BEV Jones is frustrated, but for the best of reasons, as he rehearses Summer Holiday, Northern Musical Theatre Company’s first show of 2009.

“There’s so much dancing, just as there was in Fame, that it doesn’t leave me much to do,” says the highly experienced artistic director, whose show opens at the Joseph Rowntree Theatre in York on Tuesday.

“But the good thing is that my choreographer, Christine Aspinall, who also did Fame for us, is in my opinion the best one I’ve ever worked with.

“She really is a class act: ex-West End dancer; has all the diplomas; she’s wonderful.”

Summer Holiday is just the show to perk up spring, reckons Bev, explaining his choice of a musical forever associated with the Cliff Richard film.

“I couldn’t believe the response when I went over to see the musical in Keighley. They were swaying in the auditorium,” he says.

“I’m an entertainer, not an educator, and Summer Holiday fits that bill perfectly of being entertaining. The songs are still so popular with audiences: Bachelor Boy and lots of Cliff’s hits.”

Bev’s company will be led by ten principals, some familiar, others new to Northern Musical Theatre Company. The Cliff role of Don goes to Joe Wawryzniak, who played the Pirate King in Pirates Of Penzance, while newcomer Danielle Irving, will be Barbara.

“She’s from Wakefield, she’s still at school, 17 or 18, and she was brought along by one of our pianists,” says Bev.

“When she was practising her audition piece, I was listening outside, while having a break, and as she came out, she said, ‘Is it OK if I audition now?’, and I said, ‘No, you already have!”. She didn’t realise I’d been listening.

“She’s a lovely girl and I had no hesitation in choosing her straightaway to play Barbara. She was that good.”

Further roles go to Ash Stillborn; Iain Harvey; company newcomer Nathan Lodge, Abby Wells; Holly Wilson, in her first principal role for Bev; Karin Day; Terry Ford; and Craig Kirby.

“After I saw Craig in My Fair Lady at York Theatre Royal, I went up to congratulate him – he didn’t know me at the time – and later, after he learnt who I was, he asked if he could do a show with me,” says Bev, He had just the part, or parts, in mind for Craig. “There are 18 scenes and he’s in every scene as a different character with all the one-liners,” says Bev.

The show has two other significant characters, too: a version of a red London bus, bought off the company from the Keighley show, and a three-dimensional Eiffel Tower, acquired from an events company in Shipton-by-Beningbrough.

At least they do not require the choreographic skills of Christine Aspinall.

• Summer Holiday, Northern Musical Theatre Company, Joseph Rowntree Theatre, York, Tuesday to Saturday, 7.30pm plus 2.30pm matinee. Tickets: £10 to £14 on 01904 623568.