Fri 21 April - Gamuso comedy show in Asagaya brings us more stand-up comedy to kick off the weekend. There's Nerd Nite Tokyo, which has a special theme of open science in Japan and is at Accenture Digital Hub this month. And another intriguingly-titled talk, News, The Media, Entertainment, Information and Fakery by David Schlesinger, the previous editor-in-chief of Reuters. The Ginrei Cinema still has that double bill that's entirely in English: Everybody Wants Some and Florence Foster Jenkins. Or if you're in the mood for a bit of Broadway, Singin' in the Rain is at Tokyo Theatre Orb til the end of the month. And it's the final day of the Japan and Hong Kong Independent Film Festival (with English subtitles).

Sat 22 April - You know I think Comedy Sumo Slam is one of the best comedy nights in town. Sad to be missing it myself... but you don't have to: it's on tonight! Topical comedy based on the week's news stories. Plus today is the first day of a 2-week movie director retrospective and old film fans: prepare to go wild: it's Ernst Lubitsch at Cinemavera. And L'Institut Francais in Iidabashi is showing The Intruder today at 11am and The Woods Dreams are Made Of at 5:10, both reportedly with English subtitles.

Sun 23 April - Pirates of Tokyo Bay, Tokyo's bilingual improv show, is on tonight at What the Dickens in Ebisu.

Mon 24 April - Tonight is an International Headliner Comedy Night, featuring the fabulous Lou Sanders, a 'surrealist comedienne' who has come over from the UK after a hit show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival that got great reviews like this one. Don't miss it.

Tue 25 April - Nothing tonight, so head over to that Ernst Lubitsch retrospective at Cinemavera

Wed 26 April - Good Heavens Comedy Club hosts its regular stand-up comedy show tonight. Or else go to Pecha Kucha, with cool arty and architecty talks in English and Japanese.

Thu 27 April - Having start-up problems? Like to learn from (laugh at) the mistakes of others? You might enjoy the international sensation F*ckup Nights, at the Hub in Meguro. In a mix of English and Japanese, innovators talk about the lower points of their enterprises. Or there's a bilingual theatre production called Mori - Tales of Shonai.

Fri 28 April - It's the last Friday of the month, and that means an extravaganza of options. Improvazilla is a fantastic improv show, complete with an improvised musical. Drunk Poets See God is a slam poetry open mic night and tonight is their 50th show! Dr Sketchy's Anti-Art School combines burlesque and drawing.

Sat 29 April - Shawshank Redemption starts screening at 10am every day at Toho Nihonbashi and Rear Window at Toho Shinjuku (they reverse the following week). Also today and tomorrow, Beauty and the Beast is playing at Tokyo International Forum with live chorus and orchestra. And an amazing Warner Bros retrospective kicks off at Shin Bungeiza cinema in Ikebukuro today til May 8th. Here's the flyer.

Sun 30 April - From 11:30-3:30 you can go to a rakugo show (Japanese storytelling) which will be half in Japanese and half in English. Then Beauty and the Beast is playing at Tokyo International Forum with live chorus and orchestra - it's in English and it should be delightful. Also, this is the last day to see Singin' in the Rain is at Tokyo Theatre Orb. I thought it was lovely.

Mon 1 and Tue 2 May - The quiet of Golden Week descends on Tokyo... And so it's time to settle down at the movies to the Warner Bros retrospective at Shin Bungeiza cinema in Ikebukuro, the Ernst Lubitsch retrospective at Cinemavera in Shibuya, and the Toho 10am films (Shawshank Redemption and Rear Window).

Wed 3 May - Good Heavens Comedy Club is back with its regular stand-up comedy show tonight.

Thu 4 May - Better get back to the cinema - not much else happening today.

Fri 5 May - A Golden Week treat: tonight is That's What She Said, Tokyo's first all-woman comedy show, complete with charity auction and other fun things. Your beloved Perfect Liars Host Layla will be performing. Also, Gamuso comedy show in Asagaya is back.

Plan ahead

Thu 11 May - It's Perfect Liars Club! And for extra excitement, we have one of America's top storytellers, coming to Tokyo to be one of May's four suspects...  You won't want to miss it. Buy tickets now.

