Ian ClarkeThe curtain is going up in Dereham on the East Anglian amateur premiere production of Disney's Beauty and The Beast.About 50 youngsters aged seven to 18 from Dereham Operatic Society Youth Theatre Company are performing in the show, which runs from April 14-17 at the town's Memorial Hall.Ian Clarke

The curtain is going up in Dereham on the East Anglian amateur premiere production of Disney's Beauty and The Beast.

About 50 youngsters aged seven to 18 from Dereham Operatic Society Youth Theatre Company are performing in the show, which runs from April 14-17 at the town's Memorial Hall.

It will be the last production at the venue before it is closed for refurbishment.

Disney's Beauty and The Beast is the musical stage adaptation of the company's hit animated feature from 1991.

The audience will be transported to the heart of provincial life in a lovely French town.

When Maurice becomes lost in the woods on the way to the fair, he seeks shelter in an old castle, but the master of the castle is a horrible beast that takes him captive.

Maurice's daughter, Belle, must then give up her freedom to save his life.

Belle's taming of the unfortunate Beast and his ultimate transformation back into a handsome prince enthralled Broadway audiences for over 13 years - and will do the same to the Dereham audiences.

The 'tale as old as time' is filled with spectacular costumes and sets and among the songs are Be Our Guest, If I Can't Love Her and A Change In Me

Performances are nightly at 7.30pm and there is a 2.30pm matinee on Saturday.

The show is being directed by John McInnes with Elaine Shaw as musical director, Matt Brown as orchestra conductor and Rebecca Crossley as choreographer.

Tickets cost from �6.50-�9 and can be bought at Hallmark, Nelson Place, Dereham (Tel: 01362 694222).