More than 50 young people from Keighley, South Craven and Skipton are involved in the local amateur premiere of the hit musical Les Miserables.

Skipton youth theatre Little Saods is staging a slimmed-down "school edition" of the epic show from Monday to Saturday in Skipton Town Hall.

The new version is still emotional -- Knights Out has learned that even during rehearsals in Skipton people have cried at the songs.

"The show is set to be of a very high standard," said John Dewhurst, one of the Little Saods leaders.

The cast includes a contingent of Keighley youngsters including Adriana Gentile, Antonia Gentile, Ben Tomlinson and Dani Laughlin, and Silsden's Seb Pietrovito.

Les Miserables follows a former convict's search for redemption during the French Revolution and the romance of his adopted daughter.

Tickets for 7.15pm performances, and a Saturday 2.15pm matinee, are on sale at Skipton Building Society or Brux clothing in Silsden, or by phoning 01535 653331.

n Skipton Amateurs will on March 20 hold auditions for their October 3-8 production of the popular Rodgers and Hammerstein musical South Pacific.

Audition pieces are available by phoning 01535 658853.

The society's annual general meeting is on March 8 (7.30pm) at Trinity Methodist Church, Skipton.