LOCHGELLY'S version of Hairspray is looking set to be a big success.

This is the Lochgelly Youth theatre company's first production and will open at Lochgelly Centre in three weeks time, on Thursday September 28.

The company will stage the show at the Centre Theatre on Thursday and Friday, September 28 and 29, and it is costing £5,100 to make it happen.

But Lochgelly Youth has been delighted to attract major support from three local businesses; and other businesses in the Lochgelly and Benarty area have been donating a host of prizes for a fundraising draw which will be run in conjunction with the two night run.

Directing the venture is Ballingry 16 year-old, Liam Nardone, and the Lochgelly High School pupil, who played Widow Twankey in last year's school pantomime Aladdin, is confident that Lochgelly Youth will make a big success of this show about at 1960s schoolgirl who dreams of appearing on a local TV show (the American equivalent of Top of the Pops) and her fight against discrimination.

It is a show which has lots of songs, including 'You can't Stop the Beat' and 'Welcome to the Sixties') and loads of dance sequences and Liam says Lochgelly Youth are meeting the challenge as they rehearse twice a week.

There is 40 members in the cast with ages ranging from 6 to 34 and director Liam has been delighted with the application shown by the cast.

He said this week: "When we came together not many of the cast had previous experience of appearing on stage but in a relatively short time they have shown not only an amazing level of talent but also rising confidence.

"We have received tremendous support from three main sponsors, the West End Bar, The King's Arms and John Gilfillan Funeral Directors, and many other shops and businesses in Lochgelly and Ballingry have been donating prizes for our big raffle which we are running to raise funds.

"It really has been brilliant the backing we have received and it has driven the cast on to work really hard in rehearsals and things have been getting better and better with each week passing."

The two night run means that Lochgelly Youth have almost 850 seats to fill and by the end of last week they had move just over 600, which really encouraged the cast.

Added 16 year-old Liam: "To have almost 75 per cent of the tickets sold with three weeks to go to the opening night is so encouraging

and hopefully we can add a lot more to that total.

"Lochgelly Youth has that family feel about it and everyone is now very much on the same wavelength and to complete our preparations we will be stepping up rehearsals from two to three a week."

Tickets have been going well so to see Hairspray, Lochgelly style, you better get your tickets this week at the Lochgelly Centre or via the On at Fife website.