The Bishop’s Cleeve Tithe Barn will this month play host to two of the village’s finest performing groups.

The Bishop’s Cleeve Players and Cleeve Harmony will be taking to the stage together for a special production, called ‘Music and Laughter’.

“Last year Cleeve Harmony joined the Players for our Variety Show,” said Sandy Newman, who is actually a member of both groups.

“It was very successful so we thought we’d join forces again.”

This year’s show will see the Players taking on a number of comedy sketches and short plays, with Cleeve Harmony providing musical accompaniment and also performing songs from the last 50 years.

Sandy continued: “Next year is our 65th anniversary so we’ve been looking back through previous productions and found some short plays written by our members.

“We’re going to be doing a spoof of Agatha Christie’s ‘Poirot’, a bit like ‘The Play That Goes Wrong’ with missing props, wigs that don’t fit, and other hilarious moments.

“We’re also doing a melodrama called Virtue Triumphant and a few sketches with lots of audience participation.”

Rehearsals are well underway for the Players, with an influx of new onstage and behind the scenes members boosting the group’s already impressive numbers.

Cleeve Harmony haven’t been around as long as the Players – “it’s their ‘6.5’ year anniversary!” added Sandy, who has been part of the group for four of those years.

The group is made up of around 30 women of all ages, who get together every Wednesday to rehearse under the guidance of leader Donna Whitehouse.

“Our youngest member is 17 and our oldest, well I don’t think I need to divulge that!” said Sandy.

“We do a lot of concerts especially over Christmas. We last performed up in Evesham for The Tracey Sollis Leukaemia Trust, we do a lot of charity work.

“We perform songs like ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ and ‘This Is Me’ from ‘The Greatest Showman’ – we’re very varied, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.”

Sandy will be taking on a directorial role alongside Brian Paterson for the Players, with Donna leading the chorus.

After the success of last year’s Variety Show, she is sure the performances will again provide a good night out.

She continued: “We’re going to be setting out the hall in a cabaret-style setting. We did it for a performance earlier in the year and it was really successful, it’s more informal, people can have a drink with the show.”

Music and Laughter will be at the Cleeve Tithe Barn on Friday 22nd and Saturday 23rd November.

For tickets and more information visit www.bishopscleeveplayers.co.uk