Fri 14 April - Head to Roppongi for Balls to the Wall stand-up comedy tonight. Or get political at a talk at Temple University about What Trump's presidency will mean for the Middle-East. Also, we hear the UK's National Theatre Live program will be bringing us Hangmen, opening today: morning shows at Toho Roppongi and evening shows at Toho Nihonbashi. Time Out called this Royal Court production 'The funniest play in London right now'. The plot: what's the second-best hangman in England to do on the day they've abolished hanging?

Sat 15 April - At last: the Ginrei Cinema has a double bill that's entirely in English. Go see Everybody Wants Some and Florence Foster Jenkins. Or if you're in more of a theatre mood, Singin' in the Rain is at Tokyo Theatre Orb til the end of the month. I saw it, it's in English, and it's delightful.

Sun 16 April - It's my favourite art event in Tokyo - Pausedraw! Go along for free at 4pm, bring a sketchpad and something to draw with, and enjoy a social art experience - drawing exercises and games for people at every level of skill.

Mon 17 April - Tonight there's open mic stand up comedy at Otsuka near Ikebukuro. Or if you're feeling a bit more wonky, how about The Future of Peacebuilding: Lessons from Afghanistan at UN University?

Tue 18 April - Space cafe is tonight. Not only does it feature a cool, publicly accessible talk from a NASA expert about Venus, which you can listen to while enjoying a drink, it has the best event title ever: The Ataksuki Venus Spacecraft Rises from the Dead to Explore the Depths of Hell. A must-see.

Wed 19 April - If you like rakugo (Japanese storytelling performance), there's a big treat tonight: my favourite English-language rakugo performer has a rakugo show in the Fukagawa Edo Museum theatre in Kiyosumi. Or Good Heavens comedy club is tonight for some of Tokyo's top stand-up comedy. And there's a lecture about traditional colours in Japan which is in English too.

Thu 20 April - If you're into global development, UN University has a symposium on Global Companies and the SDGs this afternoon. If you're still at the UN in the evening, check out another talk on Japan's challenges at the United Nations. Or go see Hangmen at Toho Nihonbashi?

Fri 21 April - Gamuso comedy show in Asagaya brings us more stand-up comedy to kick off the weekend. There's Nerd Nite Tokyo, which has a special theme of open science in Japan and is at Accenture Digital Hub this month. And another intriguingly-titled talk, News, The Media, Entertainment, Information and Fakery by David Schlesinger, the previous editor-in-chief of Reuters.

Planning ahead

Next Perfect Liars Club show is on May 11th. Buy tickets.

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. And remember: the Broadway show Singin' in the Rain is on all week! And you can still see the fab filmed version of Miss Saigon from London at Toho Nichigeki til the 13th.

Sat April 8 - Quite a cool-sounding Art of Disney exhibition is opening today at Miraikan in Odaiba. Then the place to be tonight is obviously Comedy Sumo Slam. It's a topical comedy gameshow based on this week's news, and even better, your beloved Perfect Liars Club MC Layla is performing! 7pm, Two Dogs Taproom Roppongi. Or if you don't like your comedy served with a side of competition, there's also the Vega Comedy Show in Ebisu tonight. Or if you're a Trainspotting fan, there's a special screening today at 7pm at Marunouchi Piccadilly cinema, so you can watch it prior to Trainspotting 2, which launches today. (there's also a Trainspotting pop-up bar at Parco Shibuya!). Finally, if you are feeling even more hardcore, head over to Shin-Bungeiza cinema in Ikebukuro at 10:30pm for a Lars von Trier all-nighter! Breaking the Waves, Dancer in the Dark and Antichrist. Then stagger home about 6am on Sunday...

Sun April 9 - Go listen to Jim Douglas read from his critically acclaimed and recently published crime suspense novel, Tokyo Nights at Good Heavens, 5pm. There aren't very many author events in English in Tokyo, so enjoy this one! It's also the final day of the David Bowie exhibition.

