Sophie Randal as Maria with some of the children. Picture: Robert Yardley

Fourteen young Lichfield actors are currently being schooled to play the children of a famous family.

In April they will become the von Trapp family in Lichfield Operatic Society’s production of The Sound of Music.

Sophie Randal as Maria with some of the children. Picture: Robert Yardley
Sophie Randal as Maria with some of the children. Picture: Robert Yardley

A society spokesman said: “Few musicals give members the opportunity to work with young people, so we are enjoying rehearsing with 14 of them for this production.

“Due to the rules governing the appearance of young people on stage, two teams of seven are needed for the six performances.”

The Rodgers and Hammerstein favourite has been chosen as one of the productions to celebrate the society’s 70th anniversary year.

Set in Austria, The Sound of Music is based on the real-life story of Maria Rainer, her marriage to Georg von Trapp and her relationship with his family of singing youngsters.

Sophie Randal and Jordan Adams take the lead roles in this traditional show full of familiar musical numbers such as Edelweiss, My Favorite Things, Climb Ev’ry Mountain, Do-Re-Mi, Sixteen Going On Seventeen, The Lonely Goatherd, and of course the title song The Sound of Music.

Director Lynne Hill, Musical Director Ruairi Edwards and Choreographer Jemma Tyso have been busy rehearsing with the large cast for this, the society’s 115th production.

The show was last performed by Lichfield Operatic in 1995 to great acclaim.

The Sound of Music opens at The Lichfield Garrick on April 23 at 7.30pm and runs until April 27, plus a Saturday matinee at 2.30pm. Tickets are from £14 to £16 for the evening performances and £12 for the Saturday matinee when there is a reduction to £10 for children.

Tickets are available from the Lichfield Garrick box office on 01543 412121 or online at www.lichfieldgarrick.com.