Preston musical in a week to be made with help from Claire Sweeney

Claire Sweeney is one of the established names coming to UCLan to help

Preston students are to create a musical in a week for BBC Children in Need.

Around 50 music theatre and media production students from the University of Central Lancashire will be working with West End and TV stars to put on the show.

West End actress Claire Sweeney, Cold Feet Star John Thomson and two-time Olivier Award nominated actor Michael Xavier are among those helping the students put on their show.

It is due to be an upbeat 30 minute friendship themed musical to be performed during Friday 17 November.

UCLan’s creative industries innovation manager Emma Speed said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for our music theatre students to engage with top West End and Broadway performers. Working with them on a live project like this is replicating what they would do in the industry; this is a chance for them to see what career paths are possible within the musical theatre world.”

The show is to take place in the university’s St Peter’s Arts Centre and is part of Perfect Pitch, an Arts Council funded organisation, which works with the university,

Executive producer of Perfect Pitch Andy Barnes said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for UCLan students to work alongside top industry professionals to discover the opportunities which are available in musical theatre and to get first-hand experience of writing, casting and performing in a musical. By partnering with BBC Children in Need and through the creation of a legacy Children in Need themed musical, which is to be rolled out in schools throughout the UK, this whole experience has additional purpose and benefit.”

All ticket sales from the show go to Children in Need. You can buy tickets for £5 through Eventbrite.