IT features one of the best loved songs to grace the musical theatre stage.

Showstopper Don't Cry For Me Argentina always brings down the house in Evita.

Following its smash hit run at London's Dominion Theatre, Bill Kenwright's production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical returns to Mayflower Theatre next week.

Telling the story of Eva Peron, wife of former Argentine dictator Juan Peron, Evita follows her journey from humble beginnings through to extraordinary wealth, power and iconic status which led her to be heralded as the spiritual leader of the nation.

With more than 20 major awards to its credit, the show spawned the 1996 Oscar winning film version starring Madonna and Antonio Banderas.

West End leading lady Emma Hatton will play the iconic role of Eva Perón during the show, which runs from Tuesday to Saturday. She has been thrilling audiences in the lead role of Elphaba in the London production of Wicked and previously played the principal parts of Scaramouche and Meatloaf in We Will Rock You and Donna in the West End run of Dreamboats And Petticoats.

Emma continues to perform regularly as a jazz and blues singer with previous residencies and appearances at The Savoy hotel and Ronnie Scott's, and her one-woman show, Songbird, sold out at the Live At Zedel’s season for Crazy Coqs.

Italian actor Gian Marco Schiaretti will play Che. He has previously performed the title role in Disney’s musical Tarzan in Stuttgart and played Mercutio in Romeo And Juliet across Italy.

Hampshire's own Kevin Stephen-Jones will appear as Argentine president Juan Perón after performing in Britain and Europe in more than 20 operas. The veteran actor, who was born in Eastleigh and brought up in Sway in the New Forest, has an impressive list of musical theatre credits to his name including Cats and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, both of which he played Southampton with.

Evita's score also features On This Night of a Thousand Stars, You Must Love Me and Another Suitcase in Another Hall.

Tickets: 023 8071 1811 or mayflower.org.uk