Mon April 10 - Tonight, Good Heavens is kicking off a new night, Monday at the Movies. Be there by 7:30pm to enjoy the classic film noir, Double Indemnity. Free, in English, with Japanese subtitles (and the full bar and food menu will be available throughout the film). Come along and persuade them to make it a regular event! There's also open mic comedy at Otsuka so go laugh and/or make people laugh. 

Tue April 11 - Not much on tonight, so maybe time to head to the cinema? I thought Jackie was quite depressing. If I was recommending a film to see, I'd go for Passengers, Sing, or Moana. This week I'm planning to see Lego Batman and Lion. Moonlight and La la Land are still out too. I also hear people are enjoying Ghost in the Shell and of course there's Trainspotting 2, though both are a bit too alarming for me personally.

Wed April 12 - Good Heavens Comedy Club is tonight. Or if you are interested in women's and LGBT rights, the Canadian Embassy is hosting Equality for All this evening, including the Japan premiere of English-language film Freedom to Marry, and a panel discussion about parallels between women's rights and LGBT rights, with lessons from Canada, US, Taiwan, Australia and Japan. Buy tickets by Friday 7th to guarantee entry.

Thu April 13 - Your favourite show in Tokyo, Perfect Liars Club is tonight. Hooray! Buy your tickets now! (or you can get them for 2000 yen on the door). Four people tell a crazy story but only three are true. Listen, laugh, interrogate, and vote. Are you shrewd enough to spot the liar? This show is so much fun.

Fri April 14 - Tonight in Roppongi there's Balls to the Wall comedy. Or get political at a talk at Temple University about What Trump's presidency will mean for the Middle-East. Also, we hear the UK's National Theatre Live program will be bringing us Hangmen, opening tonight at Toho Roppongi. Time Out called this Royal Court production 'The funniest play in London right now'. The plot: what's the second-best hangman in England to do on the day they've abolished hanging? Check the cinema website for details - they weren't available yet when I looked.

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.

Fri 17 Feb - Yokohama Theatre Group is bringing a double bill of amazing-sounding Canadian theatre to the World Peace Theatre in Kawasaki: I'm Doing This for You is a one-woman show blending storytelling, live-art and improvisation. Edinburgh Spotlight called it "funny, quirky and ultimately heartbreaking". Then Space Hippo is an adventure-comedy science-fiction show with a hint of social satire. It uses over 200 intricately cut shadow puppets projected onto a large screen to create the feeling of watching a live animated movie. The double bill is on tonight at 7pm. Then, from Canada to the UK... Richard III opens tonight - filmed at the Almeida Theatre in London, screened all week at Toho Nihonbashi. Finally, if theatre's not for you, you catch the old movie All I Desire (11, 2:20. 5:40 and 9) at Cinemavera, or else go see comedy at Asagaya.

Sat 18 Feb - I'm Doing This for You and Space Hippo shows are on today at 2pm and 7pm at the World Peace Theatre in Kawasaki. Or over at the Koenji Engei festival, there's an English-language rakugo show (Japanese-style storytelling) at 2pm by Rakugo Without Borders. If you want your afternoon more literary, head to the University of Tokyo at Komaba for lectures on 'reading novels: misunderstandings over an English Style' and 'Novel Hats' followed by a reception. On the other hand, if you're in the mood for an English-language-rom-coms-featuring-dying-people movie theme, starting tonight and for the next two weeks , Ginrei Hall has a double bill of Me Before You and Miss You Already. Finally tonight there's a free Vega comedy show at Vega Wine Bar in Ebisu.

Sun 19 Feb - At 12 noon you can see English-language rakugo at Oedo Ryogokutei. I'm Doing This for You and Space Hippo are on today at both 1pm and 5pm at the World Peace Theatre in Kawasaki. In the evening, there's even more English-language rakugo. Or why not go to bilingual improv with Pirates of Tokyo Bay in Ebisu, or of course the brilliant Comedy Sumo Slam in Roppongi (a gameshow type comedy night based on current affairs/news).

Mon 20 Feb - It's a comedy open mic night by Stand Up Tokyo in Otsuka.

Tue 21 Feb - Not much on tonight. So maybe a good time to go see London's Richard III - a play filmed at the Almeida Theatre and screened at Toho Nihonbashi?

