THE Mellstock Band appear on stage as if they have just materialised from the 19th Century, in authentic costume with traditional instruments, one of which closely resembles an elaborate lavatory U-bend.

But rather than being a cleverly modified piece of plumbing the instrument is, in fact, the incredibly rare Serpent, only played today by a handful of people across the world.

"The Serpent is a hybrid of brass and woodwind instruments," said Mellstock Band member Charles Spicer.

"It has a brass mouthpiece, but instead of valves it has finger holes like a woodwind instrument. It's made of wood and covered in leather to keep it air-tight.

"It's got a beautifully deep sound, like a cross between a tuba and a bassoon. It's very difficult to play well."

But the attention to historical detail doesn't end with the Serpent, as Spicer's own instrument is an odd-looking oboe created from centuries old blueprints.

"My oboe is made of box wood instead of black wood, which is the obvious difference," said the actor/musician.

"It looks how an oboe would have looked 200 years ago. I had it made for me from the technical drawings kept in a collection at Oxford."

It was these eye-catching instruments that have earned the band appearances in film and television, including series such as Pride and Prejudice and Tess of the D'Urbevilles.

"We are asked to provide the authentic village band music," said Spicer.

"And because the authentic village band instruments look so interesting we get asked to appear in the odd scene."

Although the look of the band was used in Pride and Prejudice, Mellstock draws its inspiration from a time after Jane Austen and from another famous author, Thomas Hardy.

In fact the name Mellstock Band even originates from Hardy's writing.

"Hardy has this reputation as a dour, tragic and nihilistic writer," said Spicer, referring, in particular, to Hardy's suicidally depressing poetry.

"But in his novels he writes about country people and music with such vivid fun.

"These people in the village bands played for every occasion, for funerals, weddings, church on a Sunday, dances and the rude songs in the pubs," said Spicer.

"We are the sort of band that Hardy would have written about. However, we are not a museum band.

"We do modern arrangements of the old songs using modern instruments."

Exemplifying this the Mellstock Band is premiering its new show Ghosts and Lovers at Huntingdon Hall, which has the band's traditional mix of music and readings as well as modern arrangements.

"There is so much material in traditional songs about both subjects," Spicer said.

"There's going to be tales of dread and delight, of the sensual and the supernatural. And its going to be a bit of a laugh as well."

Spicer also leads theatrical readings part of the show. A professional actor, he has worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company and The National Theatre in productions ranging from Hamlet to The Elephant Man.

Although it is a matter of chance that the premiere is taking place in Huntingdon Hall, the band has a great fondness for the venue.

"It is very appropriate for the show for both the atmosphere and because of the excellent acoustics and appreciative audience."

The Mellstock Band will appear on Friday, April 25, at Huntingdon Hall from 8pm. Tickets are £9, £8 concessions, from the box office on 01904 611427.