Tickets go on sale on Saturday for the ever-popular Young Farmers’ Concert at the Gaiety.

Such is the reputation of the show from previous years that, if you want one of these hot tickets, you may have to be prepared to go some lengths to get one as Isle of Man Young Farmers’ Federation secretary Hayley Crowe explained: ’Last year people were queueing from 11 o’clock the night before.

’I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes - it’s earlier than they were queueing for Gary Barlow tickets!’

The show is also a contest between the four Young Farmers’ clubs on the island: Central, Eastern, Southern and Northern. Each club writes, rehearses and performs its own comedy sketch, usually including a healthy injection of political satire as well as some song and dance.

A panel of judges, taken from all walks of life, assesses the sketches over all three nights of performance and announces the winner after the final performance on the Saturday night.

Hayley said: ’There’s no prize money: they’re just competing for the fact that they have won the Young Farmers’ concert competition.’

Last year’s winners were Eastern Young Farmers who chose ’I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here’ as their theme. As ever their sketch included some amazing props as Hayley recalled: ’They make all their own costumes with the help of family and friends and build all their own props, fitting it around their working lives.

’Last year Eastern Young Farmers built spinning wheels and spun people around on them as they asked them questions!’

The entertainment value is extraordinary when you also consider that, unlike other companies who often get up to a week of rehearsal time in the theatre, each of the young farmers’ club only gets one night to rehearse on stage with all the lighting and props.

This often means that the first performance, on the Thursday night, is still something of a dress rehearsal for some of them and the best performing club on that night may not be the winner over three nights as they get better with each show.

This year’s show will have a new backer: Conister Bank is taking over from long time sponsors Isle of Man Bank.

Hayley said: ’We’re absolutely delighted to be paired with Conister Bank this year. Conister will help us reach a new audience.’

She went on to explain that not all the performers taking part are young farmers.

’We have a diverse range of members, traditional farmers but others too from all walks of life,’ she said.

Around can join from age 10 to 36 - we have lots of youngsters who can’t wait to be 10 so they can get up on stage.

’You don’t have to be a young farmer, you just have to have a sense of fun!’

This year’s shows will take place on Thursday, March 8, Friday, March 9 and Saturday, March 10 at the Gaiety.

Tickets go on sale on Saturday February 10 at 9am at the Welcome Centre.

Turning up in person is advisable: there are no telephone sales until 11am on Saturday, and tickets are not available online until Monday February 12.

Tickets are priced from £13 - £15. More information at www.villagaiety.com or on Facebook Isle of Man Young Farmers.

by Julie Blackburn

Twitter:@iomnewspapers