Fri March 31 - The last Friday of the month is always a bit crazy, with an array of great events competing for your patronage, and a grump from me that they are not more spread out so I can attend them all. So here's my choose-your-own-adventure guide for your own personal Friday night extravaganza:

• If you share my enthusiasm for a brilliant, professional improv show, don't miss Improvazilla
• If you're a poetry fan, head over to Drunk Poets See God for an open mic poetry slam.
• If you are a gramophone hipster, perhaps the Lady Be Good! Gramophone Concert is for you.
• If you enjoy drawing burlesque dancers, go to Dr Sketchy's Anti-Art School
• If you like to combine cool live music and live art, This & That Cafe is probably for you.
• If you want to focus on Indian art, head to the Indian Embassy's Vivekananda Cultural Centre for a talk on Tagore as a Painter. It's at 5:30pm and go early to see their exhibition by Ashok Bhowmick (Free, but email to register).
• If you love ballet, Toho Roppongi (7:30pm) and Toho Nihonbashi (8:20) are screening Woolf Works a ballet inspired by Virginia Woolf by the UK's Royal Ballet Company. (It's on all week til the 6th.)
• Finally if all of that sounds too decadent and you want to nerd it up on the topic of press freedom, there's a book talk on Press Freedom in Contemporary Japan at Temple University.

Sat and Sun April 1&2 - After the madness of Friday, it's tumbleweed today. There is almost nothing interesting scheduled this weekend, presumably due to an assumption that we will all be installed upon a blue tarpaulin, admiring cherry blossoms through a haze of alcohol. But there's also quite a lot of interesting cinema in English. Depending on whether you choose Toho Nihonbashi or Roppongi, you can see Woolf Works (Royal Ballet Company) in the afternoon or evening. Also this weekend at the movies, Lego Batman and Jackie are both opening and look differently great. Or you could see Passengers, one of the most thought provoking sci-fi movies I've seen in ages. Other good options in English include best picture Oscar-winner Moonlight, La La Land, Sing, Moana (all at Toho etc), Allied (Humax) and Maggie's Plan (Uplink). Oh, and if you want a bit of hanami delight, on Sunday there's a shochu tasting in Yoyogi Park that could be fun.

Mon April 3 - Open mic comedy in Otsuka tonight. Word on the street, it's going to be a good one. So it's between that and going to see my very favourite English-language rakugo (funny Japanese story) performer Tatekawa Shinoharu at Footnik  in Ebisu. Doors at 7, performance at 8, cost 2000 yen including one drink. Also, Singin' in the Rain opens tonight at Tokyu Theatre Orb (11th floor of Hikarie in Shibuya) and runs til the 30th. From Broadway, and in English!

Tue April 4 - Tonight, let's hope you're feeling political. There's a public talk about Donald Trump and the Middle East, free and with English translation, but you need to register in advance. (Use Google Chrome if you don't read Japanese). And another talk about public protests, also in English. 

Wed April 5 - It's Good Heavens Comedy Club tonight.

Thu April 6 - Nothing? Well, maybe it's time to see Singin' in the Rain or Woolf Works.

Fri April 7 - Kick off the weekend early at 4:45pm with an interesting-sounding talk on the role of digital technology in public art. Later, it's the latest edition of Apocrypha, the edgy storytelling show, sharing emotional tales on the topic of temptation at Bar Gari Gari. Or Gamuso comedy show is tonight in Asagaya.

Planning ahead

Thu April 13 - Perfect Liars Club returns... so make sure you've bought your tickets! Four people tell a crazy story but only three are true. Listen, laugh, interrogate, and vote. Are you shrewd enough to spot the liar? One of the best shows in Tokyo (if we do say so ourselves). Tickets are going fast...

Fri 24 March - Kick off the weekend with some theatre in English. Dealer's Choice by Black Stripe Theatre is set in London and is about men obsessed with poker. It's on til Sunday. Or else go to a special edition of Pecha Kucha with people who run the show in other cities coming together for arty talks and chat about building creative cities. Or go to Balls to the Wall Comedy in Roppongi. Or if you're feeling very west Tokyo, an art opening for City and Nature and Black White and Blue at Youkobo Art Space.

Sat 25 March - One of Tokyo's top music journalists, Ian F Martin, is doing a talk at Books Kinokuniya at 3pm on the Japanese music industry and his new book Quit Your Band. In the evening, Jim Gaffigan comedian's two performances are totally sold out (but if you have tix you can't use, please email me as I forgot to buy any and really want to go!).

Sun 26 March - Tokyo Poetry Journal are having a benefit party this afternoon at What the Dickens! in Ebisu, including comedy and poetry performances. Later, at the very same venue, catch a show by bilingual improv troupe Pirates of Tokyo Bay.

Mon 27 March - Open-mic comedy tonight in Otsuka seems to be the main event of tonight.

Tue 28 March - As part of the UN University's conversation series, tonight experts will be talking about Challenges and Opportunities for the New UN Secretary General. Free, but you need to register. Or go to Next View art show opening featuring Japan's 'up-and-coming visionary brands leading the next generation'.

