WHEN Carousel is staged by Worcester Operatic and Dramatic Society this month, it will give few clues to the back-stage drama that went into its making.

But as the 50-strong cast presents the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical at Malvern Festival Theatre from Tuesday, October 19, to Saturday, October 23, an unseen backstage crew will be seeing months of hard work come to fruition.

Director David Humphries has had to contend with people dropping out and having to be replaced at short notice, including one of the principals.

Fortunately, Kempsey's Bob Clarke, a former gamekeeper who has made his name as an actor since having his nose bitten off in a pub attack, was able to step into the part of Jigger Craigin at the last minute.

Musical director John Griswold has been travelling to weekly rehearsals in St Mary's Hall, Worcester, from his home in Devon, making a round trip of nearly 300 miles each week.

Choreographer Rachel Price, whose work began with audition pieces for the dancers, has spent five months working with both adults and children from the society's youth section, WODYS.

"My biggest thrill will be seeing the dancers on stage, with all their costumes and make-up on," she said.

And business manager Ian Crohill has staked his reputation on a budget of £25,000, hoping to see ticket sales of at least 60 per cent in order to break even.

"The largest part of the budget is the rent of the theatre, which is £3,000 and 20 per cent of the box office takings, plus VAT," he said.

"It can vary from £9,000 to £13,000, according to how well we do."

The props team, led by Sue Love, Pat Milton and Liz Turner, has had to track down items as diverse as clam shells, besom brooms, a lobster pot and a revolver.

They have also devised ways of making candy floss out of kapok and a bale of cotton out of a bench and a blanket.

But their work doesn't finish until the show is over, because they are responsible for placing props precisely on stage and retrieving them.

"What goes on must come off and be accounted for," said Sue.

Wardrobe mistress Gloria Chapman sometimes makes the costumes, including rip-off ball gowns for Damn Yankies, but is hiring most of the costumes for Carousel.

And the Prompt, Lesley Hart, who has been faithfully following the script at weekly rehearsals for the last six months, is hoping she won't be needed "on the night"?

"But if I do my job properly the audience won't notice there has been a prompt," she said.

What everyone has in common is enthusiasm for the show.

"It's a story that could be set in any age, about single parent families and a father turning to crime to keep his family going," said the director.

"The music captures the atmosphere and complements the script. It's wonderful."