IN CELEBRATION of Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 70th birthday, the multi award-winning Corpus Christi Amateur Dramatic Society (CCADS) brings the record-breaking and spectacular musical Starlight Express to Petersfield for the first time.
A child’s railway set comes to life as Rusty, the steam train, battles to prove himself the fastest engine in the world and to win the heart of Pearl, the beautiful first-class carriage. The competition is daunting but he has the magical Starlight Express on his side.
In preparation for this unique musical in which each character is on wheels, every member of the CCADS cast has undergone skate training alongside the usual intense acting, singing and dancing rehearsals.
CCADS artistic director John-Paul McCrohon, whose production of All Shook Up for Petersfield Theatre Group played to sell-out houses at the Festival Hall last year, plays Diesel engine Greaseball while the leading man from that production, Ross Cobbold, plays Rusty as well as acting as ‘skating guru’ for the cast and co-ordinating the spectacular costumes. Charlotte Thomas is Rusty’s love interest Pearl and an eight-piece band is headed by Louise Helyer.
Tickets are at One Tree Books, Lavant Street, Petersfield, or www.ccads-theatre.co.uk for evening shows on June 20-23 and a Saturday matinee.