HALFWAY through a four-month UK tour, the brilliant Radio Times brings West End quality to Wiltshire.

In this wonderful musical comedy, the tense bittersweet atmosphere of 1940s wartime Britain is beautifully conveyed.

Set convincingly in BBC Radio’s recording theatre (no TV available during the Second World War) the popular variety show Bandwagon is being transmitted live to an entertainment-starved nation at war.

The corny old-fashioned gags – often relying on simple yet never obscene puns – and the comfortingly optimistic songs help people trying to cope with bombing, death and destruction every night.

Played by a terrific live band, numbers like Who’s Been Polishing The Sun, Love Makes the World Go Round and especially Just One More portray the prevalent social attitude of “let’s live for today – we might be dead tomorrow”.

The multi-talented cast of 15 actors/singers/ musicians/dancers/comedians is superb, Run Rabbit Run featuring great vocal harmonies and precision tap-dancing.

John Conroy is hilarious as the show’s stern producer and unwilling performer, Vivien Carter spellbinding as a singing, sax-playing dancer, and Christian Edwards provides the multitude of witty radio sound effects.

Ultra-professional Gary Wilmot excels as the show’s sharp star Sammy Shaw (catchphrase: “I’m doing it!

I’m doing it!”) and seals the love interest with the moving get-the-babe-back ballad My Thanks To You.

Slick choreography, period costumes and assured direction ensure a memorable musical.

Runs until Saturday.

Also visits Winchester’s Theatre Royal, November 26 to December 1.