A FORMER pupil of Rivington and Blackrod High School has co-written a musical comedy -- called simply The Musical!

It will be staged at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Chris Parr, aged 21, whose parents, Jenny and Howard, live in Blackrod, recently finished at Newcastle Univerisity where he studied politics and gained a 2.1 degree.

In February next year, he is going to China to teach English.

He plays the guitar and piano, but says he does not want to get into showbusiness professionally.

His writing partner is Ashley Frieze, aged 30, a stand-up comedian.

The musical is about about two writers who, after an accident with an ancient cursed Japanese gypsy book, become trapped in their own musical and have to write their way out, or be damned for all time.The show contains nine original songs.

Chris and Ashley are the only two performers in the show, which they say is partly autobiographical.

"The first two scenes of the show actually happened," Chris said. "We didn't actually fall under a ludicrous curse, but we have spent countless hours in Ashley's dining room, singing songs to each other."

Ashley said: "The show offers an insight into how musicals work. It is fast-paced, building to a climax that puts the fate of the characters in the hands of their audience."

In the show, the friends play their way to the finale with three guitars, a piano and some novelty instruments

The Musical! premiered in Newcastle in May, and visited Londonin July before playing at the Fringe for a full run from August 5 to 29.