WELCOME to the 1960s - and this year's Kendal Amateur Operatic Society’s must-see show.

Come Tuesday, November 5, and Kendal Town Hall will be bouncing with the tunes from Hairspray.

Running until Saturday, November 9, it has all the hallmarks of another massive KAOS hit, a fun-loving and fabulously huge-hearted musical with hit songs such as You Can’t Stop the Beat, Nicest Kids in Town, Good Morning Baltimore and many more.

Its Baltimore, 1962 and Tracy Turnblad, a girl with big hair and an even bigger heart, dreams of making it onto a national television dance show. Not only does she want to win the heart of the show’s teen heartthrob Link Larkin, but she also dreams of fighting for equality and social change.

Taking the lead role of Tracy is Jamie-Leigh Currie with Clay Caldwell playing her teen idol Link Larkin. Both Jamie-Leigh and Clay have performed for KAOS in previous years: Jamie-Leigh in Evita and Clay taking the eponymous role in Oliver.

Backing Tracy’s fight for equality in television and elsewhere is TV host Corny Collins, played by another KAOS star turn Adam Carruthers with newcomer Josh Canwell as Seaweed, encouraging Tracy with her dancing, alongside Kitty Kay as his sister Little Inez and Karen Barker playing their outspoken mother Motormouth Maybelle.

Tracy’s larger than life mother Edna is always played by a man; for KAOS it will be one of the region's finest thespians Bob Christie. Also among the glittering cast are Bob Bailey, who plays Tracy’s father, Wilbur, and Alison Hine and Hannah McKee as the villains of the piece: bigoted and snobbish mother and daughter Velma and Amber Von Tussle.

Other characters include Kate Vernon as the uptight Prudy, with Hayley Dent playing her wayward daughter Penny. Society stalwart Richard Sutton takes the role of the TV show’s sponsor.

In true KAOS style the principal players are supported by a fabulous line up of singers and dancers as usual under the expert guidance of musical director John Perrin.

In the hot seat once again is highly regarded director Graham Barker. "Hairspray is a show is full of comedy and uplifting music," said Graham. "And this year we have attracted lots of new, younger members who are bringing a fabulous energy to the show with their enthusiasm and singing and dancing skills."

Performances start at 7.15pm. Tickets are available from the Brewery Arts Centre or at the door.