FAME, the all-American song and dance show, is going to live for ever. Drawing its inspiration from Alan Parker's 1980 film, a newly updated version of Fame: The Musical is on tour, taking a roller-coaster ride through the dreams and disappointments of the star-struck pupils of Manhattan's High School for Performing Arts.

Next stop for that ride and the 30-strong cast of young British performers will be the Grand Opera House in York next week.

The driving force behind the touring show is director Garry Noakes, and straightaway he puts his finger on the abiding appeal of Fame.

"It's the energy on stage, which is so exciting. People thrive on seeing such exciting young performers," he says. "The average age of the company is only 22 and they all seem to have very good techniques in dancing, singing and acting. They have professional stage experience too - obviously not as much as older performers - but having come out of college pretty recently they can really associate with the story line."

Since the show's West End run, Garry has brought together a new cast for the tour, putting the performers through an intensive schedule of three weeks of rehearsals, and at the core of those rehearsals has been the choreography.

"It hasn't changed much from the original but we like to keep it up to date as much as possible. Even though it's set in the Eighties it would look dated if we did it that way - I used to dance in the Eighties, so I know!" he says.

"This show has a fantastic way of being able to cross bridges through dance, and so if it was still very Eighties it would need moving on because it has to be contemporary - although the flamenco piece is timeless."

Since the 1980s days of Fame, the pursuit of fame has moved on apace to such star-shaping shows as Popstars and Pop Idol.

"I think it's getting harder these days," says Garry. "When I started performing 25 years ago, it was quite competitive: there would be 40 guys going for one role and 300 girls. Now the percentage is even higher for girls, maybe 500 for one role, and they will come to the audition even if there are just two roles available.

"In many ways, it's become much tougher, especially because we expect much more: we expect them to dance brilliantly, and sing brilliantly, and act like they're in the RSC the Royal Shakespeare Company."

Given those heightened expectations, how does he conduct rehearsals?

"You can't rant and rave; you can't scream and put people in shock, though I have worked with directors who do that and it's pretty scary," Garry says.

"Sometimes, you have to crack the whip to remind them to learn their lines but it's always best to treat people with respect. They're young and so they have that in-bred thing that they want to give their all." For ever.

Fame, Grand Opera House, York, April 29 to May 4. Performances: Monday to Thursday, 7.30pm; Friday, 5.30pm, 8.45pm; Saturday, 4pm, 8pm. Tickets: £10 to £23; ring 01904 671818.

Updated: 10:32 Friday, April 26, 2002