TALENTED pupils from Beaconhurst School are getting ready to perform their summer musical Return to the Forbidden Planet at the Macrobert Arts Centre.

The show – described as Shakespeare’s forgotten rock and roll masterpiece – takes place on Tuesday, June 27 and Wednesday June, 28.

Pupils from S5 and S6 star in the lead roles of the 60s hit musical which is set in outer space and follows the crew of a routine survey flight under the command of Captain Tempest.

Danny Vevers, 17, was delighted to be cast as leading man Captain Tempest in the show based on Shakespeare's play 'The Tempest' and 1956 science fiction film 'Forbidden Planet'.

He said: "It’s exciting to have a main role and I also have lots of great songs to sing.

"Captain Tempest is quite a complex character which makes him very interesting to play.

"He has a lot of bravado and is very charismatic but he also has insecurities and we see his more vulnerable side – so there is quite a bit of depth to him."

Rachel Hoskins, 17, plays Miranda who falls in love with Captain Tempest after his spaceship arrives on the planet where she and her father, Dr Prospero, have been marooned for many years.

She said: "She’s a very fun character and I love playing her as she is the total opposite to me.

"She’s never seen any men except for her father and immediately falls in love with Captain Tempest and is an absolute flirt with him – whereas I am quite a reserved person.

"I love having the chance to act that way and I think the audience will take to Miranda as she has some really funny lines."

Rachel and Danny perform a couple of duets together – `Young Girl’ and `The Young Ones’ – while the fast-paced musical is filled with many more classic hits including `Great Balls of Fire’ and `Teenager in Love’.

Other main roles are being played by Robert Johnston as the robot Ariel, Sydney Comely as Miranda’s mother Gloria, Angus Nicolson as Prospero, Daniel Baxter as Cookie, Callum Beattie as Bosun while Katie Laird stars as the Navigation Officer.

Meanwhile one of the school’s Maths teachers Amanda Tranmer – an actress and dancer – has a cameo role featuring a dance sequence.

The cast has been rehearsing weekly since January before moving to daily practices during the school’s forthcoming Expressive Arts Week followed by a dress rehearsal at the Macrobert on June, 26.

The show is produced by Beaconhurst’s director of expressive arts Alison Marshall with help from musical director Maxine Birchill and drama teacher Lesley Davidson.

All pupils from S4-S6 take part in the annual show with those not featuring in the main cast or chorus taking on backstage production or costume making roles or working as part of a media team to promote the event.

Ms Marshall said: "I chose Return to the Forbidden Planet for this year’s production because it’s a great, fun musical with lots of rock and roll classics which are easily recognisable.

"Rehearsals have been going well and we’re now cruising along smoothly in our spaceship towards opening night – having managed to dodge a few meteor showers and missiles along the way.

"We’re looking forward to a great production at the Macrobert which is always a fantastic venue for our shows and we hope lots of people will come along and enjoy a fun evening."

Tickets are still available for the musical, costing £12 for adults and £6 for children, students and senior citizens .

They are available from the Macrobert Box Office, the website (www.macrobert.org) or by phoning 01786 466666.