THE race is on as Upstagers’ production of Starlight Express makes its way in to Ilkley next month for a five show run at the King’s Hall.

The show is an award winning, blockbuster musical composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber with lyrics by Richard Stilgoe and original choreography from Arlene Phillips that opened in the West End in 1984 and has been playing somewhere in the world ever since. It is a show famous for the cast performing on roller skates, a feat that Upstagers are relishing!

It tells the story of a nine-year-old boy’s dream of his train set that magically comes to life and various engines from around the world compete in a spectacular race across America to become the World Champion fastest train. The competition between steam, electric and diesel is fast and fierce. Will the mythical Starlight Express inspire our hero and underdog with a heart of gold, Rusty the Steam Train, to compete with the superstars of the track and win a race and with it the love of Pearl, the first class carriage who he admires from afar? Upstagers are hoping that audiences from the area will come along to find out and see the show that is billed as the “fastest musical in the universe”!

Show director, Paul Nowland, says that a spectacular production is planned. “It is a technically challenging show, not least because we are asking our cast members to sing, dance and act to a very high standard whilst on roller skates! We have been rehearsing intensely for quite a while now and the show itself is going to be amazing. We are building race tracks out in to the auditorium which will bring the audience incredibly close to the action and generate a brilliant atmosphere. Our audience members won’t know where to look next there so much going on. After the success of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat last year we threw down a challenge to the cast and production team to try and raise the bar again and boy have they responded! We are all really excited to be bringing this show to the Ilkley audiences. It really is not to be missed.”

Upstagers production of Starlight Express opens at the Kings Hall on Wednesday, July 12 and runs for five performances, including a matinee, until Saturday, July 15. Tickets are available online from www.upstagers.org.uk/boxoffice and by telephoning 0333 666 3366. Non credit card bookings, group bookings and other special requirements can be arranged by emailing boxoffice@upstagers.org.uk or calling the local box office on 01943 607944.