AN Ivor Novello-winning composer, an Emmy-winning filmmaker and an Olivier award-winning actress and singer have combined their talents for a musical romp around a Suffolk village, while also doing “something funny for money”.

Denis King, who penned the classic theme tune to television series The Adventures of Black Beauty, has joined forces with fellow Walberswick resident and director, Luke Jeans, to revive The Tupperware Brigade – a comic chorus first commissioned in 1967 but this time being led by chart-topping singer Barbara Dickson.

At the same time, in the spirit of Red Nose Day, Mr King and Mr Jeans have decided to do something funny for money by putting a novel spin on the timeless Black Beauty theme.

Mr King, who also performed in the late 1950s and early 60s as one third of pop vocal trio The King Brothers, said: “I’ve done quite a few videos with Luke since moving to the area about six years ago.

“When I worked in the theatre I sometimes used to ring the changes backstage by playing Black Beauty in a silly way.”

One of the novel methods Mr King has developed for performing the tune is to face away from the piano and play the keys behind his back.

He said: “Luke suggested we film me playing it, and my wife, Astrid, thought we could put it online and get people to donate a few quid to Comic Relief.

“The Tupperware Brigade I wrote with a dearly departed friend John Junkin. It was last performed at the annual Tupperware convention in front of about 5,000 ladies in the Albert Hall.”

Recorded at Abbey Road at the same time The Beatles were working on Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, the song was left to gather dust for 40 years until being dug out of the attic and given a new lease of life.

During a weekend visit to the Suffolk coast, the idea came for Barbara Dickson to lead the all-new Tupperware Brigade along the streets of Walberswick, joined by an enthusiastic gang of local female residents.

Dickson joined Elaine Page in 1984 to record I Know Him So Well, which remains the biggest selling UK Chart single ever by a female duo.

She has released a number of other hits, including January February, which stayed in the charts for 10 weeks at the beginning of the 1980s.

Mr Jeans, who is currently working on a programme about the Nashville music scene with DJ and presenter Bob Harris, said: “It all happened very quickly. We filmed the whole thing in about an hour-and-a-half and we couldn’t have done it without help from the ladies of Walberswick.”

You can watch “Playing Funny for Money” at vimeo.com/60571453. To donate to the Comic Relief fund go to my.rednoseday.com/sponsor/denisking.

To watch the Tupperware Brigade, starring Barbara Dickson, visit vimeo.com/59045612 or go to deniskingmusic.com.