Wed 29 March - Good Heavens Comedy Club is tonight at, you guessed it, Good Heavens in Shimokitazawa. Or go to Temple University for a free screening of Fukushima, Mon Amour with English subtitles.

Thu 30 March - Can't find much on tonight. So if you haven't already, I suggest you go see Sing at the cinema: it was charming.

Fri 31 March - Brace yourselves, dear readers: the last Friday of the month is always a bit crazy, with an array of great events competing for your patronage. So here's my choose-your-own-adventure guide for your own personal Friday night extravaganza:

• If you share my enthusiasm for a brilliant, professional improv show, don't miss Improvazilla
• If you're a poetry fan, head over to Drunk Poets See God for an open mic poetry slam.
• If you enjoy watching burlesque, then drawing the dancer, go to Dr Sketchy's Anti-Art School
• If you like to combine live music and live art, This & That Cafe is probably for you.
• If you want to focus on Indian art, head to the Indian Embassy's Vivekananda Cultural Centre for a talk on Tagore as a Painter. It's at 5:30pm and go early to see their exhibition by Ashok Bhowmick (Free, but email to register).
• Finally if all of that sounds too decadent and you want to nerd it up on the topic of press freedom, there's a book talk on Press Freedom in Contemporary Japan at Temple University.

Planning ahead

April 13 - Perfect Liars Club returns... so make sure you've bought your tickets! Going fast...

April 3-30 - Singin' in the Rain at Tokyu Theatre Orb (11th floor of Hikarie in Shibuya)

Got an event we should include? Email us.

Fri 17 March - Tonight in Asagaya it's Gamuso Comedy Night. Or else, you can see the London 25th Anniversary Miss Saigon show filmed on stage and screened at Toho Nichigeki all week, though note the earlier time of 6:15. I saw it last week and it was fabulous (and I confirm it's in English with Japanese subtitles). Speaking of the cinema, (1) I saw Moana and it was delightful. (2) Sing is being released today, and also looks charming. (3) Out of Africa is screening at Toho Shinjuku every day at 10am. Enjoy!

Sat 18 March - Journey to the End of the Night is happening tonight - it's a Tokyo-wide race/game and the theme this time is time travel... Contestants must dash around the city and complete challenges at five checkpoints while evading pursuit. It's free. Also today, Cinemavera kicks off a Frederick Wiseman series, classic documentary films shining light on 1960s and 70s America. And if you're into Japanese contemporary art, this weekend's giant Art Fair will be for you.

Sun 19 March - My favourite arty event of the month, PauseDraw, is today. Bring along your pens and notebooks and enjoy a delightful afternoon of free, lovely drawing exercises. It's in Nagatacho this time.

Mon 20 March - Open mic comedy tonight at Otsuka. Also this is the last day of digital art show Flowers by Naked. It's going to be a mob scene, I suspect!

Tue 21 March - Tonight it's the fabulous Space Cafe - this edition features a talk about galaxies and will answer a question that's always puzzled me: how do we know what our galaxy looks like if we've never been outside it?

Wed 22 March - Good Heavens Comedy Club brings its usual mix of acts and lots of laughs. Also tonight at the Foreign Correspondents' Club, there's a book event you might be able to squeeze in to: Stephen Mansfield speaks about his book, Tokyo: a Biography. Try to book in advance.

Thu 23 March - British author Sheila Cliffe launches her book tonight, The Social Life of Kimono. Go learn about how to integrate the elements of kimono into your daily clothes. Also, from tonight til Sunday there's an English-language performance of the play Dealer's Choice by Black Stripe Theatre. It's set in London and is about men obsessed with poker.

Fri 24 March - Dealer's Choice by Black Stripe Theatre is on again tonight. Or else go to a special edition of Pecha Kucha which has people who run the show in cities around the world coming together for arty talks and chat about building creative cities.

Advance bookings: be organised

April 3-30: Singin' in the Rain at Tokyu Theatre Orb (11th floor of Hikarie in Shibuya)

April 13: It's Perfect Liars Club! Tickets are on sale here. Note we're trying a new thing of advance payments. Feedback welcome.

Fri 10 March - Tonight there's a screening of the 25th anniversary show of Miss Saigon direct from the London stage to the cinema screen at Toho Nichigeki (Yurakucho). It will be on all week but tickets go on sale just 2 days in advance - you can buy in person, or on their website. It's your last day to catch The Audience and Romeo and Juliet at Yebisu Garden Cinema. There's also Balls to the Wall stand up comedy in Roppongi.

Sat 11 March - One of the most exciting 'mash-up' shows we've seen in Tokyo so far this year, Nerd Nite has teamed up with Yokohama Theatre Group to produce Science x Theatre. Three top Nerd Nite performers will do a talk, and three theatre groups will deliver a performance based on said talks. This sounds intriguing. It's on today at 2pm and 7pm, and tomorrow at 3pm. Which is just as well because at 7pm many of you will be in Roppongi for Comedy Sumo Slam - and yes, I am one of the contestants. This is one of the smartest topical comedy shows in the city - don't miss it! If you're more in the mood for standard-format stand-up comedy, the Vega Comedy Night is also on in Ebisu tonight. And if you'd rather do arty things, there's art and panels on the topic of 'women and freedom' in Harajuku today.

