on the town

Quiz time. Who are Wendy, Roley, Dizzy, Lofty, Scoop, Pilchard and Spud? If you knew that they are Bob the Builder's pals then you have small children, a very limited range of entertainment options, or possibly both. There are live Bob the Builder shows at the SECC from Wednesday until Sunday, with shows at 6pm for the first three days, followed by 10.30am and 2pm matinees on Saturday and 2.30pm and 5.30pm on Sunday.

Bob may only have four fingers, but he's sure to get a big hand for this spectacular stage show. It ain't a big telly, it's live. Tickets, prices etc, from 0870 040 4000.

There's a production that will interest older children and adults at The Arches on Friday and Saturday. It is titled Waylang Scotlandia and is the tale of Bima, the great warrior of Indonesian folklore. His story is brought to life by puppeteers Joko Susilo and Matthew Isaac Cohen, with music provided by Glasgow Gamelan Naga Mas. On the gamelan, of course, which, for the uninitiated, is a great big huge thing packed full of jangles, tinkles, chimes, peals and all sorts of fascinating sounds.

For the occasion the bar of The Arches will be transformed into an Indonesian village. We are promised all the ingredients of Indonesian theatre, i.e. socialising, puppetry, music, storytelling . . . and alcohol . . . so better keep an eye on those older ones. At (pounds) 4 and (pounds) 6 it isn't expensive for what promises to be one of the more unusual theatrical experiences this year. Information from 0901 022 0300.

If you prefer your entertainment more mainstream, here's another quiz question. What have Richard Gere, Luke Goss, Shane Richie, Darren Day, Paul Nicholas and Craig Mclachlan got in common with Craig Urbani? Yep, you're right, they've all played Danny in Grease, and the South African heartthrob is the new incarnation of the Zuko dude, all black leather and hormones jumping from every pore.

More than four million people have seen it since it opened in London in 1993 and, while four million people can be wrong (just look at how many people follow the English football team), this time they ain't. It has got it all. Grease is the word and I am hopelessly devoted to it. It is at the King's until Saturday. Bookings on 0141 287 7000.

On a more serious note, here's another question. What do you think that a man called John Ross would be in nineteenth-century America? Sounds like a banker or an industrialist, doesn't he? He was in fact principal chief of the Cherokee nation at the time when they were forcibly evicted from their lands, where they were peaceful farmers and had converted to Christianity, and forced to march 800 miles to the lands west of the Mississippi.

It was called The Trail of Tears and justifiably so, as 25% of them, a quarter of a whole nation, died on the way.

There is a play, Brave, about this period in history, and about John Ross, currently running at The Old Fruitmarket. It is a promenade performance and you are right in there with the victims of oppression, fighting their fights and attempting to right their wrongs. There is a matinee today at 1pm and the evening performance is at 8pm.It runs till April 11. Tickets from 0141 429 0022.