Tonight marks the grand opening of the 2009 Bermuda Festival — the 33rd in the series and a very special edition because not only is it bigger in size but also it celebrates the Island's 400th anniversary with the inclusion of substantial Bermudian content.

Who better, then, to kick it off than the hugely popular Not the Um Um Players, who have been giving sell-out performances from the moment they first stepped on stage more than 20 years ago.

What originally began as a fund-raiser for Save Our Cinema Society, a group dedicated to fighting for the survival of the then-Rosebank Theatre, has, in the ensuing years, raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for various charities.

From the outset, the group established a side-splitting formula which has consistently had people clamouring for tickets ever since.

All of the material is original, written by the quartet, and focuses on Bermuda's lifestyle and politics. In later years, the use of tape recordings added another humourous dimension to the shows by way of spoof commercials.

When strung together, the short sketches and tapes add up to an hilarious, pithy and fast-paced, non-stop show which, like fine wine, temporarily satisfies but always leaves a thirst for more.

With the increase in their business and domestic responsibilities, brothers Bruce and Fred Barritt, Chris Broadhurst and Tim Taylor decided in 2004 to give the show a rest, but in the best traditions of show biz, when the opportunity to participate in — let alone open — the current Bermuda Festival proved irresistible, thus creating the perfect title for Not the Um Um Players' latest offering: 'Never Say Never'.

The venue is City Hall, and curtain time is 8.30 p.m. A special opening night reception in the foyer begins at 7 p.m. Thereafter, all evening performances will begin at 8 p.m., and the matinee on January 11 is at 2.30 p.m.

Despite the addition of extra performances, all shows are completely sold out; however, it is always worth checking for returns and/or cancellations. Box offices are located at: Transact, Internet Lane, Reid Street (next to Trends shoe shop) and Picture Perfect at Heron Bay Plaza. Contact information: tel. 232-8499, e-mail: sales@bdatix.bm or visit website www.bdatix.bm Phone orders: telephone 232-2255 Also: enquires/tickets/further information: boxoffice.bermudafestival.org Alternatively, try City Hall box office one hour before each performance.