Sun 12 March - Nerd Nite's science/theatre mash-up with Yokohama Theatre Group, Science x Theatre final show is today at 3pm: don't miss it. Or if you've already seen it, head instead to Ryogoku to see an intriguing spoken word event by a Japanese storytelling company in English - at 12:30 there are two readings: the Canterville Ghost by Oscar Wilde, plus some Shakespeare; at 1:40, a reading of I Accuse Him by Osamu Dazai, translated into English. Then at 2:30 there is a lovely hour of rakugo stories. No link for this, but head to 4-30-4 Ryogoku. I saw rakugo in the venue last weekend: it's in an unlikely-looking apartment-type building with lanterns in front of it. 1000 yen for the lot.   

Mon 13 March - CITA (the International Center for Theatre Arts) is putting on a show called Earthbound, inspired by the 1950s collaboration to pioneer rocket development in Japan. One night only - reserve your tickets asap. There's also open mic comedy in Otsuka tonight if you want to grab the mike and make us laugh.

Tue 14 March - Nothing much on tonight, so if you haven't seen it, perhaps this is the night for Miss Saigon at Toho Nichigeki cinema in Yurakucho.

Wed 15 March - Good Heavens Comedy Club is on tonight in Shimokitazawa. Or head over to Temple University for a talk on 'Polarization, Politics and Religion in Trump's America'. 

Thu 16 March - It's the moment you've been waiting for all month. Obviously, as the advance tickets are all sold out. It's the coolest night in Tokyo (in our most objective opinion): it's Perfect Liars Club! But don't worry if you don't have a ticket: come along and we'll try to squeeze you in.

Fri 17 March - Tonight in Asagaya it's Gamuso Comedy Night. Happy Friday.

Fri 3 March - Tonight Apocrypha brings another evening of edgy and emotional performance storytelling to the stage at Bar Gari Gari. The theme tonight: Dear Younger Me. Or if not, there's Gamuso stand up comedy  in Asagaya.

Sat 4 March - More amazing British plays from the UK's National Theatre, filmed in London and screened in Yebisu Garden Cinema kick off this week. The Audience screens every day at 11am from today til Friday. It's about the Queen's weekly audiences with British Prime Ministers over the years. I have seen it twice and think it's outstanding - and Helen Mirren is amazing as the Queen. I'm sort of tempted to a third viewing... Or if you are hoping for a bit of Shakespeare, another play filmed in the UK, Romeo and Juliet, is screening at 6:40pm every day this week. Also today and for the next two weeks, the Ginrei Hall double bill of films is Genius and Sully. Finally, why not go swing dancing in Shibuya? And if you're in the mood for Rakugo (Japanese storytelling in English), it's on today (and tomorrow) 12-3:30pm. Free admission. Catch them before their international tour!

Sun 5 March - At noon, check out more free Rakugo (Japanese storytelling in English - and even if you saw it yesterday, the stories are apparently different today). Later, there's an open mic poetry night at What the Dickens bar at 6pm in Ebisu. It's also the final day of iceskating at Tokyo Midtown and Skytree.

Mon 6 March - If you're free at 4pm and so inclined, head to the University of Tokyo fora talk on Darwin, Dharma and the Divine: Evolutionary theory and religion in modern Japan. Sounds interesting. Then there's open mic stand up comedy in Otsuka tonight.

Tue 7 March - Why not attend an International Women's Day screening of I Am A Girl.

Wed 8 March - Don't miss Stand Up Tokyo's Good Heavens Comedy Night in Shimokitazawa. Or attend the opening reception of Blossom Blast 2017: What it Means to Be a Woman art show, also associated with International Women's Day.

Thu 9 March - Tonight there's a public talk at Temple University called Persuader-in-Chief: Deconstructing Trumpaganda. It's by Nancy Snow.

Fri 10 March - There's going to be a screening of the 25th anniversary show of Miss Saigon. I think it's a one-day-only special screening, though I might be misinterpreting. Either way, you'd better get over to Toho Nichigeki (in Yurakucho) and grab some tickets. There's also Balls to the Wall stand up comedy in Roppongi.

Planning ahead - things you should book in advance

11th and 12th March - Nerd Nite and Yokohama Theatre Group are getting together for a brilliant-sounding science/performance mash-up. Three nerds will talk about their cool expertise, then the actors will bring us performances inspired by the talks.

13 March - CITA (the International Center for Theatre Arts) is putting on a show called Earthbound, inspired by the 1950s collaboration to pioneer rocket development in Japan. One night only - reserve your tickets asap. We hear they are going fast.

16 March - The next Perfect Liars Club is going to be fabulous, and most of the advance tickets are already sold at time of typing this. So make sure you've reserved yours here.