THE hilarious musical comedy The Producers starring Jason Manford opens for a one-week run in Southampton on Tuesday.

This eagerly-anticipated show, based on Mel Brooks' Academy Award winning movie is another gem from Top Hat director Matthew White - the show currently wowing audiences at the Mayflower.

The Producers also boasts the acting talents of comedian Ross Noble.

The show has taken Broadway and the West End by storm, winning a record-breaking 12 Tony Awards and 3 Olivier Awards, and the UK tour has attracted glowing reviews.

Impoverished by a string of flops, New York producer Max Bialystock recruits downtrodden accountant Leo Bloom to help him pull off Broadway's greatest scam.

Together they aim to produce the worst show in history and run away to Rio with millions, but they learn that Showbusiness can always find a way to kick you in the teeth.

Featuring a riotous mix of eccentric characters and the all-time classic song Springtime For Hitler, The Producers is the funniest Broadway musical of all time.

The cast for this brand new Springtime tour of The Producers features one of the UK’s best loved comedians Jason Manford as timid accountant Leo Bloom.

Broadway and West End star Cory English reprises his role as Max Bialystock, one he played to critical acclaim in London’s West End. Tiffany Graves joins the company as Ulla the object of Leo Bloom’s affections.

Ross Noble plays the role of Franz Liebkind; the short fused, carrier pigeon keeping, former Nazi, brought on board by Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom to help them in their plot to put on the worst musical of all time.

Olivier Award winning actor David Bedella plays the flamboyant director Roger De Bris chosen by Max Bialystock in an attempt to ensure Springtime for Hitler is a flop.

The Producers is produced by Adam Spiegel Productions who has brought together a stellar, award winning creative team including acclaimed Top Hat Director Matthew White, Choreographer Lee Proud, Designer Paul Farnsworth, Lighting Designer Paul Anderson, Musical Director Andrew Hilton, Orchestrator Chris Walker, Sound Designer Gareth Owen and Casting Director James Orange.

Adam Spiegel said: “The Producers is the biggest, funniest Broadway musical of all time. It’s filled with fabulous costumes, glamorous dancing girls, hysterical show-tunes and an incredible live band.

"With a cast of the most celebrated, well-loved comedians in the UK today and the very best singers and dancers from London’s West End this production of Mel Brooks' record breaking, award winning comedy is guaranteed to be a hilarious night out!”

Tickets for The Producers (Tuesday 26 – Saturday 30 May ) are on sale from Mayflower Theatre Box Office tel: 02380 711811 or online at mayflower.org.uk.