A SCHOOL is about to score a first for the North-East by staging a new musical.

Chester-le-Street's Park View Community School will be the first school in the country to perform the Hot Mikado musical, which had just 12 performances since it was first staged in London's West End.

The Hot Mikado is a re-styling of Gilbert and Sullivan's traditional operetta and is set in 1940s' America.

Following the same story as the Mikado, the new version, by Rob Bowman and David Bell, is filled with the traditional melodies set to a dynamic mixture of rock, gospel, blues, swing and jazz music.

Musical director Ian Teoh said: The music of this show is infectious.

"The cast and those who have overheard rehearsals love it.

"When you combine that with the fantastically silly plot and a stage filled with characters who are so ridiculous that they are frighteningly real, you have a brilliant new show."

The show, never seen in the North-East, still includes famous songs, such as Tit Willow and Three Little Maids.

The show will run from Monday, March 26, to Friday, March 20.

Anyone wishing to order tickets should contact the school office on 0191-388 2248.