Pop diva's life on stage in Taihape

SOUL DIVA: British singer Dusty Springfield is the inspiration for Dusty - The Original Pop Diva.

Dusty - The Original Pop Diva, an Australian jukebox musical based on the life of Dusty Springfield, has a run in Taihape from April 13-16.

The Taihape Drama Club's production will be directed by Napier director Wendy Revell, well known for her production of the musical Bad Girls two years ago in Taihape.

Mrs Revell said the talent in Taihape was fabulous and fantastic, as most of the cast hadn't been on stage before.

Even though she lives in Napier, she travels over and is in Taihape from Wednesday to Sunday to rehearse and put on the production.

Club president Ainsley Munro said there were 18 in the cast and rehearsals had got under way before Christmas.

"There's a lot of work but everyone is very keen to make it a great show."

Dusty's greatest hits including "The Windmills of Your Mind", "Son of a Preacher Man" and "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me" are featured in the show, she said.

"We have some very good people helping us backstage, a great hairdresser, wardrobe person - we've been very lucky. But then Wendy is very, very good at encouraging people to help.

"No one likes to say no."

Once again the show will be onstage at the Taihape Town Hall.

"People are looking forward to it already."