RYEDALE Youth Theatre has been granted the licence to perform Ian Fleming’s Chitty Chitty Bang Bang this spring.

Rehearsals are well under way for the Easter production at the Milton Rooms, Malton, from April 17 to 20.

"Once again we were in the very fortunate position that everybody who auditioned was so talented that we could have cast this show in so many different ways," says publicist Barbara Wood.

"We had great difficulty in finalising the cast list and eventually decided that we would have to double cast the roles of Jemima and Jeremy with Eloise Myers and Ruby Jackson sharing Jemima and Michael Williamson and Jack Robinson sharing Jeremy."

The cast of more than 70 is being directed by Chloe Shipley, with additional direction and choreography by Ryedale's West End performer Lauren Hood. Chris Hocking is the musical band director; Rachael Clarke, the musical choral director.

To help to promote Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Malton’s artisan gelato maker, the Groovy Moo Gelateria, will be supporting the show with a limited-edition special flavour ice cream at their Talbot Yard parlour next month.

"This is a really exciting and truly delicious collaboration between Ryedale Youth Theatre and one of Malton’s most famous outlets," says Barbara. "The Chitty-themed ice cream will be a pink/red and white Truly Scrumptious Raspberry Ripple, available from the Groovy Moo during April."

Pictured at the parlour are principal cast members, back, left, Sam Spencer (who will play Potts) and Romy Freer (Truly), and, leaning on the counter, left to right, Ruby Jackson (Jemima), Jack Robinson (Jeremy), Eloise Myers (Jemima) and Michael Williamson (Jeremy).

Tickets for the 7.15pm shows on April 17 to 19 and 2pm matinees on April 18 and 20 are on sale at £14, concessions £12, at yourboxoffice.co.uk/ryedale-youth-theatre.

Charles Hutchinson