THE award winning Cotswold Players are currently preparing for their first ever Andrew Lloyd Webber show and when you love a musical as much as do the Players, there’s only one choice - Aspects of Love.

The Players are exceptionally lucky, being one of only a handful of amateur groups in the country to be granted a licence to stage this iconic musical. The show premiered in London’s West End in 1989, where it ran for over 1000 performances and propelled Michael Ball, and the song ‘Love Changes Everything’, to stardom.

The Players have been rehearsing for the production since February and recently welcomed professional actor Sean Jones, who many will have seen playing Mickey in Blood Brothers, to help them tackle this demanding show.

Regular patrons will recognise several of the cast, which includes Richard Murray, past winner of Bristol Evening Post’s Cameron Macintosh Rosebowl Award for Best Actor in a Musical, along with his brother, James. Daniel Holden and Sarah Kilmister will also return to the Playhouse stage, as well as Anne Martin who recently featured as Kylie Minogue on Harry Hill’s ‘Stars in their Eyes’. Several new members are also taking leading parts in the production; local talents Lucy Harrison and Lucy Cole are sure to wow audiences with their stunning performances.

Director, Rob Mauler, explains what audiences can expect.

“Aspects of Love is perhaps one of the most challenging musicals the Cotswold Players have ever staged. The music is a cross between two other power-house musicals of the 1980’s, Les Miserables and Phantom of the Opera, with a few touches of Sunset Boulevard thrown in for good measure. However, the story is unique, starting in 1947 and spanning 17 years, during which time we see the main characters fall in and out of love with each other.

Most people will recognise the show’s power ballad ‘Love Changes Everything’ but some of its less well-known songs, under talented Musical Director, Lucas Bailey, are equally impressive. An even greater challenge will see the Players installing a revolving stage for this production, as well as using for the first time a recently purchased range of new lighting equipment.

Tickets for the show, which takes place June 17 – 20 and 24 – 27, are available online at cotswoldplayhouse.co.uk/tickets or by calling 0333 666 3366.