GET cracking and enjoy a host of events in Bolton and beyond over the Easter holidays.

Tomorrow and Saturday, a brand new family show will be staged at Manchester’s Opera House — The Easter Funny Show — written by and starring comedian and Cold Feet actor John Thomson and actor and singer Tam Ryan.

Comedy, adventure, music and slapstick combine for what promises to be an interactive extravaganza for all the family, bringing the fun of a festive panto to the holidays, with the pair playing guardians of the legendary golden egg of Easter.

John, who also appeared in The Fast Show, said: “We didn’t want to neglect the little ones, they can be a little bit left out.

“You don’t get many three-year-olds going, I thought the plot was very strong.

“All the kids start getting restless when Prince Charming sings a power ballad with Cinderella.

“It’s a show within a show.

“We want to bombard them with pure entertainment.”

While the little ones hunt for chocolate eggs, revellers can head to J2, Mawdsley Street, Bolton, for the club’s Jelly Baby student night on Wednesday for an Easter Hunt complete with free drinks and shots around the venue.

A host of events will be held throughout the rest of the week, including the club welcoming Oompa-Loompas and being transformed into a chocolate garden on Thursday, April 17, and playing host to the biggest Easter Sunday party in town.

On Easter Monday, April 21, Bolton town centre’s bars and clubs will stage B Festival, featuring local bands and to raise money for charity.

For the second year running, a range of bands will play at venues including Blind Tiger, Blue Boar, Brass Cat, The Bar, C2, Dragonfly, Downtown, Dog & Partridge, Shots Bar & Grill, En Vogue and Old Three Crowns.

Confirmed acts include Our Fold, Two Weeks Running, The Smiths Ltd, The Jade Assembly, Sky Valley Mistress, Bone Idols, Isabelle Campbell, Alicia Harrison, Mike Roberts, TV Jones, Bullets & Bourbon, Faster Than Bulls, The Polite Society and Gaz Grady.

Dawn Price, from Blind Tiger, said: “We are extremely lucky to have a huge wealth of diverse and talented musicians who play regularly in the town.

“To bring this together for one day is an exciting opportunity for all venues to work together with one common goal of generating as much money for our local charities as well as putting on a day of exciting events.

“The response from musicians and the public has been amazing.”

The events starts at noon, wristbands cost £3 in advance or £4 on the day with proceeds going to charities including Bolton Hospice.

For panto fun further afield, St Helens Theatre Royal will stage the classic story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, starring former Coronation Street actor Nick Cochrane, Charlie Griffiths, Claire Simmo and Simon Foster, from tomorrow until Easter Monday.

Promising oodles of glitz, glamour, songs, dance, family fun, silly antics and slapstick comedy, the magical ingredients have made the theatre’s seasonal shows record-breaking successes in the past.

Over in Bury, families can pay a visit to The Met to enjoy Image Musical Theatre’s production of Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book on Saturday, April 19, and puppet show The Worried Walrus on Saturday, April 26.