The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain - Sixpenny Handley village hall

THE completely eccentric and utterly charming Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain played a blinder at Sixpenny Handley and, I dare say, it will be talked about for many years to come.

The six-piece outfit, all fine musicians and singers, treated us to an evening of popular music from the alternative universe of the ukulele. Anything that could be plucked was fair game.

Any fear that the evening might descenD into pure parody was quickly dispelled. As it was, it turned out it was a much more enriching experience and an awful lot of fun. Punctuated with dry wit and surreal one-liners, they treated us to wonderfully inventive 'uke' versions of Tchaikovsky, David Bowie, Gene Vincent, Miss Dynamite and The Clash.

Johnny Cash's Orange Blossom Special effortlessly morphed into Eric Clapton's Sunshine of your Love and the orchestra got in the groove with Chic's Le Freak and Prince's Kiss.

The theme from The Good, The Bad and The Ugly was given the full special effects treatment and The Dambusters' March was suitably stirring. Epic stuff.

Inevitably the name George Formby cropped up. But even his original uke music was given a twist with Leaning on a Lamp Post, delivered in the style of a strident Russian folk song.

My personal favourites included a clever version of Lou Reed's Satellite of Love, a hilarious rendition of Je T'Aime, which brought the house down, and Kate Bush's Wuthering Heights done in the style of Tony Bennett. It had to be heard to be believed.

A really splendid evening. Thank you Dorset Artsreach for making it possible.

Roger Elliott.