A MUSICAL society is set to celebrate its 80th birthday with a smash musical production.

The Durham University Opera Group, one of the university’s oldest society’s, is to put their own semi-professional spin on Cole Porter’s classic musical Anything Goes, which has been a Broadway favourite since its debut in 1934.

The 80-strong team of actors, musicians, choreographers, stagehands and technical experts is made up entirely of students, who for months have balanced their studies with intense rehearsal sessions ahead of the show at the Gala Theatre.

Producer Henry Winlow said: “It’s a fantastic opportunity to put on a show from complete scratch in such a professional setting. It’s a lot of work but it’s even more fun.”

In recent years, the group’s Gala shows have included Fame, City of Angels, Guys and Dolls, West Side Story and The Producers.

The group strives to give as many students as possible the chance to get involved in high quality musical theatre no matter what their past experience.

Durham University student and cast member Jennifer Bullock said: “Anything Goes is such a great show and it’s so exciting to be performing on the Gala stage.”

The show will run from January 13 to January 17 and tickets, priced £10, are available from the Gala Theatre website.