec 10 (Sat mat 2.30pm, Sun 3.30pm) The Royal Hippodrome, Eastbourne (01323) 802020. Presented by The Broadway Players.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9

COMMUNITY

CHRISTMAS FAIR: 10am-3pm Riverside Hall, Newhaven. Visit Santa for £2. Tombola, raffle, lucky dip and face painting. Food and drink available.

CHRISTMAS FAIR: St Michael’s Church, Newhaven, will be holding their annual Christmas Fair on Saturday, November 25, 2.30pm 4pm in the church hall. Delicious Christmas teas and cakes, games, tombola, nearly new, books and raffle. All welcome, entry free.

CHRISTMAS MARKET: In support of good causes and Sussex craftspeople. Cyprus Hall, Burgess Hill, 10am-3pm. Among those taking part are: The Monday Group, Burgess Hill in Bloom, Woodland Meed School, Kitty for Needy Critters, Burgess Hill Horticultural Society, Paws and Claws, Wolf Hirschhorn Syndrome Trust and the Sussex Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus. Free admission. Hosted by Burgess Hill Horticultural Society. www.burgesshillhorticulturalsociety.com.

WALK: 10am. Park on the road outside the (now closed) school at Itchingfield, RH13 0NT. 3½ mile, HDC Health walk. Very uneven in many places. No stiles. Good views from Sharpenhurst Hill, then on to Barns Green. Dogs on a lead. 2 hours. Liz 01403 263920 or Simon 01403 260599.

CONCERTS

CONCENTUS SINGS CHRISTMAS: £10, 4pm St Leonard’s Church, Seaford.

HORSHAM TWINNING ASSOCIATION: Carol Concert in English, German and French, featuring the Pleasure Singers. 7.30pm, Unitarian Church, Worthing Road, Horsham, opposite the bus station. Followed by mulled wine, glu wine, mince pies, nibbles, stollen and light refreshments. All welcome.

THE MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS: Friends and Neighbours present an afternoon of Christmas carols and songs, Adastra Hall, Keymer Road, Hassocks, 2.30pm-4.30pm. This is always a friendly and enjoyable couple of hours with admission only £3 (£1 child) and refreshments included. Tickets at Pavilion Electrics in Keymer Road or on 01273 845291. There is a super Christmas Raffle too. Info: 01273 845291.

VIVALDI – GLORIA: £15-£20, 7.30pm St Anne’s Church, Lewes (01273) 472545. East Sussex Bach Choir.

GIGS

DARK STAR RISING: The Red Lyon, Slinfold, 8pm.

HARBOTTLE AND JONAS: £10, 7pm Under Ground Theatre, Grove Road, Eastbourne 0845 680 1926. Supported by Hollie Rogers.

HIGH OCTANE JUNKIES: The Malt Shovel, Horsham, 8.30pm.

HORSHAM ROCKS PRESENTS: Little Notes Choir, Carfax Bandstand, Horsham, 1pm-3pm.

JOHN OTWAY: 7.30pm Lewes Con Club, 139 High Street, Lewes 01273 473076. Plus special guests POG. Tickets from www.seetickets.com

LEWES SATURDAY FOLK CLUB: £7, 8pm Elephant and Castle, Lewes. Shepherds Arise.

MAGIC OF MOTOWN: £25.50-£27.50, 7.45pm Assembly Hall, Stoke Abbott Road, Worthing 01903 206206.

NO PRESSURE: The Bedford, Horsham, 9pm.

R’N’R: Free, 10am-noon at the regular coffee morning, Under Ground Theatre, Grove Road, Eastbourne 0845 680 1926. R’n’R then Dave Beckett.

STAGE

IT’S YOUR THING: £7-£8, 8pm all Saints Centre, Friars Walk, Lewes (01273) 486391. A festive funk/soul party. All proceeds to Starfish.

SING-A-LONG: £17.50, 2pm White Rock Theatre, Hastings (01424) 462288. Sing-A-Long-A Beauty and The Beast.

