It’s time to rock n roll as musical Dreamboats and Petticoats swings in for Wolverhampton show.

One of the UK’s most successful musicals will bring the sounds of the fifties and sixties to the West Midlands during a week-long run.

Dreamboats and Petticoats will play at Birmingham’s Hippodrome from today until July 2.

Venue spokeswoman Mandy Rose said the musical was a West End sensation that had been inspired by the smash hit million-selling albums Dreamboats And Petticoats One, Two, Three and Four.

She said: “Featuring some of the greatest hit songs of the rock ‘n’ roll era, Dreamboats and Petticoats returns to Birmingham Hippodrome by phenomenal public demand.

“The dazzling success of the first three albums in the Dreamboats and Petticoats series sent the message loud and clear.

“With more than two millions copies sold and several weeks at the Number One spot in the compilation charts, the Great British public were saying that they didn’t just want to listen to pure nostalgia: they’d love to see it as well.”

Dreamboats and Petticoats opened at The Churchill Theatre in Bromley in February 2009 to rave critical reviews and widespread audience acclaim.

More than a million people have since been enchanted by an evening of pure hedonistic affection for a more innocent era, when love was young and so was rock ‘n’ roll.

Ms Rose added: “Dreamboats and Petticoats The Musical features classic tracks from Roy Orbison, The Shadows, Eddie Cochran, Billy Fury, and many more, including Let’s Dance, To Know Him Is To Love Him, Shaking All Over, Bobby’s Girl, Three Steps To Heaven, Little Town Flirt, Only Sixteen, Runaround Sue, Happy Birthday Sweet 16, Let It Be Me, Great Pretender, C’mon Everybody and Let’s Twist Again.”

The action is set in 1961 and emotions are running high as young musicians Norman and Bobby compete to win a national song writing competition – and, more importantly, the attention of the gorgeous Sue.

However, when Bobby discovers that shy Laura is no slouch on the piano, love and rock ‘n’ roll fame beckons.

Meanwhile, the Hippodrome will also host the continued run of Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Passion and Ecstasy, with performances tonight, tomorrow afternoon and tomorrow evening.

BRB marketing boss Simon Harper said the piece featured two works, Allegri Diversi – an energetic classical ballet set to Rossini’s bubbly score – and Carmina Burana, a thrilling, large-scale production made to Carl Orff’s rousing choral tour de force.

Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Passion and Ecstasy is at Birmingham Hippodrome tonight, tomorrow afternoon and tomorrow evening. Tickets and details are available from the venue or from www.brb.org.uk

Andy Richardson