Elliott Burge, Chairman of the Forest Musical Society, says the upcoming ‘Broadway’ show at Lydney Town Hall promises to be a spectacular performance.

The society celebrated its 25th anniversary last year with a show that drew praise from capacity crowds, and hopes are high that their 2018 show will be even better.

This time round the theme is ‘Broadway’, with the 35 members of the Forest Musical Society performing the biggest songs from the most famous stage productions. “We’ll be putting on a real show. You can expect to hear all the great songs from the likes of Les Miserables, The Sound of Music, Mamma Mia, Annie and many more of the most famous shows,” said Elliott. “We were blown away by the feedback we received from our 25th anniversary show last autumn, so we’re really looking forward to getting back on the stage and performing again,” he added.

It’s not just a case of singing the songs though. The performers will be dressed in costumes and supported by a host of backstage staff who help the show run smoothly. “It’s a real team effort, it’s not just about the performers on stage. We’ve got a lighting and sound team that work so hard in ensuring we look and sound the best we possibly can. We’ll be supported by a live orchestra for our upcoming performance, which will really add to the occasion. We’ve practised so hard for this show, we’re all so excited and are counting down the days until the 17th of May,” said Elliott.

The Forest Musical Society is comprised of 35 members, with ages ranging from eight to eighty. They practice weekly, but Elliott says there will be more practice sessions in the weeks leading up to their performance. He said: “It’s important that everyone knows their roles and feels comfortable, so we’ll be going all out to try and get as much practising in as possible leading up to the opening night. I’ve been involved in theatre for a long time, so I know just what’s involved logistically on the night of the performance. Like so many things in life, the key is in the preparation.

“We want to put on a professional show, one that we can all be proud of. I’ve been involved with the society for five years now. It’s great to meet so many passionate people, who are all so committed to performing. All our members live in the Forest of Dean, it’s great to see such support for a local project. I’m so proud of all of them.”

The Forest Musical Society will be performing at Lydney Town Hall from 17-19 May.