A performance of a comedy show which featured at Edinburgh Festival Fringe will be given at St Mary’s Church in Saffron Walden to raise money for essential conservation work.

Woman of the Year is written and performed by Anna Nicholson, who hosts an entertaining competition to find the ‘woman of the year’ where she introduces and plays the four finalists in the competition and the audience get to pick the winner.

The characters are all memorable with distinctive regional accents. Denise, the professional bra-fitter; Bianca, the Geordie Instagram star and vlogger; Reverend Ruth, the pushily friendly vicar; and Shirley, the overly-excitable geriatric from Yorkshire.

Each is given two chances to influence the audience, to get their vote, and Anna also plays with a member of the audience as herself.

Live piano accompaniment is provided by Bobby Goulder, who used to live in Saffron Walden until he went to Oxford to study music.

BBC sit-com writer James Cary (Miranda) provides development and script oversight and the show is directed by Neil Armstrong.

Anna and Bobby performed the show 24 times at the Edinburgh Fringe in August with regular full houses.

Graham Cottam, who leads the building project group at St Mary’s, said: “Following nearly 10 years of careful planning and design to create new facilities which allow St Mary’s Church to offer a warm welcome and generous hospitality to all, the work at the west end of the church has been successfully completed.

“There is now a new servery, flower arrangers’ facilities, much-needed storage, display furniture and an accessible WC available for use during services and events in church.

“We are now seeking to raise further funds for the next phase of the work, namely essential conservation work to the tomb of Thomas, Lord Audley, a work of national historical and artistic significance, changes to make the tomb more accessible to visitors and refurbishment of the crowded and ill-equipped church vestries,” Mr Cottam said.

The show lasts approximately an hour and takes place on September 26. Tickets are available from St Mary’s parish office from 9.30am to 12pm on weekdays or contact Caroline Goulder on 07775 518892/carolinegoulder@hotmail.com or search “Woman of the Year” on www.eventbrite.co.uk.