WORKINGTON Amateur Operatic Society are now less than two weeks away from their opening night of The Phantom of the Opera and tickets are selling fast.

Over 60 per cent of the tickets available for the show have now been sold and they hope for another sell out run.

After the roaring success of Shrek the Musical last year and The School of Rock earlier this year, WAOS anticipate another smash hit.

Monday ,September 25 saw the cast join with the orchestra for the first band rehearsal.

The orchestra is made up of 10 musicians, and led by musical director Liz Condron. WAOS are using a combination of a physical orchestra together with Symphonia, playing live together. Symphonia is an intelligent software that involves keeping rhythm with the live instruments while filling in the gaps with instrument sounds.

Workington Amateur Operatic Society are one of few societies in the country to have the rights to perform The Phantom of the Opera, which meant that a lot of the design elements had to be made by themselves.

A spokesperson for the group said that "set pieces and large props are being built and made my members of the society, as well as prosthetics being made by cast member Robyn Miller who also made them for Shrek last year."

As this production is set to be a mammoth task, the show requires a large cast which in turn means more props, costumes and backstage crew. WAOS promise for a spectacle of a performance and say that you don't want to miss this one.

The Phantom of the Opera will run from October 10-14, and tickets can be bought from the Carnegie Website and Box Office.