VILLAGE shows are a big part of summer for many Mid Wales communities but an event at Aberystwyth Arts Centre tonight (Friday, August 17), as part of its Summer House under canvas programme, offers one with a twist.

The Summer House season is a feast of international circus, spectacle, live music and fun kids activities in a tent to add to your day at the seaside, but today’s Aberration Alternative Village Show is something completely different yet again swapping cakes and jam for some things a bit more risque as the local LGBT+ arts night fuses best elements of circus, cabaret and the good old-fashioned village show, including artist Andrew Logan talking about his extraordinary life, and ending with the band Quercus Burlesque with their stomping melodies, and plenty of surprises in store in between.

Horticultural and cake contests are usually a part of every village show but this event gives them a fresh twist with competitions to be taken with a pinch of salt and a sense of humour.

Find out more on the website: www.aberration.org.uk and arrive before 7.30pm to join in the fun. Tickets are £12 (£10 concessions).

The show is part of Aberration on Tour, funded by a grant from the Arts Council of Wales, Welsh Government and National Lottery. Helen Sandler, chair of SpringOut, a small local events company that co-organises Aberration, says: “We were delighted to be awarded a grant to take Aberration around Wales. Aberystwyth Arts Centre is our home ground so this is going to be the flagship event. We can’t wait to put on a fabulous show for our local audience.”

Co-organiser Ruth Fowler of Enfys Aber (Aberystwyth University’s LGBT+ staff network) says: “It’s great we can do something new this summer. Everyone is welcome at our events and over the past few years we’ve seen how people from all backgrounds can get together and enjoy work by lesbian, gay, bi and trans performers, as well as making new friends."

Tickets for all Summer House events, which continues with 'DuoJag' on Monday, August 27, with the Finnish contemporary circus company Sirkus Aikamoinen, are available from the Arts Centre box office on 01970 623232 or online at www.aberystwythartscentre.co.uk