UNTIL Tap Dogs came along, tap dancing was trapped in the top hat and tails world of Fred Astaire and with Gene Kelly singing in the rain.

Then an Australian industrial machinist from the steel town of Newcastle, north of Sydney, changed the world of tap.

Dein Perry learnt tap as a young boy in the garage behind his teachers' house and after small chorus parts in Broadway style musicals had his big break in a long running production of 42nd Street.

After that Perry decided to create a contemporary show around the themes of his industrial experience with his tap dancing friends.

"Dein was a great tap dancer himself, he just thought he would bring tap dancing into the 90s," said Christopher Ernest, who has been with the original English cast of the show since 1997.

"The preconception of tap dancing is of Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly in their top hats, but this is hard tap dancing.

"We all love and respect Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly and if it wasn't for them we wouldn't be here doing this.

"A lot of the steps we use are the same as Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly but we use them in a different way to different music.

"People do say all dance comes from ballet, but that's not true at all. This is heavy metal tap, big heavy beats and a lot of stamping.

"It is revolutionary. Its success has made people think tap is a fashionable thing to do."

Ernest began training at the age of six and joined the original cast of Tap Dogs at the age of 21 in a swing part.

"After five and a half years I know a lot about the show," said Ernest.

"I started off as a swing covering lots of parts so I had to learn five or six parts and it was a great experience.

"It helps to have this kind of knowledge. Sometimes things can go wrong but if you know the parts you can cover it. Most of the people in the show know about four parts each."

In the current tour coming to the Alexandra Theatre, in Birmingham, Ernest plays 'Kid', the youngster on the building site.

"Kid is a new apprentice," said Ernest.

"He's the young one in the company. He's really willing to learn and wants to impress the foreman.

"It's a hard show. There's no dialogue and it's an hour and 20 minutes long with no interval.

"But you get used to it, like playing in football matches for a living. Some days you are more tired than others but it's great fun."

The show follows a day on the building site as the performers tap on a variety of surfaces.

"Tap Dogs is all based on a building site and we build the set as we go through the show.

"There's a great part of the show where we tap in water, so if you're sitting on the front row beware.

"Four of us in wellington boots start tap dancing in a water tray. There's water all over the stage and on the front row so we hand out macs so everyone's good clothes aren't ruined."

The show has been on the road for eight years and Ernest says it is exactly the same as when he started.

"Some people have solos and they might change slightly, but we stick to it until Mr Perry tells us to change it."

Tap Dogs runs at the Alexandra in Birmingham from October 28, to November 2, Monday to Thursday at 8pm, Friday 6pm and 9pm, Saturday 5pm and 8pm. Tickets £9.50 to £21.50 from tickets from 0870 607 7544.