ONE of the most successful musicals in early British theatre history marks its 50th anniversary in Droitwich next week.

Salad Days originally opened on May 1, 1954 at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre after being pencilled in for a three-week run.

But fate intervened and on August 5, it opened in London's West End at the Vaudeville Theatre and stayed for five and a half years, becoming the longest running musical in the history of British theatre.

Now, the light-hearted comedy, which ran for 2,283 record-breaking performances, is about to whisk audiences off their feet at the Norbury Theatre from Monday, July 12 to Saturday, 17.

The show centres around undergraduates Timothy (Curtis Fulcher) and Jane (Sara Hicks-Jones) and how their lives evolve as Tim searches for a career while Jane craves marriage.

Incidentally, they find a piano called Minnie, which takes them on an enchanted adventure by convincing people to dance and be happy.

Featuring a 14-strong cast playing more than 50 roles with no chorus, the show is set in the early 20th century, with a jolly, bright set and traditional costumes to make up an entertaining production for all the family.

For tickets, costing £7 (concessions £6), call 01905 770154.

Do you want to audition for Me and My Girl ?

AUDITIONS for the toe-tapping musical Me and My Girl take place from the end of the month with plum roles for the leading man and lady.

Malvern Light Opera Society is holding castings for 15 male and 10 female parts in preparation for its production of the Stephen Fry-revamped comedy between March 15-19, 2005.

The show features songs such as The Lambeth Walk, Leaning on a Lamppost, Me and My Girl and has plenty of opportunities for character actors aged 17-70.

Around 30 are needed for the chorus, with some dancing numbers for experienced performers and those with the ability to learn.

Auditions will kick off with a company get together on Tuesday, July 20, with castings on Wednesday, 21, both at 7.30pm.

Rehearsals for would-be principals are on Tuesday, July 27 and Wednesday, 28, at 7.30pm, with principal auditions on Sunday, August 1, all at Dyson Perrins High School, Malvern.

General rehearsals start on Wednesday, September 8, at the Grove Junior School, Pickersleigh Road, Malvern.

For more information call 01531 67061, 01905 353968 or 01684 573352.

Carlos is Havana dance in Brum

CUBA'S hottest male ballet star, Carlos Acosta, will be dancing at the Birmingham Hippodrome this month in the only production of the acclaimed Tocororo - A Cuban Tale outside London.

Described as "Billy Elliott in Havana", the ballet hits the theatre between Tuesday, July 27 and Saturday, 31, after breaking box office records at Sadler's Wells last summer.

Leaves

Carlos Acosta, who dances the central role, has brought together 17 dancers from Danza Contemporanea, the Cuban National Ballet and the Conjunto Folklorico Nacional to tell the story of a young boy who leaves his family and the Cuban countryside to find a new role in an urban setting.

Loosely based on Acosta's own life story, the young protagonist is played by his 14-year old cousin, Yonah Acosta.

Tickets, costing £12-£32 (concessions available), can be booked on-line at www.birminghamhippodrome.com or on 0121 730 1234 (booking fee applies).

Performance times are Tuesday to Saturday, 7.30pm, matinee on Saturday 2.30pm.

Malvern Players forced to cancel

"DISAPPOINTED" Malvern Theatre Players have had to cancel a production for the first time since they started out 27 years ago, due to another company whipping away the copyright.

Billy Liar by Keith Waterhouse and Willis Hall was due to be performed at Malvern Theatres in September and, until two weeks ago, the company had been busy planning auditions.

But they were forced to abandon ship for the first time after the play was withdrawn from general release due to a major professional production being mounted at the Churchill Theatre Bromley in light of a national tour.

Currently, there are no plans to replace the play and the Players' next offering will be The Snow Queen, in the Forum Theatre, for two weeks, commencing January 13, 2005.

The company will not be idle, however, with a number of performing arts courses being organised for the summer and autumn, in addition to converting the Theatre House into a studio theatre, scheduled to open next spring.