It is in the air again this week, only this time being performed by Southey Musical Theatre Company at the Montgomery Theatre in Surrey Street.

The place of Cliff behind the wheel of the red London bus is being taken by Daniel Storey in a seldom seen stage version of the Sixties film 'WE'RE all going on a Summer Holiday', insist the members of Southey Musical Theatre Company as the November drizzle closes in.
'No more working for a week or two,' they claim after scaling up from their three day a week (unpaid) shifts in rehearsal to their full programme of acting, fine tuning and prop shifting.
A few weeks after the man himself appeared at the Arena 'Cliff' (aka bus mechanic Don, aka amateur thespian Daniel Storey) are taking to the boards of the Montgomery Theatre this week in the seldom seen stage version of the UK's favourite Sixties road movie, as presented by the Southey singers and dancers.

"It's fun and young and lively," says Southey Musical Theatre Company publicist (and actor and dancer) Danielle Birks. "And we're lucky at the moment because we've got a young cast."
Which is often a problem for amateur musical theatre companies, she adds. "Young people can be difficult to get hold of. But in this case I think several were attracted by this show."

Putting on the right shows is crucial to attract more young folk to the boards, she says, particularly in view of the current TV culture.
"I think shows like X Factor actually put people off," says Danielle. "The amount of grief people get, it's not really helping."
Southey MTC have been working on their version of Summer Holiday since April and moved into the Montgomery this week, along with a loaned Vespa scooter, an array of summer frocks and a double decker London bus.
"The bus came as a flat pack, and we had to carry it up the stairs," says Danielle. "It took about 50 trips."

"It weighs about three quarters of a ton," adds SMTC chairman and prop shifter Malcolm Mason. "And we put it up in about two hours after we'd got it up the stairs."

It was actually harder work to carry the loaned Italian scooter up to the stage, he adds.
Southey Musical Theatre Company dates back to the 1930s and was the first amateur company to perform at the Montgomery Hall, in 1949.
There have been a couple of unlikely late autumn shows recently, with Some Like It Hot recreating Florida on a chilly Surrey Street, preceding this year's Italy and Athens.

"I think we're developing a summer theme for the autumn," says Danielle. "But before that, don't forget, a few years ago we'd been rehearsing A Christmas Carol all through the summer."
The show features lots of song and dance, with 23 dance numbers and a string of Cliff hits performed by the 35 cast members. "I'm not really a Cliff fan but I like his songs," adds Danielle.
Daniel Storey takes the same view. "I have to be careful because my friend's mum is a big Cliff fan," he says.

"You approach this show by accepting that it's just full of cheese. You just can't sing Summer Holiday without a big cheesy smile on your face."
"Everyone knows the songs, so we are going to encourage everyone in the audience to sing," warns Danielle.

It may be November but Danielle suggests you put that out of your mind. As she maintains: "It's fun, it's happy and it's Cliff."
lTickets are still available on the door for tonight and Friday and Saturday nights and the Saturday matinee performance. See www.southeymusicaltheatre.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk or telephone 0114 243 5587.


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