SOMERSET-based theatre group Living Spit make a welcome return to Bath’s Ustinov Studio to present The Late-ivity, their hit festive comedy cleverly re-named for January.

The Late-ivity takes to the stage at Bath’s Ustinov Studio on Monday and Tuesday January 10 and 11.

The mistletoe may be manky and the tinsel may be tired, but the ever-reliable Living Spit will be delivering the same cornucopia of comic Christmassy crudeness that they did on tour in December.

Only this time it’s got a slightly different title and they’re doing it in January.

With a couple of perfunctory tweaks to the script and literally a few minutes of re-rehearsal, they’ve managed to make it appear that they’ve put loads of thought into it, whilst actually doing barely any work as they bring their hugely popular Christmas comedy for grown-ups, The Nativity, to Bath.

Recommended for over 16s and not for the faint-hearted, audiences can expect the usual mix of silly songs, pitiful puppetry and more Biblical befuddlement than you can shake a figgy pudding at.

The Late-ivity stars Howard Coggins and Stu Mcloughlin who, as well as touring the UK with Living Spit, have between them performed in a wide range of productions at Bristol Old Vic, Salisbury Playhouse, West Yorkshire Playhouse, Lyric Hammersmith, Newbury’s Watermill and toured with theatre companies including Kneehigh and the National Theatre.

Based in Clevedon, Somerset, Living Spit’s previous hugely popular shows include The Six Wives of Henry VIII, A Christmas Carol, Frankenstein and The Fabulous Bacon Boys.

Tickets are on sale at the Theatre Royal Bath Box Office on 01225 448844 and online at www.theatreroyal.org.uk/ustinov