The show is the culmination of a two-week summer school, run by South Tyneside Academy of Musical Performance (Stamp).

Pupils have been rehearsing intensely for the musical production, which starts at 7pm today, at Brinkburn Community Centre, McAnany Avenue, South Shields.

Stamp started life as the Nearly Famous Performing Arts Group, which was initiated five years ago by company director Terry Perry's son Chris, then 13.

Classes in musical theatre were set up twice weekly, with the aim of putting on three to four shows a year, with an additional two-week summer school, in which children are given the chance to be involved in a professionally-run musical theatre performance.

Chris Perry, musical director of Stamp and director of this year's show, said: "We often go into schools to promote the summer school, which costs £50 for the two weeks, including a tightly-packed schedule of rehearsals for our final show on the last Friday of the scheme.

"The children audition for title roles, but other than that, everyone is welcome.

"After the two weeks, the children are invited to attend our weekly sessions, in which they learn many aspects of musical theatre, including dance, drama and singing."

Chris Perry, along with voice coach Richard Ludlow, are the first two apprentices of the company who are shortly to benefit from the enterprise.

Terry said: "Chris has just won a highly-coveted place at the London School of Musical Theatre, which he is due to attend in September of this year.

"He is the first of our apprentices to go off somewhere, which is great.

"With money from the company, we have been able not only to pay his fees, but also to keep paying him a wage while he's down there.

Although Chris is my son, this is so-mething we hope to provide for other talented individuals who come to our academy."

He added: "Richard is going to travel to France and Spain as part of his university degree in linguistics. Hopefully, Stamp will be able to pay for that for him, as part of his musical development.

"One of our other young lads, Craig Burt, who's now 19 and was with us for four years, is working as a professional entertainer for Haven.

"That's the overall aim, to help these young performers get on their way to a professional career.

"Next year, we're hoping to introduce work placements for people at college or university to gain some real hands-on experience.

"We're also going to introduce a year-long scholarship scheme, whereby a selection of particularly promising students will be given the opportunity to attend the academy free of charge."

Tickets for Stamp's summer school show are £4, and are available by contacting Chris on 07505 656 982.

The group meets every Wednesday, from 6pm to 9pm, and Saturday, from 12.30pm to 3.30pm, at Brinkburn Community Centre, with membership costing £50 a month.