TOMFOOLERY SAVES CHRISTMAS: December 9-16, The Capitol studio, Horsham, 01403 750220, www.thecapitolhorsham.com.

WEST END CHRISTMAS: £16-£18, 7.30pm Chequer Mead, East Grinstead (01342) 302000. Hits from the musicals and Christmas songs.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10

COMEDY

THE NOISE NEXT DOOR: £15, 8pm Komedia, 44-47 Gardner Street, Brighton 0845 293 8480. Comedy Lock-in Christmas Special.

COMMUNITY

BEACHY HEAD RAMBLERS: Six Hill, Five Deans and Four Bottoms, 11 miles with Naomi and Pete 07745 309407. Meet at Woodingdean car park, 10am.

BEDELANDS FARM NATURE RESERVE: 10am-2pm, meet in car park off Maple Drive, Friends of Burgess Hill Green Circle Network. Bi-monthly work parties, no experience needed, tools provided. Mary Smith (secretary) 01444 242667.

CAROLS IN NEVILL GREEN: With Christ Church and St Anne’s Church and Lewes Glynde and Beddingham Brass Band, 2.30pm.

LIGHTS OF LOVE: 3pm, Pangdean Old Barn. Celebrate and remember those you love who are no longer with us. St Peter and James Hospice. Fill out a Lights of Love form at the hospice, visit www.stpeter-stjames.org.uk or call 01444 470726.

MID SUSSEX RAMBLERS: Scaynes Hill Roundabout, 4 miles with William 01444 831098. Meet at Church Road car park, 10.30am.

WALK: Meet 10.30am, Leechpool Wood car park, Harwood Road (B2195), Horsham. 2¼ mile HDC Health walk. Some inclines, tree roots, uneven ground. Can be muddy. Dogs on a lead. 1 ¼ hours. Armelle 01403 260342.

CONCERTS

CHRISTMAS CAROLS: Horley Baptist Church, ‘Carols in the Car Park’, 5pm-6.30pm. Christmas Carols with a live band at 5.15pm. Enjoy some mulled wine, chestnuts, hot chocolate, craft activities and much more. Plus there will be an opportunity to have your photo taken in the stable.

HANDEL’S MESSIAH: Candlelight performance, St George’s Church Kemp Town, December 10, 7.30pm. Tickets at www.thehanoverband.com or on 0333 6663366. Andrew Arthur conducts the magnificent Hanover Band Chorus, The Hanover Band and soloists Erica Eloff soprano, William Towers countertenor, Bradley Smith tenor and Edward Grint bass.

PIANO RECITAL: 2pm St Anne’s Church, Lewes. East Sussex Freedom From Torture Supporters Group. A short piano recital by pianist Nancy Cooley. Tickets from the Tourist Information Centre, Union Music or www.bremf.org.uk/fft

THE BRIGHTON SINGERS: 5.30pm. £12, £10, St John’s Church, Preston Village. An evening of seasonal classical choral works from the Renaissance to the present day. Tickets on the door.

THE SALVATION ARMY CHRISTMAS CONCERT: £5, 3pm Assembly Hall, Stoke Abbott Road, Worthing 01903 206206. Raising money for Worthing Community Work.

GIGS

CHRIS REA: From £50.15, doors 6.30pm Brighton Centre 0844 8471515.

GYPO CIRCUS: £7.50-£10, 7pm Lewes Con Club, 139 High Street, Lewes 01273 473076. Plus Buffos Wake and Ebola Las.

HERBIE FLOWERS: £7.50, 11am Brighton Dome (01273) 709709. Jazz Breakfast.

JAM BRIGHTON LIVE: £3, 3pm Latest MusicBar, 14-17 Manchester Street, Brighton (01273) 687171. Young bands from across Brighton and Hove.

SAINT ETIENNE: £25, 7pm De la Warr Pavilion, Bexhill (01424) 229111. Performing music from their new album, Home Counties.

STAGE

CALAN: 8pm, Connaught Theatre, Union Place, Worthing 01903 206206. Bagpipes, fiddles and step dancing.