ICONIC 60's musical Hairspray will be performed by the Northavon Youth Theatre Company (NYTC) at Thornbury's Armstrong Hall from April 12-15.

NYTC, comprising students from the Northavon School of Drama, have been impressing audiences with award-winning productions for the last 41 years.

It’s 1962 and in Baltimore, Tracy Turnblad, a big girl with big hair and an even bigger heart, is on a mission to follow her dreams and dance her way on to national TV, but she finds her journey fraught with threats of prejudice, racism and imposed segregation, not to mention the spiteful remarks engendered by her size.

Tracy’s passionate fight for equality is especially noticed by local heartthrob Link Larkin, who, when not admiring himself, discovers he can’t resist Tracy’s charms and much to the chagrin of Amber Von Tussle and her scheming Mother, Velma, soon realises that big can be beautiful.

If you remember those heady days of short skirts, black eyeliner, natty suits, brylcreemed hair, backcombing and an all pervading aroma of hairspray, plus the arrival of pop shows on TV, or want to know more, this could be the musical for you.

NYTC is hoping to have people dancing in the aisles with a 10 piece band accompanying big beat numbers such as Good Morning Baltimore, Without Love, Big, Blonde and Beautiful, Run And Tell That, plus Welcome To The 60s and the stunning final salute to the sixties, delivered by the entire cast of energetic young people, You Can’t Stop The Beat!

  •  See Hairspray at Thornbury's Armstrong Hall from April 12-15. Performances are at 7.30pm, with a 2.30pm matinee on Easter Saturday. Call 07980543691 for tickets or visit Wildings, Thornbury High Street. Email bookings@nytc.org.uk or visit nytc.org.uk for further details.