FANCY a stroll around the back streets of Paris, a tour of underground Buenos Aires and some show-stopping chansons without having to cross the English Channel? Bilingual cabaret singer-songwriter Bethany Jameson and world-class accordionist Romano Viazzani are bringing their stunning new Vérité Quartet show, On the Banks of the Seine to the Lyric Theatre in Bridport this month.

Originally created as a commission for London Bastille Day Festival in 2009, On the Banks of the Seine went down a storm with critics and audience as a duo concert.

It is now a full evening of cabaret, music and song, taking inspiration from the great cabaret and variety songwriters, old and new; Fascinating Aida, Cole Porter, Noel Coward, Victoria Wood, Doris Day and Ute Lemper.

Bethan, who is based in Christchurch, said: “Fascinating Aida were the people who inspired me to try comedy.

“With this show, the audience comes into the venue expecting glitz and glamour but then the cracks start to appear. They start to realise that there’s an undercurrent and that things are going on.”

The tone of songs also changes, moving from picking up young men to coping with a family member suffering with dementia.

“That was inspired by a documentary that Tony Robinson made about looking after his mother with dementia,” said Bethany. “I wrote a song and sent it to Karen Street, who I perform with, and coincidentally that was five weeks after her father had died of dementia so she was delighted with it. She is currently fund raising for the Alzheimer’s Society – it affects so many people.”

But it is not all dark and depressing. The music is fluid and switches from French chansons to Argentinian tangos and there is also a lot of laughter to be had.

Catch On the Banks of the Seine at the Lyric Theatre, Bridport, at 2.30pm and 8pm on June 30. Tickets are £11 plus concessions, from 01308 423951 and tickets@thelyric.com.