Arts & Culture
Fix up look sharp! The most British show of the year comes to the Wyvern Theatre

A new comedy musical is bringing British Variety back to the theatre with a very quintessentially British twist to a the genre symbolised by the Crooner.

Crooners comes to Swindon’s Wyvern Theatre on March 8 with a brand new comedy musical that follows the story of three very British gentlemen who exhume the characteristics of a crooner; suave, self-assured, stylish, gentlemen who have a penchant for romance and sentimental music. Men who own tap shoes.

This comedy musical is a collaboration between comedy writer and performer, Roman Marek, and one of the UK’s most prolific modern swing bands The Mini Big Band. They are on a mission to lead a return to the British Variety shows of the past and celebrate this very British genre.

“I’m a song and dance man” said creator Roman Marek, “and was brought up on the music of the super cool crooners, but also on the quintessentially English stage humour of Morcombe and Wise, Bruce Forsyth, and Max Bygraves”

Roman has been a Frank Sinatra tribute performer on a major UK Rat Pack show for over 7 years and has learnt his craft of crooning well, but felt there was more to offer UK crowds; “The super cool Sinatra stuff is great” added Marek, “Audiences love the songs and the acts. But I started throwing in the less cool British comedy stuff; tripping up the stairs, telling a joke wrong, and the audience would howl with laughter…this was the way I wanted to perform”

The show features music of the Rat Pack singers Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jnr, as well as Tony Bennett, Bobby Darin and Britain’s very own crooner, Matt Monro with a set list of material never before heard in a theatre production.

“We wanted a show that makes British audiences laugh out loud. An all-singing, all-dancing musical comedy the likes of Morcombe and Wise”.  says band leader Jon Hibbard. “It’s original, has a swinging big band, and brings variety back to the theatre.”

The show includes the fully live on stage musicianship of the 10-piece modern swing band The Mini Big Band. This is going to be a Truly British Swingin’ Affair.

For further information, and to purchase tickets, click here.

  • Fix up look sharp! The most British show of the year comes to the Wyvern Theatre
  • Fix up look sharp! The most British show of the year comes to the Wyvern Theatre