“The Museum Of Tat” by Milk Bottle Productions.
The Old Library, Mansfield.

It's always interesting when you're asked along to see something brand new because you have no preconceptions of what you're about to see, and as a reviewer that is fresh and very exciting.

This piece of theatre follows on from the podcast series “The Museum of Tat”, This is a send up of all of those antique programmes you see on TV where you take a piece you think is worth thousands to be told it’s worth 50p.

It pokes a gentle finger at how serious people can be when they think there may be a fortune loitering in their attic, cellar of bottom drawer, as well as the “experts” valuing the objects

Simon Nader co stars in this production, ahead of its relocation relocation ( no that’s another TV show) to the Edinburgh Fringe, and plays the Presenter, Derek Knowless, desperately trying to keep the online show going, and by the end he is quite literally at his wits' end.

Robert Crighton plays Professor Jeffrey Collins, the specialist who gets to value tat from audience members, who are asked to join in and bring their favourite pieces of tat for a professional evaluation. This pre-empts the main feature and also carries on after the theatrical performance ends.

At times it borders on organised anarchy as Collins works out the last minutes of his contract and Knowless appears to have a secret bottle of something to get him through the live staged podcast.

All great fun and the audience are only too willing to take part in the show. there was also an auction for a piece of tat which went for much more than both Collins and Knowless expected.

This is one of those productions where it's very hard to work out if this show is a scripted one or if it's improvised; maybe a bit of both. I say this because the comedy seems instant and anarchic, and sometimes this style of comedy is better off the cuff, especially when the two actors are well tuned in with each other.

This show is going to go down a storm in the Fringe, for a couple of reasons.

One: It's funny and it's fun and it's novel.

Two: The antiques TV show format is watched by many students and has a cult status; a bit like "Supermarket Sweep" was a massive hit for students. The Fringe is the place for students to get to see a wide host of great entertainment, ergo It's a hit!

Cleverly conceived and recognised as being a gap in the market that needs filling - let's face it I have never seen a play based on this theme before, have you?

Spotting that gap to fill in theatre is not easy but that has been well spotted and well developed into an hour show which not only includes comedy, but has audience participation, an auction and a sing along with choreography. Not only that but you can see this show several times and never see the same show twice. Clever!