Comedy festival set for musical mayhem (From This Is Wiltshire)

Comedy festival set for musical mayhem

3:52pm Monday 29th June 2009

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MUSICAL mayhem is on the cards when Pluck! take over the Wyvern Theatre stage this week.

And for violinist Adrian Garratt it is a particularly important show as the audience will be filled with his friends and family as he was born in the town.

"I grew up in Bradon Stoke and went to school in Wootton Bassett, so my early musical life was in Swindon, " said the 36-year-old.

"I was part of Swindon Young Musicians for many years and I have lots of fond memories of the town.

"It was probably while I was sat in an orchestra, not doing very much, that I started to come up with the ideas that, eventually, went on to be the basis of Pluck."

The melodic trio are presenting their Musical Arson show on Thursday, at 7.30pm, as part of the Swindon Comedy Festival.

Adrian, who is joined by Jon Regan and Flora Allison, will be showing off the silly side of classical music as they compete, ridicule, argue and seduce their way through everything from Bach to the Beatles.

Adrian formed the group in 2002 and since then they have crescendoed their way to fame with their talents.

Their debut at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival saw them win the prestigious Tap Water Award, they have stunned football stadium audiences, interviewed the President of Slovenia in a boxing ring and played at the Glastonbury Festival.

"We've been all over the world, " said Adrian, who is now based in London.

"Because most of it is the music or facial expressions and hand gestures it transcends language barrier. It doesn't really matter whether or not you can understand English.

"It has a cheeky charm to it and is suitable for the whole family, from eight to 80-year-olds."

He said the audience at Thursday's show can expect to have their expectations turned on their heads.

"A lot of people have a staid view of classical music, " said Adrian.

"But we try and make it fun. It's very physical and our characters are three complete clowns who can't stand each other and are trying to put on a classical concert.

"It's a recipe for disaster."

Tickets cost £12 for adults and £8 for children. A family ticket (to include at least two children) costs £40.

For more information, or to book, call 01793 524481 or log on to www. wyverntheatre. org.

What's coming up in the festival
Comedy festival line-up JAMES CAMPBELL, pictured - JUNE 28, 2.30PM WARM up your funny bones with the world's only standup comedian for kids.

The show is suitable for children aged six.

Tickets cost £7.50 and a family ticket (one adult and two children) costs £20.

TOPPING AND BUTCH - JUNE 29, 9.30PM MIX of witty satirical comedy combined with illustrious songs regarding famous people, such as Cherie Blair. Tickets cost £12.

COMEDY CURRY - JULY 3, 7.30PM SET in The Circle restaurant, diners are in for a night of Indian cusine and a bellyful of laughs courtesy of two comedians. Diners are asked to arrive at 7.30pm for dinner at 8pm.

Tickets cost £24.

THE BAD FILM CLUB - PLAY ALONG XANADU, JULY 3, 7.30PM Rob Deering is your host for the evening as you go on a journey through bad plot lines and terrible dialogue. Feel free to jeer, heckle and participate with the film and become the movie orchestra, with a range of mini instruments to play along.

Tickets are £10.

For more information, or to book tickets, call the Wyvern Theatre on 01793 524841.

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