A THEATRE group is staging its most ambitious project to date in Burnley this week.

Basics Theatre Group, Plumbe Street, Burnley, held their debut performance of West End hit musical We Will Rock You' at Burnley Mechanics tonight.

The theatre school is believed to be the first in Burnley, Pendle or Rossendale to have been given permission to perform the show after licensing restrictions were put on productions.

Producer Dennis Murtagh said the £25,000 show is Basics most expensive and most challenging in the 21 years they have been running.

He added that the cast, who range from 13 to 18 years old, have been rehearsing the show for more than 12 months.

Mr Murtaugh, who set up the theatre school with his wife Sally, said: "We were lucky to be able to be given permission to stage the show as licensing restrictions were placed on it, so only academic schools and theatre schools could apply.

"As far as I know we are the only amateur group producing the show in the Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale area.

"The show is probably the most expensive one we have staged. It is costing £25,000 in total which is paying for the costumes, lighting, sound, and set. It is a real extravaganza.

"The money has come from subsidies that the children pay and money raised through previous productions.

"It has been over 12 months of really hard work from all the cast and crew, especially the director Kathy Louise Foster. They have rehearsed for two to four hours every week since August 2006.

"They are all really excited about staging the show, we are sold out for tonight and expecting a nearly full house every other night."

The show was written by comedian Ben Elton in collaboration with Brian May and Roger Taylor, who were in the rock band Queen.

It is about a world in which music and all forms of music and musical instruments are banned, and the struggle of the bohemian rebels to bring music back.

The show incorporates songs by Queen including hits Radio Ga Ga' I want it all' A Kind of Magic' and I Want to Break Free'.

It is running until Saturday December 15 at 7.30pm, tickets cost Wednesday £10/Thursday £12.00 Friday /Saturday £14.00 can be reserved by calling the Box Office on 664400.