SHOUT! The Mod Musical opens at the Joseph Rowntree Theatre tonight, only two weeks after York Stage Musicals’ previous show there, The Phantom Of The Opera.

This week’s production is directed by the company’s new artistic director, Nik Briggs as part of his two-year Independent Women Season.

Musical direction is in the hands of Leeds musician and orchestrator Stephen Hackshaw and choreography is by Briggs, York Stage Musicals favourite Verity Carr and regular York Theatre Royal pantomime dancer Danielle Mullen.

“Shout! is a scream for all the family,” says Nik.

“It really is an all-singing, all-dancing, groovy celebration of 1960s mod culture and the music that accompanied it.”

A live on-stage band accompanies five female vocalists led by Jo Theaker, who makes her YSM debut as the Orange Girl, after appearing in the television series Casualty, Barbara, Two Pints Of Lager, The Bill and Band Of Gold.

Jo has worked in theatres across the country, including performing in The Jollies and They’re Playing Our Song at the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough; Nutcracker at the West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds; and John Godber’s Thick As A Brick and Big Trouble In The Little Bedroom at Hull Truck Theatre. She also has recorded plays for BBC Radio 4.

Jo is accompanied by Lauren Sheriston, who appeared in the television series Emmerdale and Eternal Law and played Kim in York Stage Musicals’ production of Miss Saigon and Rizzo in Grease last year.

Three YSM favourites, Marie Louise Surgenor, Vicky Lightfoot and Kelly Stocker, complete the quintet to create a sound that aims to compete with any West End show.

Nik describes Shout! as a jukebox musical that follows five girls through the 1960s as it looks at the issues they faced during this time. “It was a really interesting period of change for women through the Sixties and Shout! really does explore this,” he says.

“Women were really claiming their place and making their voice rightfully heard. The explosion of media and growing mod culture pushed female icons to fame and this is still recognised today across generations.

“We have songs from Petula Clark, Cilla Black, Nancy Sinatra, Shirley Bassey and many more. It really is a show that gets you humming along and hopefully dancing in the aisles by the end.”

Looking at the Independent Women Season season ahead, Nik says: “Of the six shows that make up this season, four of these are set around the 1960s, which shows it is a period of time in which women were seen to be noteworthy.

“It has inspired artists and writers for the past 50 years and continues to do so. These women had guts and that’s why it was a perfect choice for our company.”

York Stage Musicals present Shout! The Mod Musical, at the Joseph Rowntree Theatre, York, from tonight until Saturday at 7.30pm and a Saturday matinee at 2.30pm.

Tickets are available from York Theatre Royal box office, on 01904 623568, and on the door each evening from 7pm.