IF there is one queen of the British musical scene then it has to be Elaine Paige.

She has earned international recognition for her lead roles in Evita, Cats, Chess, Sunset Boulevard and Piaf.

But now the diva is turning her back on the toe-tapping world of the musical and re-inventing herself as an actress of the classical stage.

"I love going to the theatre," said the actress.

"I much prefer a good play to a musical."

Paige is now appearing in a translation of Georges Feydeau's French farce Where There's a Will, coming to Malvern Theatres.

She plays Angle, the capricious wife of a serial adulterer who manipulates the men around her to make sure they pay the price for their wickedness.

"I love the intimacy of being with a small company," said Paige.

"There are always vast numbers of people on a musical."

But, although there is no singing and dancing, Paige's musical talents still have a role to play.

"I've begun to see that the rhythm of the play is similar to a musical," she said.

"The ebb and flow of the action has to be timed exactly, entrances and exists have to be crisp and definite like the beginning and end of songs.

"To that extent I do bring my musical theatre expertise to the play."

Paige never planned for a singing career having originally trained as an actress.

"I'd like to do more drama to stretch myself," she said.

Paige said her singing is inspired by the likes of Judy Garland and Ella Fitzgerald, but her theatrical role-models are more contemporary, such as Maggie Smith, Judi Dench, Fiona Shaw and Frances de la Tour.

In Where There's A Will Paige stars alongside top British actors David Warner as Thommereux and Nicholas Le Prevost as Ribadier.

Warner is a star of both stage and screen. His film credits range from the Evil Genius in Time Bandits, Lovejoy in Titanic, Father in The Company of Wolves and Chancellor Gorkon in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.

He has also given acclaimed performances for the Royal Shakespeare Company including Hamlet and Richard II.

Le Prevost was nominated for an Olivier Award for his performance in An Absolute Turkey and starred in another of Feydeau's plays Mind Millie for Me.

"I love being part of a small ensemble, acting with really experienced professionals, learning from them," said Paige.

"We are constantly making suggestions backstage, a nuance here, an inflection there, improving all the time.

"When rehearsals were over, there was a wonderful sense of liberation.

"The glory of being onstage is the addition of the audience. It lifts the performance and makes it come alive."

Where There's a Will is directed by Peter Hall who has worked with Paige on both Piaf and The Misanthrope.

"Peter is wonderful to work with," said Paige.

"He has the ability to create a comfortable atmosphere in which it is possible to undertake the often tortuous and always delicate process of rehearsals with people who don't necessarily know each other well.

"He is very good at nurturing the actors, helping them to discover their character, explaining how and why they think and behave as they do, whilst putting the whole in context.

"I trust him absolutely."

Where There's a Will is touring the country for six weeks.

It runs at Malvern's Festival Theatre from Monday to Saturday, June 9 to 14.

Tickets from £16 to £24, available from the box office on 01684 892277.