Some people love to plan a menu, shop for the best ingredients, slave over a hot stove and ensure their dinner party never flags, with a ready supply of witty anecdotes and entertaining topics of conversation.

Then there's the rest of us, who forget to buy a vital ingredient, are still chopping veg 10 minutes before everyone is due to arrive - and have barely time to comb their hair, put on a bit of lippy and change their frock before lighting the candles, throwing on a CD and opening the door to the first guests who - damn them - turn up on time.

Few of us can afford to keep full-time staff but there's nothing like a relaxing evening when, as host, all you have to worry about is. . .well, frankly, there is nothing to worry about - not even the clearing up - if you have your dinner party catered and hire your own performer.

But there is another way: a way that you can enjoy yourself, along with everyone else. Here's how: Call in a caterer You might not have a guest list which includes Mick Jagger, Rod Stewart and Kate Moss, but you can have the same chef as Ronnie Wood's party - and he did.

Rock and roll caterer Royston Lyons spent 15 years travelling all over the world with artists such as Michael Jackson, Kylie, Eminem, Whitney Houston, Kiss and The Darkness.

Now he's scaled down the music industry side of his business so he can spend more time with his family.

Based in Swindon's Cheney Manor Trading Estate, Royston provides catering for dinner parties, as well as weddings and large social events.

He arrives at a client's home three to four hours before the party, depending on the menu chosen, to prepare the food.

When guests arrive, canapés and champagne can be served, before they move through to the table. After the meal, the table is cleared and tea and coffee is served with a cheese selection.

"We then clear and clean the kitchen and leave you to enjoy the rest of the evening in the comfort of your own home with your guests," said Royston. While he can't guarantee you won't have a hangover, at least you won't have the headache of washing-up in the morning.

Contact Lyons Catering on 01793 324087 or 07973540487.

GET ENTERTAINED

While the days of the court jester are well behind us, you can still enjoy some royal entertainment in the comfort of your own living room.

Falmouth-based touring group, Frantic Theatre Company, specialise in high energy 45-minute one-man (or woman) musical comedy shows.

The difference with Frantic is they perform in people's front rooms and places of work.

"From coffee morning shows for close friends to a lunchtime concert in a works canteen or meeting room, or a full-blown soiree or family get-together in the evening, each show can fit in anywhere space-wise (no room too small), from humble lounge to spacious palace," said artistic director Patrick Walsh.

"Frantic's mission is to take the very best live professional theatre into the heart of peoples' everyday lives, and to make something special happen.''

The shows themselves are in a style crafted over many years by the company and which they have termed new-time music hall' - a mix of traditional forms of musical theatre and vaudeville, with songs, skits and monologues - all performed with high energy footwork.

The company has been touring non-stop for more than 15 years with nearly 10,000 performances being given in venues as eclectic as front rooms, stately homes, homeless centres and offices, as well as the more commonplace theatres, village halls, arts centres, schools and comedy clubs.

The fee per performance is £250 plus VAT (subject to availability), or £150 plus VAT if it can be booked to coincide with the company's UK touring schedule. See www.frantictheatre.com for details.

11:28am Thursday 27th March 2008

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