THE story of the Ugly Duckling is well known – whether from Hans Christian Andersen’s famous fairytale or Danny Kaye’s famous children’s song from the 1952 film about the storyteller.

Now BCMCS Youth Theatre has taken the story and brought it into the Twenty First Century with the group’s latest production, Honk!

The cast of 32 youngsters – with an average age of 14 – will be bringing the stage adaptation of the story to life next month.

The story is set in the countryside and features Ugly – a cygnet who is mistaken as an ugly duckling when he falls into a duck’s nest. He is rejected by everyone except the mother duck Ida, a sly tomcat, who only befriends him out of hunger, and several other farmyard characters including a turkey who’s paranoid about Christmas.

Expect lots of comedy, catchy songs and even dancing ducks, which have provoked lots of laughs for the young cast during rehearsals and for the production team of director Liz Hume-Dawson, musical director Nicola Worrall and choreographer Katherine Farrington.

BCMCS Secretary Neville Grady said: “It never fails to amaze me how much hard work our youngsters always put in when rehearsing for our Youth Theatre Productions. Honk! is no different.

"But the rehearsals are always full of fun and laughter so the hard work becomes enjoyable, which is good to see.

“We had two almost different groups for our two youth shows, The Addams Family and Ye-Ha! last year - and they’ve both come together to be in this one.

“Most of the youngsters who performed in Ye-Ha! had never set foot on a stage before but they obviously enjoyed the experience and have come back for more.”

The show will run from Thursday, March 3 to Saturday March 5 at Walmsley Parish Hall, Egerton, starting at 7.15 pm, with a matinee on the Saturday afternoon starting at 2.15 pm.

Tickets are £8 for all adults, £5 for children, and £22 for a family ticket (2 adults and 2 children). Order from BCMCS Ticketline on 01204 856977.