DARREN Roberts directs York Light Youth for the first time in the Madness musical Our House at the Joseph Rowntree Theate, York, from November 7 to 10.

The new artistic director has a background in professional theatre and has worked with many community theatre groups while teaching performing arts for the past 20 years. He knows Our House well, having played the role of Dad.

He is joined in the YLY production team by John Atkin, in his third show as musical director, and Hayley Patrick-Copeland, choreographing for the youth group for a fifth time.

Staged only once before in York – by the Grand Opera House Stage Experience company in August 2014 – Our House is the story of Joe Casey who, on the night of his 16th birthday, takes Sarah, the girl of his dreams, on their first date.

Trying to impress her with bravado, Joe breaks into a building site overlooking his home on Casey Street, owned by Mr Pressman, a high-end property developer. The police turn up, whereupon Joe’s life splits into two: Good Joe, who stays to give himself up for breaking and entering, and Bad Joe, who flees.

York Press:

Our House cast members Amy Vaughn, left, Issy Hussey and Mathilde Barker in Eighties' dress. Picture: Myriam Barker

Our House was premiered at London's Cambridge Theatre in 2002, when directed by North Yorkshireman Matthew Warchus. It won the Olivier Award for Best New Musical in 2003 with its witty romantic tale, written by Neville's Island and Calendar Girls writer Tim Firth, and songs from the Madness catalogue of music hall-meets-ska hits, from House Of Fun to Our House.

Our House, The Madness Musical is now available for amateur dramatics groups and YLY have been quick to snap it up in their fifth year of staging shows in York. Among their 35-strong cast of 11 to 18 year olds are faces familiar from past YLY productions. Edward Atkin, who plays the lead, Joe, has performed in seven out of eight YLY shows; Nathan Christy plays Reecey in his sixth YLY performance.

Faye Stainton returns to the company as Sarah, Joe’s girlfriend, along with Max Mulrenan and Sam Curry as Joe’s best friends, Emmo and Lewis. Lucy Scruton and Maggie Wakeling appear as Sarah’s friends, Angie and Billie, and Joe’s Mum and Dad are played by York Light performers Hannah Witcomb and Richard Weatherill.

For those who revel in nostalgia, the November 8 show will be a special Eighties' dress-up night when audience members attired in their favourite 1980s' outfits will have the chance to win a prize. The best costume, as judged by YLY's wardrobe mistress during the interval, will win two tickets for York Light’s production of Grease at York Theatre Royal from February 13 to 23 next year.

"So, Madness fans young and old, to save yourselves any Embarrassment, put on your Baggy Trousers, get Driving In your Car and go down to the House Of Fun from November 7 to November 10," say York Light Youth.

Tickets for the 7.30pm evening shows and 2.30pm Saturday matinee are on sale at josephrowntreetheatre.co.uk or on 01904 501935.