The Marvellous & unlikely fete of Little UPPER DOWNING [sic] is a simple recipe for an inspiring night out. The story: the villagers of Little and Upper Downing sworn enemies until one night, in the fog, two musicians bump into each other and form a band uniting their villages.

Add four young but energetic and talented musician/actors, a clever script and some inspiring ad-libbing, some well rehearsed, some quite spontaneous!

Often theatre is quite strictly demarcated; the actors on stage and the audience in its place. The rural theatre scheme has a wonderful opportunity to turn that on its head. The need to perform in small halls with minimal props, on a shoestring budget, can be turned into an asset.

The company, Claire Beresford, Dominic Conway, Alex Scott and Shamira Turner drive the performance with their compelling folk music and enthusiasm.

Mandolin, guitar, bass, accordion, harmonica and guitar blend with a multitude of quick change characters.

The cast were already in the hall talking to some members of the audience when the rest of us arrived, and the warm-up music turned seamlessly into the show. That welcoming banter continued, too, and soon we realised we weren’t just there to watch.

A balloon fight between the two halves of the audience set the style for the evening! The cast’s skill lay in judging the crowd and picking the right people to join in. Most of the village audience knew each other well, further breaking down the barriers.

At first it seemed as though there was a real make-it-up-as-we-go-along element to the show, but before long we realised that behind the spontaneity was a carefully conceived and polished plan. Everyone left feeling they had been a real part of a great night out not merely the audience.

Shows like this depend heavily on support from local authorities. Doubting politicians only need to see this Little Bulb Theatre performance to know it is money well spent.