YORK Light director Martyn Knight has a special enthusiasm for Seven Brides For Seven Brothers as it returns to York Theatre Royal on Tuesday.

He appeared as Ephraim in the celebrated Theatre Royal production in 1984, a show that went on to a West End run and a tour across the globe, including Canada. "I don't think it has been back here since the day we left, so it's wonderful to be doing it with York Light," says Martyn.

Set in Oregon in the 1850s, Seven Brides For Seven Brothers tells the story of Adam Pontipee and his new bride Milly as they attempt to find brides for Adam’s six unkempt and unruly brothers. Milly sets a plan into motion to marry off the brothers, not least teaching them how to court ladies properly, but things do not quite go as planned when the brothers, in their enthusiasm, kidnap six women from the neighbouring town to be their brides.

Adapted from the MGM movie that starred Howard Keel and Jane Powell, the stage show features such unforgettable songs as Bless Your Beautiful Hide, Goin’ Courtin’, Wonderful, Wonderful Day, Sobbin’ Women and Spring, Spring, Spring, and has had further songs added to the score since Martyn performed in the Theatre Royal production.

York Press:

Those seven brides....for seven brothers

"I'd never heard Gallant And Correct and I Married Seven Brothers, and I'm sure there's an extra character that wasn't there when we did it!" he says. "I like the finale that the show has now. At first I thought, 'this doesn't bear any resemblance to what we did' but I've grown to like it."

In his production, the lead roles of Adam and Milly will be performed by Matthew Ainsworth and Emma Dickinson, joined by Ria Williams as Alice; Scott Goncalves as Gideon; Grace Brown as Sarah; Sam Lightwing as Frank; Alicia Fletcher as Martha; Michael Foster as Ephraim; Eloise Crawford as Liza; Richard Wetherill as Daniel; Stephanie Elsey as Ruth; Richard Hawley as Caleb and Rachel Williams as Dorcas.

Casting women is never problematic, but York's companies always face a bigger challenge in recruiting men. "Finding seven men to play the Seven Brothers wasn't difficult but we had to find six suitors and two swing boys too," says Martyn. "A lot of them have come from York Light Youth, and I remember thinking, 'my god, they're all so young!'.

"Setting up York Light Youth has really helped us, though, now that we have this wonderful youth section that's nurturing young talent to progress to the senior company."

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Martyn is as busy as ever in his theatrical commitments, directing Seven Brides on the back of playing Mrs Smee, yes Mrs Smee, in Peter Pan in his capacity as the resident pantomime dame at Eastbourne's Devonshire Park Theatre. "They had to squeeze me in as Smee's mum," he says.

"I've since directed a show for my children's group in Weymouth; The Gondoliers in Taunton; Sister Act in Frome and Legally Blonde in Bournemouth. Next season I'll be doing The Full Monty and Annie in Salisbury and Grease in Northampton." Busy, busy!

As for Martyn's next pantomime, "This time it'll be Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs and I'll be Nellie Nightnurse. It'll be my 13th year, so I'm aiming for Berwick Kaler's record but I'll be 92 by the time I do that!"

York Light presents Seven Brides For Seven Brothers, York Theatre Royal, June 28 to July 9; evening performances at 7.30pm plus Saturday matinees at 2.30pm. Tickets cost £10 to £28.50 from the Theatre Royal box office in person, on 01904 623568 or at yorktheatreroyal.co.uk 

Did you know?

YORK Light cast member Scott Goncalves has been accepted for a place at the Guildford School of Acting from September. Congratulations.