A West Wiltshire theatre group staged its first combined show on Saturday – and it was a case of rocking with the ‘king’ of popular music.

Rag and Bone Arts CIC, a Chippenham-based social enterprise, debuted an original show, ‘Elvis in Wonderland’ at the Cause Music and Arts Centre, with more than 100 people watching.

The group, now in its 6th year, has secured funding from the Chippenham Local Youth Network to stage the new production, which is an amalgamation of Elvis with ‘Alice in Wonderland’.

Director Laura Graham-May said: “It was brilliant. We had Elvis travelling back in time to the 1950s, before coming forward to 2017 to save the world from the Queen of Hearts, aka Donald Trump.”

“The kids come up with the ideas and I write the scripts. They are unique and creative kids and we pride ourselves on being the opposite to a stage school.

“We have designers, as well as actors and dancers, with everyone given a role to suit them. We also pride ourselves in being inclusive, as we work around the kids who join us.

“This show on Saturday, is our first combined show, with the older kids, and also integrates our adult drama group.” The production featured three Elvis hit singles, Love You Because (1956), Always on My Mind (1972) and If I Could Dream (1968).

Earlier this year, the company introduced a 12-16 age group to go alongside its 7-11 age group, and relocated to The Cause Music and Arts Centre, at 42 The Causeway, Chippenham, which is now its new home.

Saturday’s production was supported by Rag and Bone Arts’ patron, Trevor Beattie, with hair and make-up being done by a local stylist, Sarah Winstone. Afterwards, the cast enjoyed a ‘Fabulous Fifties’ hog dog buffet supplied by a local company, Nourishers, to celebrate a “fantastic’ year.

Laura added: “We are really pleased with the progress that we’ve made this year and finally to take a very small wage, having worked for free for six years.”

Rag and Bone Arts is also running summer workshops to teach street dance and stage combat, with support from Bath College students that Laura once taught and who are now working theatre professionals.

Further details are available from Rag and Bone Arts at www.ragandbone arts.com or from the Cause Music and Arts Centre.