WRITER and director Craig Gilbert certainly had a recipe for success in mind when he cooked up a touring production of perennial favourite Three Men in a Boat.

Take a classic story. Adapt it so that laughter comes as standard, then add a stupendously talented cast. Direct so that physical comedy is belly-laugh funny, then simmer gently in a rehearsal room before liberally garnishing with live music. For a final flourish plonk a working pub in the middle of the stage, then serve to an audience hungry for a superb night out.

Doffing its hat at the 125th anniversary of the publication of Jerome K Jerome’s quintessential British comedy the Original Theatre Company production sails into Basingstoke to play on October 31 and November 1 at The Haymarket.

But at more than a hundred years old, why does Craig Gilbert think the story has endured?

“Because the humour in it is still really, really funny. Laugh out laugh funny. In Jerome’s work you can see echoes of Monty Python, The Goons and even the Mighty Boosh, so it doesn’t feel in the least bit stale.”

The book has never out of print since its publication. It’s the tale of J, Harris and George, who, accompanied by their faithful hound Montmorency, take to the river in order to relax and rejuvenate after the pressures of city life. But the jaunt quickly descends into chaos.

“It was considered vulgar when it was first published,” Craig laughs. “But nevertheless it was still hugely popular and they couldn’t print copies fast enough.

“All I had to do was find a way to make the original work into something that was theatrically viable. It was great fun to solve the problems.”

For instance? “Well, the river and the journey are created by things you would only find in a pub.”

Ah, so that’s where the working pub comes in. “Yes, and it has functional pumps that we put to great comedic use. Alas we don’t force flagons of ale on the audience!

“I borrowed idioms of later comedians and included some modern references that also resonate with Jerome’s time. As for music, I thought it would be great to celebrate the art form of Jerome’s time; the sort of thing he himself would have seen, so we have music hall singing, too.”

Each cast member - Tom Hackney, Anna Westlake, Paul Westwood and Alastair Whatley – works their socks off, each playing several characters.

It sounds very much like this is a show well worth taking a punt on.

-Vicky Edwards

Tickets: £18, concessions £11

Box office: 01256 844244, anvilarts.org.uk