MAN in the Mirror celebrates the amazing music of the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, at the Beck Theatre next week.

The high-octane production spans more than three decades, starting with the early days of the Jackson Five through to some of the greatest hits in pop history.

The show features an international cast of world class performers plus jawdropping special effects, eye-popping multimedia displays, breathtaking vocalists and explosive choreography.

With every one of Jackson's number one hits, this musical anthology includes Bad, Thriller, Beat It, Black or White and many more songs.

It claims to be the ultimate celebration of the pop music icon who will never be forgotten.

what? Man in the Mirror when? July 23-24, Friday 7.30pm, Saturday 2.30pm and 7.30pm. where? Beck Theatre, Grange Road, Hayes, UB3 2UE cost? £18, £20.50 call: 020 8 561 8371 see: www.becktheatre.org.uk

Night of free laughter

AWARD-WINNING comedian Tom Craine headlines a free great night out at a west London pub.

Tom Craine won the best comedy and drama at the BBC National Students Awards in 2006, had his own radio comedy commissioned for BBC Radio 2 and his own radio show on BBC Bristol.

He will be appearing at The Builders Arms in Kensington Court Place with slow burning, big fire Mark Simmons, witty Hannah Warman and Hackney Empire finalist Nathaniel Metcalfe.

This fresh new comedy has been described as 'the birth of punk but in cardigans'. MC is Bobby Carroll.

what? Punchline Comedy Night when? Monday, July 26, 8pm where? The Builders Arms, 1 Kensington Court Place, W8 5BJ cost? free call: 07976 821 429 see: www.thebuildersarmskensington.co.uk

Insight into mental illness

MENTAL illness, still stigmatised by so many, is explored in a novel new exhibition at the Watermans Art Centre.

Over the past few months, the Cassel Hospital - a therapeutic community in Richmond - and the photography department at Thames Valley University worked together on a photography project.

The result is Differing Perceptions, an exhibition featuring photographs taken by patients from the Young Person's Service and members of staff.

The collaboration provided an opportunity for them to use photography to explore and convey issues relating to their experiences of mental health and the services provided.

what? Differing Perceptions, an exhibition when? now until July 19 where? Watermans Art Centre, 40 High Street, Brentford, TW8 0DS cost? Free call: 020 8232 1010 see: www.watermans.org.uk

Fun way to find a mate for over 25s

A SINGLE mum who had been out of work for more than a decade, took her future in her own hands by launching singles speed dating at a local pub.

Sandra Jarvis, who has a diploma in facilitation and training, said: "They do say 'do the thing that you love and the money will follow'.

"Being a great hostess I have enjoyed organising parties over the years, while match-making friends, so I thought 'why not make a business out of it?'."

Singles is a fun-based, interactive evening designed to bring single professional men and women aged over 25 together through ice-breaking activities.

Sandra's aim is to give her clients an insight into how men and women are different, how to improve communication and how to make those differences work.

"Our events are fast paced and interactive, with a personal development element to them," she said. "Singletons will begin to understand the reasons for their previous relationship disasters and how to avoid them in the future."

what? Speed dating for over 25s when? Monday, 6-10pm where? Flavas, 1 Mattock Lane, Ealing, W5 5BG cost? £10 entry call: Sandra on 07747 372754 email: sandra4jarvis@ymail.com

Mortgage broker gets absorbed in writing award-winning comedy

AN AMATEUR theatre group is staging an evening of five comedy shorts written and directed by a prizewinning Ealing mortgage broker.

Geoff Buckingham, who has run Buckingham Mortgages Services in Ealing Broadway for 38 years, won the Diana Raffle One Act Play Award, beating nearly 650 other professional and amateur authors throughout the country.

The competition was organised by New Theatre Publications and the Playwrights Co-Operative.

Geoff has won a publishing contract for his play, Phantom of The Arts Centre, about a broken war-time romance.

Geoff took up drama and script writing only about four years ago. Before that, he used to write property tips for the Gazette in the 1970s and jointly wrote a book on Brentford Football Club and articles on behalf of the club.

The five comedies he is directing are called The Human Button, On the Couch, Candidate, More Tea, Vicar and God Bless America.

The father-of-two, who was inspired after joining two local amateur groups, said: "It is a very absorbing hobby, totally different from my normal work, and I find it very fulfilling."

what? Comedy Shorts by the Manor Players at the Sunbury and Shepperton Arts Festival when? Friday, July 23 at 8pm where? Riverside Arts Centre, 59 Thames Street, Sunbury, TW16 5QF cost? £8 contact: 01932 782788 see: www.ssaaarts.org