THE David Essex action-packed musical, All The Fun Of The Fair, has run in the West End and toured may parts of the country but has never been performed in this area, making the forthcoming production a first for Chard.

Newly-named Chard Entertainment Society chose the show as a fitting prelude to the town’s 2015 Carnival, and it will run at the Guildhall in Chard from October 7-9, 2015, during Carnival Week.

The society listened to local people’s views and took the decision to break with tradition and stage a truly modern show with tickets priced under £10.

With music and lyrics by David Essex around the book by well-known writer Jon Conway, this fresh jukebox musical is unlike any of the society’s previous productions.

Set in a fairground, the show draws on Essex’s gypsy traveller background and features many of his greatest hits, including Hold Me Close, Gonna Make You A Star, Rock On, Me And My Girl and Silver Dream Machine.

The show follows Levi Lee, played by David Penticost, a recently widowed father with a rebellious teenage son Jack, who is played by Adam Chudley. There is a gypsy future teller who is in love with Levi, and tells him there is danger and mysticism in his future. Dodgems and motorbikes, crafty cons and candy floss, fairground stalls and fights, as well as unrequited love, romance and rock and roll bring out the carnival atmosphere in this colourful world of fairground life.

All The Fun of the Fair is at the Guildhall from October 7-9 with performances at 7.30pm nightly.

Tickets are just £8 in advance and are available from Barron’s in Holyrood Street, Chard, or online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/chardentertainmentsociety (small booking fee applies), or £10 on the door.

A society spokesman said: “So roll up and get your tickets now for this toe-tapping modern musical love story with a heart-breaking twist.”