A TALE of romance and the battle between good and evil will be brought to life in Stourport.

The Stourport Choral and Operatic Society will present Jekyll and Hyde from Monday, April 3 until Saturday, April 8 at the town's Civic Hall.

It will be the Midlands premiere of the hit musical based on Robert Louis Stevenson's classic story, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.

The story, which is set in London in 1888, is about a brilliant doctor whose experiments with human personality create a murderous counterpart.

Convinced the cure for his father's mental illness lies in the separation of man's evil nature from his good, Dr Henry Jekyll plans to use his formula on a live patient but the board of governors of St Jude's Hospital stops his plans.

Following his engagement party to Sir Danvers's daughter, Emma, he goes to the pub, the Red Rat, where he befriends Lucy, a prostitute and singer.

On his way home, he decides to use his formula on himself and unwittingly unleashes his own dark side, the savage and maniacal Edward Hyde.

Thirty-two of the group's 70 members will be performing and Judith Standing will be the musical director.

Jonathan Darby will play Dr Henry Jekyll, while his wife, Claire Worboys, will be Lucy Harris, as well as director and choreographer.

Callum McArthur will be Jekyll's friend, Gabriel John Utterson, Sharon Toy will play Jekyll's fiance, Emma Carew and George Lloyd will be her father, Sir Danvers Carew KBE.

Songs from the hit musical include Once Upon A Dream, This is the Moment, Someone Like You and No-one Must Ever Know.

The society's publicity officer, Judith Sutcliffe, said: "The audience can expect a vibrant and exciting performance, with extremely good singing. We have got some great singers.

"It should be quite an entertaining performance and is a very well known story. Next year, we are hoping to do The King and I."

Tickets for the performances, which start at 7.30pm, are available from Jan Steward on 01299 896456 or 07759 213545.

Tickets can also be ordered from Mrs Steward by writing to Holy Acre Farm, Suffolk Lane, Abberley, Worcestershire, WR6 6BE.