A STAR-studded production of Godspell in Concert – the legendary rock musical from Stephen Schwartz, the Grammy and Academy Award-winning composer of Wicked – comes to Mayflower Theatre this spring as part of a national tour.

As part of its nationwide search for local choirs to take part in ensemble roles, auditions were held at Southampton’s Richard Taunton Sixth Form College.

Local choirs who met musical director Russell Scott this week, who is at the helm of the show’s spectacular new orchestration, were: Archway Group; Occasion Singers; Ariel Musicality Choir; Gospel Road Community Choir; Do You Hear The People Sing; Medina Community Choir; Big Day Choir and Salvacosta.

This is the first time in British theatre history that choirs have been recruited in this way to take part in a professional tour. The production will visit 29 venues and feature 28 people in each of the choirs.

It is the first time Godspell has toured in 10 years and over 40 years since it opened in the West End.

The choirs will work with an amazing cast, coming direct from the West End, including Jade Ewen who makes up one third of the multi-million selling pop group Sugababes.

The Brit Award-winning group have sold in excess of 15 million records worldwide, includ-ing six UK number 1 singles and six UK top ten albums.

Jade originally came to fame in 2009 representing the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest. Having been chosen by the public she performed the Andrew Lloyd Webber penned It’s My Time achieving fifth place making her our most successful act in the last 13 years.

Notable theatrical roles include Young Nala in the West End production of The Lion King and Clara in Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre staging of the classic Gershwin piece, Porgy and Bess.

Since coming second on the X Factor in 2005 – where he was dubbed ‘Voice of the People’ thanks to his searing, soulful interpretations – Andy Abraham has sold out the Royal Albert Hall, released four albums (which have sold over half a million copies) and has taken theatre audiences by storm with the UK’s leading big band on his History of the Big Bands theatre tour.

He returns to the roles of Judas Iscariot and John the Baptist following his celebrated performance in Godspell In Concert’s 2014’s charity gala at Shaftesbury Avenue’s Lyric Theatre held in support of the Make a Wish Foundation UK.

Russell Scott said: “This is a brand new orchestration – a brand new rock and pop score and it sounds awesome. It’s great that it is attracting a different era and lots of new young people.”

Tickets for Godspell in Concert (Sunday, April 12) are on sale from the Mayflower Theatre box office on 023 8071 1811 or online at mayflower.org.uk.