A THREE-COURSE festival of music and comedy in Northwich aims to change lives in The Gambia.

Gambifest takes place at The Grange Theatre, in Hartford, on the afternoon and evening of Sunday, October 4.

The event starts at 3.30pm with high quality classical music from a trio of former pupils from The Grange School before changing musical style at 5.45pm and then moving on to comedy from one of the country’s best stand-up comics at 8pm.

Hannah Fry, studying at the Royal Northern College of Music, will open the show, followed by Gemma Summerfield, a soprano who won the prestigious Kathleen Ferrier Award for young singers earlier this year.

Sophie Rosa, a virtuoso violinist with a growing international reputation, will close the classical segment and tickets are available for this section as a standalone, as well as for the festival as a whole.

The next course of music will feature songs from a combination of staff and students, including The Grange’s headteacher Chris Jeffery masquerading as the only surviving member of The Unsuitable Boys, Grange Talent Show favourite McLumbert and guests.

This section will be brought to a close by a West African drumming and dancing spectacular from Tanante.

The comedy course will see short sets by rising comics Clayton Jones and Tom Taylor before headline act Mark Watson takes to the stage.

Mr Jeffery said: “Despite having had the undoubted disadvantage in life of being taught by me, Mark has risen to become one of this country’s best and most popular stand-up comedians.

“He has hosted his own series of shows on Radio 4, won awards on the Edinburgh Fringe (where he enjoys semi-legendary status), made a habit of performing marathon improvised shows (including this year’s 27 hour spectacular for Comic Relief), and been a performer or panellist of many well known TV programmes including Never Mind The Buzzcocks, Mock the Week, The Apprentice (You’re Fired), Live at the Apollo and Would I Lie To You.”

There will be a licensed bar, sealed bid auction and raffle.

The festival is being organised to help the Darul Arkam School to open a senior section.

Mr Jeffery said: “All money raised by Gambifest will go to this project to help some of the poorest young people in The Gambia continue their education beyond elementary level.”

Tickets are £10 for the classical concert and £20 for the whole event.