Suggs ponders on the ups and downs of life with Madness, children's TV legend Dave Benson Phillips brings his family variety show, photographer Mark Farquharson takes a look at the stuff in his pockets and there are Easter egg trails at National Trust properties. SIMON PARKIN picks six cultural highlights not to miss this week.

TALK/MUSIC

Suggs

The Apex, Bury St Edmunds on April 15, 7.30pm, returns only, 01284 758000, www.theapex.co.uk

'I was lying in the bath on my 50th birthday nursing an epic hangover from the night before when there was an almighty crash,' says Suggs. 'I jumped out of the water and there, lying amid shards of broken glass shelf, was our four-year-old cat, a British blue called Mamba. My kids had recently left home and now the cat was dead. I was really upset. It triggered a deluge of emotion, an event that somehow tipped me over the edge. I began to consider my own mortality and, out of that, the idea for exploring my own past somehow crystallised.' The result is Suggs's latest stage show My Life Story, in which he takes to the stage in a hilarious, yet moving, one man tour de force in words and music based around his autobiography My Life Story with musical accompaniment and uncalled for interjection from Deano, his loyal man servant-cum-pianist. He will also be at the Marina Theatre, Lowestoft, on May 14.

FAMILY SHOW

Kid's Variety Adventure

Marina Theatre, Lowestoft, April 15-17, 11am/2.30pm, £12 (£9 cons), £35 family, 01502 533200, www.marinatheatre.co.uk

Starring children's TV legend Dave Benson Phillips this show promises fun for all the family. It tells the story of The Girl, The Wicked Witch and The Entertainer when they travel through the strange land of Mysteria. As the trio set out on their adventure to lift a 100-year-old curse from the land, they encounter many friends and foes – all weird and wonderful characters, each with their very own special talents. With magic from the Wise Old Wizard, comedy from Smilie the Clown and plenty of surprises.

MUSIC

Martin Speake Trio

The Cottage, Thunder Lane, Thorpe St Andrew, April 15, 8.30pm, £10, £5 under-25s, 01603 614169, www.norwichjazzclub.co.uk

This unusual trio of alto sax, guitar (Mike Outram) and drums (Jeff Williams) brings together all of Konitz-inspired saxophonist, composer and educator Martin Speake's musical influences alongside his favourite musical partners. Meditative ballads, trance-like grooves, free improvisation, minimalism, jazz standard songs, Arabic-influenced music, heavy-metal guitar and unaccompanied solos from each player feature in the music of this trio. This concert will features music from their recent double album, Always A First Time.

FAMILY

NT Easter Egg Trails

Sheringham Park, until April 22, 10am-4.15pm, £2.20 per child, 01263 820550/Felbrigg Hall, April 18-21, 11am-3.30pm/Oxburgh Hall, April 19-21, 11am-4pm, £2/Blickling Hall, April 20-21, 10.30am-4pm, normal admission, plus £2 per trail, 01263 738030, www.eastereggtrail.co.uk

The National Trust is having Cadbury Eggsplorers Easter Egg Trails during the Easter holidays at Sheringham Park, Felbrigg Hall, Blickling and Oxburgh Hall. Tread amongst the early flowering rhododendrons and camellias for the clues to complete your Easter trail at Sheringham Park. Follow the rhymes to discover more about the wildlife and plants to collect your Easter prize. Then there will be lots of eggs-static events to be enjoyed over the Easter weekend at Blickling. Discover the story of Blickling as you follow the trail around the garden. Come back and tell them your favourite character and win your Cadbury chocolate Egghead.

CLASSICAL

Norfolk County Youth Orchestra

St Andrews Hall, Norwich, April 17, 7.30pm, £15-£8, £5 under-18s, 01603 628319, www.standrewshall.co.uk

Norfolk County Youth Orchestra (NYCO) is a full symphony orchestra, performing three concerts each year and currently has some 87 young players aged from 12 to 21 - all talented musicians from Norfolk schools. The programme for this St Andrew's Hall concert will include Rimsky Korsakov - Dance of the Nobles from Mlada (wind, brass and percussion only); Dvorak Piano concerto; Mussorgsky Night on a Bare Mountain; Borodin In the Steppes of Central Asia; and Prokofiev's Dance of the Knights from Romeo and Juliet.

ART

Stuff In My Pocket

Norwich Arts Centre, until May 3, Mon-Fri 1pm-5pm, Sat 10am-6pm, free admission, 01603 660352, www.norwichartscentre.co.uk

A series of 12 images from a project by photographer Mark Farquharson features close-up photos of stuff he has collected when walking in the countryside, the coast or even just pottering about in the garden. Mark, an associate of the Royal Photographic Society, explains 'The theme in itself is simple. You see a stone, a leaf, a feather – whatever – for some reason that's the one you must take home. You like its shape, intricacy or texture. Or maybe you've just never looked at this object in that way before – close up. We can often look at these apparently simple objects and be fascinated by how alien they look or just be amazed by their complexity.'