COMPOSER Simon May said he was overwhelmed by the standard of performance by the cast of his musical Smike, due to be performed in Devizes next month.

Mr May, originally from Devizes though now living in Guildford, attended rehearsals of the production by the First Stages youth theatre company at Rowde Primary School hall on Sunday afternoon.

He also called in to hear the choirs rehearsing at St Joseph’s Primary School on Monday.

Mr May is probably best known for writing the theme tunes for many popular TV series, including EastEnders.

The young cast of Smike were put through their paces by director Carole Berry, while Mr May gave them instructive and encouraging notes.

Mr May wrote the musical – based on Charles Dickens’s Nicholas Nickleby – with writing partner Roger Holman while teaching at Kingston Grammar School in the early 1970s and it has been a popular choice for schools ever since. It had a TV production on the BBC in 1973.

The production, to be staged at the Corn Exchange from May 10 to 12, also features choirs from Dauntsey’s School.

Mr May said: “I am thrilled to see Smike coming back home. I have so many personal friendships at Dauntsey’s, where I was a pupil, at St Jo’s, where I did my teaching practice, and at First Stages.

“Smike has been performed so many times before, partly because it is based on Dickens, but it doesn’t seem to have dated.

“This production by one of the most talented groups I have ever come across is going to be brilliant.

“It probably gives me more pleasure to see Smike being performed than it does hearing the EastEnders theme being played.”

The title role of Smike is taken by Matthew Waters, who was also in Devizes Musical Theatre’s production of Oliver! last year. Ben Hartley plays the part of Nicholas Nickleby. The cast is predominantly young, with adult parts being taken by well-known local singers including Paula Boyagis as the lubricious Mrs Squeers.

Smike is being sponsored by the Devizes Fine Arts Society, which is keen to sponsor other young arts projects.

Young arts organiser Cherry Wedrychowski can be emailed at cwedrychowski@yahoo.co.uk