HAVING charmed audiences around the world with their award-winning Pirates of Penzance, H.M.S. Pinafore and The Mikado, Regan De Wynter Williams returns with Salad Days.

The musical stars TV and West End star Wendi Peters (Coronation Street, Hetty Feather, and White Christmas, Dominion Theatre).

Wendi Peters previously starred in Quartet at Salisbury Playhouse.

Speaking about her latest stage role as Lady Raeburn, she says: “Salad Days holds lots of great memories for me and I was thrilled when this opportunity came along to do it. I first saw a production of it when I was about 10. It was an amateur production in Accrington in Lancashire and my godmother, Lorna, was in it. I became obsessed with the music and, soon after, there was a TV version broadcast of the show. My sister and I videoed it and watched it over and over again… it’s really become a family joke/memory and it’s still quoted today. Of course, I’m now feeling very old as I’m playing one of the parents in the show ….”

“The show revolves around Jane and Timothy, who have just graduated from university. Not knowing what to do next, they decide to get married and get a job looking after a piano, which happens to be magic and makes people dance.

“Tim’s parents are desperate for him to get a good job and send him out to visit all his uncles for career advice. Jane’s mother wants to find her a wonderfully rich and influential husband - not knowing that she is already married. It’s a wonderfully upbeat, fun show with great numbers that a lot of people will know and can tap and hum along to. Just a great ‘leave your troubles outside the theatre’ show and I guarantee you will leave with a big smile on your face.”

2. Lots of audience members will know you from Coronation Street. How does this character differ from Cilla?

They differ in as much as Lady Raeburn in Salad Days is the quintessential aristocrat who is very relaxed and laid back until it comes to her daughter and finding the right husband for her. I suppose she really just has Jane’s best interests at heart. Whereas Cilla in Corrie couldn’t give two hoots for her children, Fiz and Chesney, and comes from a very Northern, working class background, so has had to fight for all she has. The only similarity is the fact that both have a roving eye for the opposite sex…

She adds: “I’m hoping the audience will leave with the biggest smile on their faces after such a glorious evening of wonderful uplifting singing and dancing. They may be a little confused as to why everyone was looking for a piano and one of Tim’s uncles appears from a space ship shaped like a saucer… it’s such wonderful, crazy nonsense but very funny.”

Written in 1952 as a summer musical for the Bristol Old Vic, Salad Days then transferred to the Vaudeville where it ran for 2,283 performances.

Director Bryan Hodgson says: “I am thrilled to be able to stage Salad Days again this autumn - it serves as one of the greatest romps in musical theatre history, and really brings us a timeless sense of enjoyment and nonsense, which is always welcome in counteracting the sometimes overwhelming seriousness of today. With the fabulous Wendi Peters joining the cast too, it will simply be a fun and delightful evening out, and I cannot wait to get the magic piano and spaceship ready for its latest trip around the charming British countryside.”

It runs at Salisbury Playhouse from Monday 22 until October 27. Tickets are available by calling 01722 320333 or wiltshirecreative.co.uk.