Our critics' picks of this week's openings, plus your last chance to see and what to book now
• Which cultural events are in your diary this week? Tell us in the comments below
Opening this week
Theatre
Gypsy
Everything should be coming up roses in Leicester, where Paul Kerryson revives Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim's legendary musical, inspired by the memoirs of burlesque dancer Gypsy Rose Lee. Caroline O'Connor plays the monstrous Mama Rose, who pushes her daughters to perform on stage to satisfy her own thwarted dreams of stardom. Curve, Leicester (0116-242 3595), tonight to 15 April.
Mary Shelley
Frankenstein's creator comes under the spotlight in Helen Edmundson's new play, which follows hard on the heels of her RSC success, The Heresy of Love. Polly Teale directs for Shared Experience, a company that has done so much to put women's lives centre stage. West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds (0113-213 7700), Friday to 7 April. Then touring.
Film
The Raven (dir. James McTeigue)
John Cusack stars in this satirical period horror. A mysterious serial killer is re-enacting the plots of Edgar Allan Poe's gruesome stories.
Dance
Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company: Classic Cut
Revival of Configurations, Jeyasingh's classic collaboration with Michael Nyman, paired with new work set to music by Niraj Chag. Linbury Studio theatre at Royal Opera House, London WC2 (020-7304 4000) Tuesday until 17 March. Then touring.
Birmingham Royal Ballet
Double bill of romantic Ashton – Daphnis and Chloë and Two Pigeons – in season with Peter Wright's vividly coloured staging of Delibes's comic ballet score. Coliseum, London WC2 (0871 911 0200), Tuesday and Wednesday.
Classical
Total Immersion: Brett Dean
The latest of the BBC's composer days focuses on the music of the 50-year-old Australian, including the UK premieres of Fire Music and his Grawemeyer award-winning violin concerto, The Lost Art of Letter Writing, with Renaud Capuçon as soloist. Barbican, London EC2 (020-7638 8891), Saturday.
The Rake's Progress
David McVicar returns to his home town to direct a new production of Stravinsky's neoclassical masterpiece for Scottish Opera, with Edgaras Montvidas and Steven Page leading the cast. Theatre Royal, Glasgow (0844 871 7647), Saturday until 25 March; Festival theatre, Edinburgh (0131-529 6000), 27, 29 and 31 March.
Jazz
Get the Blessing
Vivacious jazz-rock band driven by Portishead's rhythm section plays mix of Ornette Coleman-influenced jazz, Morricone-like atmospherics, warped systems-music, and old-school twangy guitar rock from new OC DC album. Arnolfini, Bristol (0117-917 2300), Thursday. Then touring until 4 April.
Pop
The Civil Wars
Improbably crossing the divide between alt-country cultdom and the glitzy world of the Country Music awards, the acclaimed duo arrive in Britain. Tour begins Tuesday at HMV Institute, Birmingham (0843 221 0100).
Art
Turner Inspired: In the Light of Claude
The light Claude shines on Turner is less vital than seeing 17th-century French painter Claude Lorrain in the light of Turner's incandescent 19th-century vision. Early, troubled modernity meets baroque loveliness. National Gallery, London WC2 (020-7747 2885), Wednesday until 5 June.
Last chance to see
Theatre
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Filter's funny and joyful take on Shakespeare celebrates the madness of love and performance with a mix of music and standup comedy, and knowing winks at theatrical convention. Such fun. Lyric Hammersmith, London W6 (0871 2211729), until Saturday.
Film
Bombay Beach (dir. Alma Har'el)
A Lynchian view of American life: lost, lonely, fragmented. The documentary looks at people now living in an abandoned vacation resort.
Jazz
Michael Wollny's Empirical
Young German pianist Wollny's band has much of the groove-power of the Bad Plus or EST, but Mahler, Berio and Schubert also share the tracklist on their new Wasted & Wanted album. They share this second night of Jazzwise magazine's week-long festival with award-winning UK postboppers Empirical. Ronnie Scott's Club, London W1 (020-7439 0747), Tuesday.
Pop
Laura Marling
Self-possessed folk-pop darling, ascending to ever-greater commercial heights with last year's A Creature I Don't Know. Tour ends Wednesday at Guildhall, Southampton (023-8063 2601).
Mark Lanegan Band
Lanegan turns his attention to dance music, among other things, on latest album Blues Funeral. Tour ends Tuesday O2 Empire London Shepherds Bush (020 8354 3300).
Art
Hanne Darboven
Obsession and repetition, music, notation and numbers mark the passing of time in the late German artist's curious and moving art. Strange and static music plays, in your head as well as across the walls. Camden Arts Centre, London NW3 (020-7472 5500), to Sunday.
Book now
Theatre
How Like an Angel
Australian circus stars Circa join forces with renaissance music specialists, I Fagiolini, to create a performance that celebrates the architecture and physical and spiritual aspirations of cathedrals. Norwich Cathedral (01603 766400), 26 June to 28 June. Then touring.
Troilus and Cressida
Now this should be something to savour: Rupert Goold and the Wooster group's Elizabeth LeCompte with a multimedia version of Shakespeare's play of war, love and betrayal. Swan, Stratford-upon-Avon (0844 800 1110), 3 August to 18 August.
Film
Once Upon a Time in Anatolia (dir. Nuri Bilge Ceylan)
A slow-burning police procedural with a kind of epic, arthouse grandeur. In place of conventional thrills there is metaphysical mystery.
Dance
Royal Ballet 3 Bill
The Royal at its adventurous best: new ballet by Liam Scarlett exploring the art and imagination of Walter Sickert; Wayne McGregor in chic collaboration with fashion designer Gareth Pugh and DJ/ guitarist Mark Ronson, plus a revival of Christopher Wheeldon's superbly inventive Polyphonia. Royal Opera House, London WC2 (020-7304 4000), from 5 April.
Classical
The Dream of Gerontius
Andris Nelsons continues the CBSO's special relationship with Elgar's choral masterpiece, with soloists Sarah Connolly, Toby Spence and James Rutherford. Symphony Hall, Birmingham (0121-780 3333), 12 April; Barbican, London EC2 (020 7638 8891), 14 April.
Jazz
Tord Gustavsen Quartet/Susanna
The minimal gospel-jazz, classical references and early-Jan Garbarek sound of Norwegian pianist Gustavsen's quartet with saxophonist Tore Brunborg has been one of the ECM label's most popular discoveries of the past decade. Gustavsen tours material from new album The Well, and for this opening gig only, is joined by equally captivating Norwegian vocalist Susanna. Queen Elizabeth Hall, London SE1 (0844 875 0073), Sunday. Then touring.
Pop
Buzzcocks
"Back to front" show promises appearances by all three incarnations of the Manchester punks – including the legendary original Howard Devoto-fronted lineup. Tour begins on 25 May at O2 Apollo Manchester (0844 477 7 677).
Art
Gillian Wearing
Private lives and public personas, false identities and intimate confessions are at the heart of Wearing's humane and humorous art. This major survey of the Turner prize-winning artist also includes new films and sculptures. Did I say sculptures? Intriguing. Whitechapel Gallery, London E1 (020-7522 7888) 28 March to 17 June.