A NEW production company aiming to unite West End and local talent is putting on a musical locally next week. Brilliant Productions is performing The Last Five Years at the Pump House Theatre in Watford from next Thursday, November 26, to Saturday, Novemb

A NEW production company aiming to unite West End and local talent is putting on a musical locally next week.

Brilliant Productions is performing The Last Five Years at the Pump House Theatre in Watford from next Thursday, November 26, to Saturday, November 28.

The driving force behind the project is local performer Bobbie Chatt, who was born in Radlett and has starred in three Alban Arena pantomimes including as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz.

She said: "It's the professional premiere of the show in this area and we really had to pull out the stops to get the pro rights.

"We have a great team in place and, for example, our musical director Simon Beck is currently MD-ing both the UK tour of The Rocky Horror Show and Victoria Wood's Talent at the Menier Chocolate Factory.

"I first worked with him in Les Miserables and am so delighted that he has agreed to come on board for The Last Five Years. "

Brilliant Productions aims to bring together West End and local talent and the production is directed by Matt Fowler, a sought-after local performer.

He is no stranger to directing, having won NODA awards for his production of 42nd Street for St Albans Operatic Society at the Arena as well as choreographing their acclaimed West Side Story which Bobbie directed.

The pair also worked together in shows staged by Stuart and Yvonne Harding's Regeneration Theatre Company.

The Last Five Years follows the relationship of emerging writer Jamie and struggling actress Cathy. The twist is in the narration with Jamie telling his story chronologically from beginning to end while Cathy starts at the end and works backwards to the day it all began.

Matt said: "It's a really challenging piece, particularly for Cathy who has to work backwards. As director it's my job to ensure that both characters are given an equal chance to gain the empathy of everyone watching."

Bobbie described The Last Five Years as, "an exciting and wonderfully written piece of theatre" and the author Jason Robert Brown as a musical genius.

She will be joined in the show by Nadeem Crowe who is playing one of the leads in the London professional production of Zanna Don't! Bobbie added: "Nadeem was an obvious choice - he's an amazing actor and has one of the most beautiful voices I've heard in a long time. It's been a pleasure working alongside this team of Nad, Matt and Simon - all we need now is an audience."

The Last Five Years is being performed at 8pm each evening with a Saturday matinee at 5pm. Tickets priced �12.50 are available online from www.ticketsource.co.uk/brilliant or by calling 07977 270788.