AUDIENCES had better prepare themselves for a soaking when visiting the Octagon this month.

The Bolton theatre is making a splash in more ways than one with its latest production, Singin' in the Rain - based on the classic movie of the same name.

The musical's pièce de résistance is a fully functional rain machine which sprinkles out gallons of water across the stage for the show's version of Actor Gene Kelly's famous solo dance sequence which takes place in the streets during a downpour.

To recreate the magical moment, the stage crew set up a tank behind the scenes which pumps water up into the theatre's rafters. From there, at the flick of a switch, it is released down from 10 spray jets onto the actors below.

Assistant stage manager Katie Balmforth said: "It is custom made and specially engineered for us.

"It is quite literally a pump and a hose, it is very simple.

"When setting up it had to be positioned and sprinkle so it looks like real rain and not spread out so much it soaks the audience or the musical instruments."

Katie operates the machine from the top floor of the theatre, with each sprinkler on separate switches.

The different switches mean the 'rain' can follow lead actor Matthew Croke across the dance floor and "complement the choreography".

Water gathers on the stage at his feet so in his leaps, jumps and kicks. The front rows - who are supplied with bright yellow macs - can join in his singing in the rain experience.

The big moment takes place just before the interval and by the time the audience returns the water is all but gone.

The water which falls is collected in a large lined tank hidden directly below the stage, collected by a thinly concealed drain around its parameter.

"We've got 20 minutes to get it dry, using about a hundred sponges, mops and towels!" Katie laughed.

"The challenge we've got here is that the audience are so close that they might want to walk over the stage to leave or leave items behind like handbags on areas which we want to dry.

"Of course being so close to the audience they get so involved in the performance, it's a great reaction and, or course, they get a lot more wet as well."

Singin' in the Rain runs until Saturday, June 25, with tickets available from the Octagon Theatre box office.