MULTI award-winning CCADS Theatre are back at The Kings Theatre this weekend following their highly acclaimed, sold-out production of ‘Cats’ last year.

This time they are presenting the local premiere of the hilariously funny smash-hit West End and Broadway musical comedy Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.

Two con men, a beautiful woman and the elite of the French Riviera collide in this sexy and irreverent farce.

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, based on the hugely popular MGM film starring Michael Caine & Steve Martin, takes us to the French Riviera for high jinks and hilarity. Sophisticated, suave and with a good dash of mischief, this hysterically funny comedy features a delightfully jazzy score by David Yazbek (The Full Monty) and was nominated for a staggering 11 Tony Awards on Broadway before its smash-hit West End run that starred Robert Lindsay & Rufus Hound.

Lawrence Jameson makes his lavish living by talking rich ladies out of their money. Freddy Benson swindles women with fabricated stories about his grandmother’s failing health. After meeting on a train, they attempt to work together only to find that this small French town isn’t big enough for the two of them. They agree on a settlement: the first one to extract $50,000 from a young female target, heiress Christine Colgate, wins and the other must leave town. A hilarious battle of cons ensues that will keep audiences laughing, humming and guessing to the end ... .

CCADS Theatre promises a laugh out loud funny, tuneful and visually spectacular night of song, dance and humour, featuring a cast of the area’s finest, award-winning talents backed by a full orchestra and performed on stunning sets.

CCADS Artistic Director John-Paul McCrohon once again takes on double duties – fresh from recent Curtain Call award wins as Best Director of a Musical and Best Actor in a Musical for ‘Into the Woods’ – as he both directs and follows in the illustrious footsteps of David Niven, Michael Caine, John Lithgow, Jonathan Pryce and Robert Lindsay in the role of Lawrence Jameson. He is joined by an array of familiar faces from the local scene, many award-winners and nominees included, notable amongst which are Pete Westmorland, Lauren Kempton, Danny Owen, Kerry McCrohon and Charlotte Thomas.

This is a show that will appeal to theatregoers and non-theatregoers alike - and which has one foot in the screwball musical comedies of yesteryear as well as a foot raucously and outrageously in the present!

At The Kings Theatre, Albert Road, Southsea, Portsmouth until Saturday March 18.

Box Office: 02392 828282 or www.kingsportsmouth.co.uk