The curtain rises on Madam Renards Mini Fringe festival of music, dance and drama in various venues around Swindon.

The idea behind the festival, which runs from Friday, March 28 to Saturday, April 4, is to promote the arts in the town and the venues on board are Steam, Swindon Dance, Phoenix Theatre, The Vic and the Wyvern Theatre.

The Phoenix Theatre, nestling amongst a hub of student talent in Swindon’s New College, is playing host to two of the fringe productions on Saturday, April 4.

The music department, led by Dr Themis Toumpoulidis, kicks off proceedings at 1pm with a showcase across the musical spectrum of genres. The Performing Arts students play their pieces on a variety of musical instruments.

Next up is the dance department with Head of Dance, Nikki McKnight, leading her students in a show of dance routines, taken from their latest production, This Is It. Nikki co-choreographs some of the dances and others are the students own work.

The third showing in the afternoon production is from the drama department led by Natalie Kitching. The students stage scenes from writers such as Frederica Garcia Lorca, John Godber, and Howard Brenton.

Refreshments are available between all the showcases.

At 7.30pm the Whole Hog Theatre Company take to the stage with the Bard’s popular comedy Much Ado About Nothing.

Whole Hog are the resident theatre company at Phoenix and have won more than 30 awards for their work.

Much Ado About Nothing has many incarnations being filmed and stage produced in a variety of ways including the Kenneth Brannagh and Emma Thompson classic and the most recent Hollywood version, directed by Joss Whedon.

The Swindon company give it a Sicilian feel with Steve Sprosson and Fenella Harrop as the sparring couple Benedict and Beatrice, working under the experienced director’s baton of Matthew Clift. Matthew is also the founder of the company.

The plot revolves around two couples and the deceit and treachery that they encounter as matters of the heart are revealed.

Last week the company gave the comedy its first airing in Bristol and on April 21 they will be treading the boards again, this time making Much Ado About Nothing at the Isle of Man Easter Festival. The combined trio of performances has enabled Whole Hog to be chosen as part of the Royal Shakespeare Company Open Stages Project.

Tickets to the mini fringe at the Phoenix are £12 from 01793 524481 or visit www.wyverntehatre.org.uk. - Flicky Harrison