Wed 22 Feb - Free this afternoon? Go to a lecture on 'Imagining a Ghost: On Elizabeth Bowen and The Back Drawing' at Gakushuin University. Tonight US comedian Steve Hofstetter from the Late Late Show and VH1 is coming to Tokyo from one night only. His YouTube videos have 100 million views. Sounds like he's going to be fab - don't miss it. Or if you are looking for interesting, arty talks in English and Japanese by Tokyo's creative community, tonight is Pecha Kucha and they are celebrating their 14th birthday!

Thu 23 Feb - Tonight Tokyo International Players launch their new play about couples and the complexities of relationships, Speaking in Tongues. It's at Pocket Square Nakano. Also tonight, you can hear a talk at Temple University about racial profiling or one at Tokyo University Hongo on 'Dressing for Success: Costume in the Nineteenth Century Novel' by Clair Hughes who wrote Dressed in Fiction.

Fri 24 Feb - How did the last Friday of the month come upon us so quickly? As ever, so many great options. Will it be the amazingly good improv show Improvazilla? Or the monthly poetry slam Drunk Poets See God at Bar Gari Gari? (This month's theme is doors, and anyone can stand up and perform their poetry.) Or Dr Sketchy's Anti-Art School, a monthly event for people who like to draw burlesque performers. Also tonight, Balls to the Wall comedy show in Roppongi, and Fruits in Suits, an LGBT networking night; the guest speaker is chair of the LGBT Taiwan Tongzhi Hotline Association. And of course, there's Tokyo International Players' play Speaking in Tongues in Nakano.

Sat 25 Feb - Tokyo International Players' play Speaking in Tongues is at 1pm and 7pm. At 5:30 see English-language rakugo at Oedo Ryogokutei. Eddie Izzard is bringing his comedy show Force Majeure to Tokyo for one night only! It's going to be tricky to track down tickets at this stage... don't say I didn't warn you! Starting today, you can see a A Winter's Tale, a British National Theatre Live theatrical production starring Judy Dench, filmed in London and screened at Yebisu Garden Cinema. Or the fabulous War Horse, also filmed in London, and just thinking about it brings a tear to my eye. On til Friday. And Rendez-vous, the magazine promoting African and Caribbean culture in Asia, has an event tonight where comedian Evans Musoka is performing (I find him very funny).

Sun 26 Feb - You're probably too late if you didn't take my advice and grab a free ticket for the amazing, free, all-day Nobel Dialogue event today, bringing together Nobel laureates and other leading scientists to discuss 'the future of intelligence'. Looks like it may be sold out now, but keep an eye on the website/ seduce someone for a place. Not feeling science-y, or poor seduction technique? At noon you can see English-language rakugo at Oedo Ryogokutei. And at 3pm, it's your last chance to see Tokyo International Players' play Speaking in Tongues.

Mon 27 Feb - Happen to be available at 9am? Toho Roppongi is screening the Academy Awards! If you want to go, looks like you need to apply through the Toho app. This evening, enjoy another amazing visiting international comedian for one night only: it's Jimmy Carr at Yamano Hall in Yoyogi.

Tue 28 Feb - There's a talk at Temple University tonight about Liberalism and Chinese Economic Development. Or head to the Foreign Correspondents' Club for an author event, cocktail party and dinner with Hiromi T. Rogers, who will be discussing her book Anjin - The Life & Times of Samurai William Adams, 1564-1620, As Seen Through Japanese Eyes (sign up by 23rd Feb. It's 3500 yen for non-members).

Wed 1 March - It's Good Heavens Comedy Club tonight in Shimokitazawa. Enjoy.

Thu 2 March - Nothing much on tonight, so it could be a good evening to go to Yebisu Garden Cinema and check out A Winter's Tale or War Horse.

Fri 3 March - Tonight Apocrypha brings another evening of edgy and emotional storytelling to the stage at Bar Gari Gari. The theme tonight: Dear Younger Me. Or Gamuso comedy show is in Asagaya.

Planning ahead - things you should book in advance

10 March - There's going to be a screening of the 25th anniversary show of Miss Saigon on Broadway. I think it's a one-day-only special screening, though I might be misinterpreting. Either way, you'd better get over to Toho Nihonbashi and grab some tickets. If you spot a way to buy them online, tell me!

