A COMEDY singer-songwriter fascinated by the minutiae of modern life is preparing to raise some smiles at Otley Courthouse.

Elliot Mason, whose routines include riffs on such cataclysmic events as the day when Jif became Cif, willl play at the venue on Saturday, October 24.

A talented musician and comic, Elliott will be performing from 8pm and providing support to renowned 'Gentleman Juggler' Mat Ricardo, who takes the stage straight afterwards.

Mat, whose distinctive and thrilling take on variety and cabaret has earned him a slew of awards, started off as an original street entertainer in Covent Garden.

Since spearheading the return of 'new variety' in the late 1980s, he has been at the forefront of the more recent cabaret revival in the UK and beyond.

He was the first variety performer to win a Herald Angel Award for Excellence in Theatre, and his current tour has played to sold-out audiences in London’s West End and picked up further critical acclaim at the Edinburgh Fringe.

A Courthouse spokesman said: "Audiences will be treated to a dazzling array of sleight-of-hand spectacles, slapstick and genuinely awe-inspiring skill from a consummate entertainer at the height of his career."

Tickets for the 'double bill' cost £10 or £8 in advance or £11 or £9 on the door, and both shows are suitable for those aged 12 or over.

To book visit www.otleycourthouse.org.uk, call (01943) 467466, or pop into the Courthouse, on Courthouse Street.