IT might be sunny outside but the Octagon Theatre is preparing for rain.

Audiences are being invited to don their macs as iconic musical Singin' in the Rain comes to the theatre next month.

A new production starts on June 3 with an all-singing, all-dancing cast.

The show has been co-produced with New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Salisbury Playhouse, and will bring the wet weather indoor with a special rain machine creating an extra bit of magic on stage.

Director Elizabeth Newman said: "We are absolutely thrilled to be making Singin’ in the Rain — it is a favourite for so many people, and understandably so.

"We hope to grip audiences all over the country with the magnificent music, entertaining story and iconic dance routines, and it’s an honour to be bringing it all to life with Salisbury Playhouse and New Vic Theatre.

"The exceptional creative team can’t wait to work with such a talented company of multi-instrumental actors, most of whom are incredibly experienced at making great musical theatre, and all of whom are bringing something truly special to our stages."

Theatre bosses have worked out how to recreate rain indoors, even in the Octagon's confined quarters.

Sam Fraser, production manager on the show, said: “Water can be a complete nightmare if it’s not controlled as it can go everywhere.

"However we have a really good system that we’ve had built for us.

"There is a water tank off stage which has a pump that pushes water up over the stage into a frame which has 10 jets that spray over the central stage area.

"We then have an operating system backstage that allows us to open and shut valves to allow water to pass through, so we can control the rain in a versatile way.

"The rain then drains into a tank underneath the stage which then has to be emptied after each performance."

Made famous by the stunning tap dance routines and memorable music, Singin’ in the Rain will be performed in all of its rain-drenched glory.

With orchestration and musical direction from Richard Reeday, and a dazzling arrangement of the original score for an astonishing cast of twelve, audiences will be treated to thrilling performances of definitive dance and big band numbers.

Based on the exceptional Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film, the musical follows the lives of Don Lockwood and Lina Lamont, 1920s stars of the silver screen, who are loved by audiences and studio executives alike, but barely tolerate one another.

Linked romantically to heighten their popularity, the couple could not be more different, and humble Don can’t help but clash with his shallow and vain leading lady.

But the introduction of a new era of ‘talkies’ is about to set the pair even more at odds — spelling disaster for Lina, whose vocal range leaves a lot to be desired.

Desperate for the box office favourites to remain at the height of popularity, a talented chorus girl, Kathy, is brought in to provide Lina’s audio, setting off a series of events that no movie exec could have scripted.

Starring as Don is Matthew Croke, whose previous work includes Funny Girl at the Menier Chocolate Factory and Wicked at London's Apollo.

He will be joined by West End stage actor Christian Edwards as Don’s best friend Cosmo Brown.

Eleanor Brown, who has toured internationally with big musical hit Mamma Mia, plays Kathy Selden, with Sarah Vezmar, who returns to the Octagon after appearing in Bolton for Alice in Wonderland, as haughty Lina Lamont.

They will be joined by Matthew James Hinchliffe, Helen Power, and Philip Starnier who play Rod, Dora and R.F. Simpson.

Completing the cast is Richard Colvin, Barbara Hockaday, Wendy Paver, Richard Reeday, and Sally Cheng making her professional debut, all as cast.

Singin' in the Rain will run until Saturday, June 25, with tickets available from the Octagon Theatre box office.