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 more than half of the tickets are already sold at time of typing this. So make sure you've reserved yours here.

Great things on in Tokyo in the coming week

Fri 10 Feb - If you're out of work in time, kick off the weekend with the lovely Hitchcock film Suspicion at Cinemavera at 1:20 or 5:30 - I saw it last weekend and it was fab. Then tonight it's Nerd Nite - hear talks about earthquakes, astrophysics, and non-profits in Japan while drinking your beer. Also tonight, Balls to the Wall comedy in Roppongi. Or go up to Waseda Shochiku cinema for a double bill of Song of the Sea (6:35) and Red Turtle (8:20). Yebizo, the International Festival for Art and Alternative Visions kicks off today in Ebisu. Last month's Perfect Liar, Donna, is singing jazz. Oh, and are you an aspiring actor? Tokyo International Players have their auditions for the Diary of Anne Frank this weekend.

Sat 11 Feb - Today the Tokyo Northern Lights Film Festival kicks off and runs all week: a range of great Scandinavian movies, eight of which have English subtitles. It's at lovely Eurospace in Shibuya. Have a fantastic Scandinavian film week! (side note: when I was in Estonia for work last year, events for this festival were happening at the same venue as my conference and I desperately wanted to switch rooms!). Upstairs in the same venue, catch the fabulous double bill of All I Desire (11, 2:30, 6) and Imitation of Life (12:30, 4, 7:30). One ticket lets you into both! Or save that for Valentine's Day... If you want something non-filmy, there's a lovely-sounding art exhibition of urban landscape and typography by Mariya Suzuki. If you go today 1-4, the artist might draw your face onto a mug. And there's a talk about the Skagen artists in English at the National Museum of Western Art at 2.

Sun 12 Feb - If you like drawing, then my favourite drawing event in Tokyo, PauseDraw, is today at 4pm in Shibuya. It's fully bilingual (English-Japanese), for adults, and is full of fun drawing games and exercises. And it's free. Then head back to the Tokyo Northern Lights Film Festival.

Mon 13 Feb - At 4pm there's a talk at the University of Tokyo on The process and factors for the domestic production of animation in Japan after World War II - free and no registration required.

Tue 14 Feb - There are lots of articles about things to do on Valentine's Day, such as TokyoCheapo, Tokyo Weekender, and Time Out. But whether you are celebrating together or by yourself, we think they all missed the best thing to do... well, if you're an old movie fan. It's Cinemavera's double bill of lovely old movies: Imitation of Life at 6, and All I Desire at 8. One ticket lets you into both. The most romantic option in town? I say yes!

Wed 15 Feb - Go to the Good Heavens Comedy Club for a night of stand up comedy tonight. The Stand Up Tokyo people have started up a fortnightly Monday show for people to try their new stuff, so Wednesdays are set to become of even higher quality.

Thu 16 Feb - The fabulous Tokyo Space Cafe is back, with a talk about black holes by Professor Chris Done, in Good Heavens - drink beer and learn about space in what's shaping up to be one of Tokyo's top events for people with an enthusiasm for science-type things. There's also comedy tonight at Double Tall Cafe in Shibuya.

Fri 17 Feb - Yokohama Theatre Group is bringing a double bill of amazing-sounding Canadian theatre to the World Peace Theatre in Kawasaki: I'm Doing This for You and Space Hippo. I'm Doing This for You is a one-woman show blending storytelling, live-art and improvisation. Edinburgh Spotlight called it "funny, quirky and ultimately heartbreaking". Then Space Hippo is an adventure-comedy science-fiction show with a hint of social satire. It uses over 200 intricately cut shadow puppets projected onto a large screen to create the feeling of watching a live animated movie. The double bill is on tonight at 7pm (also on over the weekend). From Canada to the UK... If you want UK theatre on the big screen, Richard III opens tonight at Toho Nihonbashi - filmed from London. Finally, if theatre's not for you, there's also another chance to catch All I Desire (11, 2:20. 5:40 and 9) at Cinemavera, or else go see comedy at Asagaya.