QUEEN Katherine School is back in musical mode with its glorious sing-along summer production heading for the Brewery.

Running from Tuesday-Saturday, June 21-25 (7pm), the Kendal school stages musical comedy Half a Sixpence, graced with such memorable songs as If The Rain's Got To Fall, showstopping Flash, Bang, Wallop! and, of course, the catchy title tune.

Set in Kent during Edwardian England, the plot centres on Arthur Kipps, a draper's assistant who falls in love with chambermaid Ann. In quick succession, he comes into a fortune, nearly marries a wealthy girl, marries Ann instead, loses his fortune, but regains that fortune and lives happily ever after with a loving family.

Based on the H G Wells 1905 novel Kipps: the Story of a Simple Soul, the musical is written by Beverley Cross, with music and lyrics by David Heneker, and was first performed at the Cambridge Theatre in London in 1963, before moving onto Broadway and then into a film in 1967; the movie made Tommy Steele into a truly household name.

QKS puts on a newer version of the show, featuring some of the songs that turned it into such a huge success in the 1960s, but brought up to date by Bill Kenwright for a touring production in 2007/8. Now Kipps is the narrator of the story, some of the lesser characters have more to do and there are some brand new numbers.

Year 12 students take the lead in the show, including Tommy Owen playing the hapless Artie Kipps, Rosie Wheeler in the role of Ann, and Evie Hill as Helen Walsingham.

Joe Hurn (Young Walsingham), Thomas Johnson (Chitterlow) and Alex Milburn (Pearce) are among the year 10 performers taking part, with year nine student Bernadette Dixon playing the part of Victoria.

QKS head of performing arts, Caz Barber, directs and produces the show, assisted by head of music, Rob Shillitoe as musical director conducting the student orchestra, and dance teacher, Emma Kinlock, looks after the choreography.

Local singing teacher Hannah Fleming has helped coach some of the singing. Hannah played Ann the last time QKS staged the musical; her brother, Wild Beasts guitarist and songwriter Tom Fleming, was Buggins.

Tickets are only available from the Brewery Arts Centre's box office on 01539-725133.