ONE of the world’s funniest exercises in ‘bad taste’ comes to the stage at Newtown’s Hafren theatre next Thursday, April 26, with the opening of a new local production of the musical ‘The Producers’.

The original 1967 film by Mel Brooks starring Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder, is about two New Yorkers trying to make their fortune through backing a sure-fire Broadway flop show, which goes on to ruin them by becoming an unexpected monster hit.

With its central showpiece ‘Springtime for Hitler’ routine, the film went on itself to eventually become a stage musical and a hit on both Broadway and in the West End.

Now the Newtown Musical Theatre Company (NMTC) take on the show with Mike Clarke as Max Bialystock and Gareth McMurdo as Leopold Bloom.

With a host of new faces both on stage and off, the Newtown shows open on Thursday night, April 26 with more shows on Friday night, April 27 and at 2.30 and 7.30pm on Saturday, April 28. Tickets are available from the Hafren box office on 01686 614555.

Meanwhile, with their eyes on the autumn production, NMTC have been looking for directors, musical directiors, choreographers, production managers. wardrobe and props co-ordinators and others who want to become involved in staging ‘Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’.

Permission has just been released for the Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd-Webber hit musical to be performed by adult amateur companies to celebrate its 50th anniversary.