VARIETY is the buzz word at the Whatever Next show, performed by exuberant young entertainers, known as the Festival Players.

The first of five performances took place on Tuesday, July 21, at Offenham Village Hall, before the performers, mainly A-level students, started a short tour of the Evesham area.

A production spokesman said: "They are performing an eclectic mixture of comedy readings, songs, music and drama, some Shakespeare and even one episode of the TV comic masterpiece, Porridge, written by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, and performed with their special permission.

"The will perform at Lifford Hall, Broadway today ( Friday July 24), Evesham Town Hall on Monday July 27, Bidford’s Crawford Memorial Hall on Tuesday July 28 and finally Peopleton Village Hall on Friday July 31. all at 7.30pm. "

The spokesman added: "These mostly A-level students were challenged some months ago by director, Eric Jones, to come together when exams were over and learn, rehearse and perform an evening of comedy, music and some classic words, all within six weeks, and that’s what they’ve done. With pieces by Molière, Shakespeare and Winston Churchill, plus music from several shows, as well as the episode of Porridge, this promises to be a relaxing, fun and thought-provoking entertainment for a summer’s evening.

"So this production has come together in five weeks, with several rehearsals a week, and manoeuvring around some who were on school trips to Spain, holidays, trips to London, other exams and other ‘interruptions’. One player, Tom Watson, gets back to Evesham from Barcelona 19½ hours before the first performance."

Poignantly, the readings include some astounding letters written home by soldiers from the Battle of Waterloo, both World Wars, the Falklands, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Further details on 01386 48788 / 07973 802285.