TWO comedies are set to have audiences laughing at Malvern’s Festival and Forum Theatres this month. One that’s brand spanking new, while the other has been around a lot longer – having been written more than 100 years ago.

First up is Adrian’s Wall - a new comedy from the theatres’ own writer-in-residence, Nick Wilkes, which will run from tonight, September 16-20, the other toward's the end of the month.

There hasn’t been a resident playwright at Malvern since the 1930’s when George Bernard Shaw put Malvern on the map, and - alongside Sir Barry Jackson - created the famous Malvern Festival.

Now, in a bold move amidst nationwide cutbacks in arts funding, Malvern Theatres - in association with Nick’s company, Malvernbard - is once again producing new and original theatrical works for the first time in decades.

And Nick certainly doesn’t make things easy for himself. Having recently produced a play which saw a classic Morgan Motor Car on stage for the very first time in Mog Morgan, he’s going one step further this time by building a Roman Wall right across the theatre.

As well as writing and producing the piece, and changing the venue around into a new configuration, Nick also walked the entire length of Hadrian’s Wall in support of Help for Heroes while researching the play.

As for the play - Adrian Wilson has worked in an office for a long time. The same desk, same telephone, same office window, and having just turned 40, he’s decided the time has come to change the view… Inspired by a long-forgotten primary school history project, he sets out on a hilarious journey to walk the length of Hadrian’s Wall, and finds far more than just backpacks, blisters and bricks. A school reunion, a few military ghosts, and a short 84-mile wander. What could possibly go wrong?

Whether you sit north of the wall or south of it is up to you… but you’re guaranteed fun in a unique traverse production.

The second comedy of the month will be the classic Three Men in a Boat which floats in on Tuesday, September 23 and runs for five days until Saturday, September 27.

Following a sell-out tour in 2012, Craig Gilbert’s ingenious, acclaimed adaption of Jerome K Jerome's wonderful tale of boating misadventure will be armed with a brand new picnic basket, wilder adventures and sporting even brighter blazers.

In an attempt to escape the stresses of city life, three friends, J, Harris and George, accompanied by their faithful canine companion, Montmorency, decide to take to the river in order to relax and rejuvenate. The holiday, however, quickly unravels and descends into chaos to provide a light hearted comedy for everyone to enjoy Originally intended as a guide to boating on the Thames, 125 years on Jerome’s ripping yarn of youthful friendship, mischief and folly celebrates the very essence of quintessential Britishness, inspiring many of our comic legends from Morecambe and Wise to Monty Python.

The Original Theatre Company, whose production of Birdsong was performed in Malvern last year to considerable public acclaim, take this classic tale of boating misadventure by the scruff of the neck, equipped with a working pub, live piano accompaniment, some ale, music hall singing, a dog and a feast of physical comedy which promises a night out to remember.

Alastair Whatley, cast member and director of the Original Theatre Company, said: “Jerome K Jerome has been accused of writing the funniest book of all time. Now, 125 years later, it still has the power to make people laugh uncontrollably in public places.

“Craig Gilbert’s adaptation also manages to make people laugh uncontrollably, but in the safety of a theatre.”