Sarah Singleton looks ahead at the weekend events

Comedy in control

Top of the bill this weekend is a show by popular comedian Sarah Millican, who is visiting Swindon’s Wyvern Theatre on Sunday night.

Sarah, who was born and brought up in South Shields, worked as a civil servant before achieving comedy success. In 2008, she won the award for Best Newcomer and since then has appeared on a host of television shows, such as Have I Got News For You, Mock the Week and Live at the Apollo.

She has become a well-known figure, known for her straight-talking and down to earth approach to everyday life topics - and in February 2013 was listed as one of the 100 most powerful women in the United Kingdom by Woman’s Hour on Radio 4.

She has received BAFTA nominations for her BBC show The Sarah Millican Television Programme, and joined the panel for Loose Women.

Her show is called Control Enthusiast - as opposed to being a control freak. In a night of down to earth comedy, she will be explaining the niceties of control enthusiasm, as well as discussing Rescue Men, farting in hospital pants, what can happen at a bra fitting, the benefits of casserole, plus tips on how to talk to shop assistants and the correct way to eat a biscuit.

Described as frank, funny and unapologetically filthy, Sarah’s show is not suitable for those aged under 16. She is touring for most of 2018 and tickets – if you are lucky enough to have one as the show, like many of the tour dates, is currently sold out – cost £31.

Beehive goes pop with Saint Loe

Saint Loe, a quartet of vocal harmony talent from Bath, will bring their modern-day pop sound to the Beehive in Swindon on Saturday night.

Ben Willingham (electric guitar, vocals), Danny Waldron (drums, vocals) and twins Dan (bass, vocals) and Alex Clewlow (acoustic guitar, vocals) formed Saint Loe in October 2015 and have been gigging in Bath, the south west of England and beyond since then.

The up and coming band has played festivals such as Glass Butter Beach, they are all set to play more in the future and plan to create a new EP this year. Their single Fall In is already available on iTunes, Soundcloud and Spotify.

Saint Loe - named after the Bath University campus where they studied music - sing ballads and are inspired by bands such as The Beatles and McFly, as well as up and coming bands such as Eliza and the Bear. They also like James Blunt, Ed Sheeran and James Bay.

The concert is a home-coming for Danny, who comes from Swindon.

The free concert at the pub on Prospect Hill, which also offers cask ales, craft beers and locally sourced food, kicks off at 8.30pm. For more details call  01793 523187 or visit http://bee-hive.co.uk/

Everyone welcome at Goddess of Wisdom festival

This year’s celebration of the Hindu festival, the Saraswati Puja, takes place on Sunday at the Punjabi Community Centre.

Hundreds of people are expected to attend the celebration in honour of Saraswati, the goddess of wisdom, knowledge and art.

Hindus believe she endows people with the powers of speech, wisdom and learning and each year the Hindu community in Bangladesh and India celebrate her festival. The Puja is a prayer ritual of devotional worship.

Organisers want people from different backgrounds to come in and enjoy the event, now in its sixth year.

The event combines the Puja in the afternoon, followed by a programme of cultural events in the evening. The cultural programme, which begins at 6pm, includes music and dance, including a flute performance, Bollywood dancing, a tabla performance and a Bengali group with solo songs.

A raffle will also take place, with prizes including a television and a laptop.

The Puja begins at 2pm at the centre in Cricklade Road.