Can you remember you favourite Pump House show or have you seen so many wondrous productions at the theatre that you simply can’t choose? Well, don’t worry because the Pump House Children and Youth Theatre (PHCYT) has decided to devise a new musical to celebrate its 40th anniversary featuring highlights from 40 years of performances and more than 100 shows.

Ruby, written by Chris Wheeler and Karen Rhodes, includes all the best songs from your favourite musicals such as the King and I, Bugsy Malone, Oliver, Les Miserables, Little Shop of Horrors, Forbidden Planet, Jungle Book and many more. The show opens on Ruby’s first day at the PHCYT. Somehow she gets separated from the rest of the group and finds herself alone on stage where a host of memorable characters are waiting to take her on a magical, musical journey.

Lee Farman started as a youth member in 1986 and has been the artistic director for the past 15 years. He says: “The sheer size of the PHCYT and the number of people we now have is the reason why we’ve not done a joint production in some time. There are more than 70 involved in the cast.

We’re putting on more ambitious shows with more challenging roles, the productions are now bigger and more extravagant too and the quality of them has risen in every department.

“This show brings the whole of the children and youth together to celebrate what we’ve achieved over the past 40 years and create excitement for what comes next. This show allows the younger ones the chance to learn from the older members of the team and be enthused by them. Hopefully it will touch on the memories of the audiences coming to see it as well.“

Like Lee, many Pump House members started at an early age and stayed on through their formative years. The hard work and dedication of the PHCYT has certainly paid off for alumni Tom Kanji, who is currently performing in Doctor Scroggy’s War and Julius Caesar at The Globe.

Lee recalls: “He was with us from age of eight up to his early 20s. Tom was always very creative and good at improvisation. If you gave him and improvisation to do he would own the stage. He could create something out of nothing.

In addition to the anniversary show, the PHCYT is planning a big reunion event in October for past players to meet up and celebrate the theatre’s ongoing success.

Lee adds: “We would like to get in touch with previous members, directors, choreographers, MDs, production team and anyone that has been involved in the PHCYT in any way over the past 40 years for a reunion event on Saturday, October 18. We’ve already got former cast members contributing with some shows and there will also be a gig with The Staves in the line-up.“

  • Ruby is at the Pump House from Tuesday, July 8 to Saturday, July 12 with performances at 7.30pm (plus matinee Saturday at 2.30pm). Details: 0333 666 3366, ticketsource.co.uk/pumphousecyt