A strong comedy line-up is heading to Wyvern Theatre this summer, with Joe Wilkinson fronting a charity night in aid of Prospect Hospice.
The one-off event, set for Monday 22 June, brings together a mix of familiar television names including Roisin Conaty, Lou Sanders, Harriet Kemsley, Ivo Graham and Rich Wilson. It promises a lively evening, but with a serious purpose behind it.
For Wilkinson, the night carries particular weight. He became closely aware of the hospice’s work following the illness of his late father-in-law, local artist Paul Exton, who was cared for by the team in Wroughton during his final days.
“Prospect Hospice gave the family real support when it was needed most,” Wilkinson said. “The care they showed Paul — and all of the family — was extraordinary. This night is about saying thank you, and helping make sure others can receive that same level of care.”
The hospice provides end-of-life care both in patients’ homes and at its inpatient unit, supporting people across Swindon, Marlborough and north-east Wiltshire. Its work is widely relied upon, but funding remains a constant challenge.
Chief Executive Jeremy Lune said community support is essential to keeping services running. “Events like this are vital. Quite simply, without that support, we wouldn’t be here,” he said.
Only a small proportion of the hospice’s funding comes from government sources, leaving the majority to be raised through donations and fundraising. As things stand, that shortfall has had a direct impact, with only half of its specialist inpatient beds currently in use.
The comedy night aims to help bridge that gap — combining a well-known line-up with a cause that resonates locally.
Tickets, priced at £32.50, go on sale from 10am on Friday 24 April via the theatre’s box office.
For those attending, it should be an evening of familiar faces and sharp humour. For the hospice, it represents something more practical: the means to continue offering care, comfort and dignity to those who need it most.
