THE world premiere of a musical written especially for Bolton Festival will be showcased as part of next month's celebrations.

Members of Bolton Little Theatre will present Wakes!, a celebration of the traditional family holidays of days gone by.

It is Wakes Week in Bolton, 1953, and members of the Walker family are setting off on their annual holiday in Blackpool. The scene is set and the play embarks on a musical fun-filled adventure.

But to one man the whole production will be taking on a fairytale quality.

Bolton's Roger Spencer wrote the play and says he is now in "emotional turmoil" waiting to see his work staged.

This will be the first time Roger will have written an entire production for the stage, and he is delighted that he will have the chance to see it staged.

Roger, from Sharples Avenue, Sharples, Bolton, has had success by contributing to other shows, including Trotters, which was also staged by Bolton Little Theatre, and has a history of working in music and writing sketches.

He said: "I have been writing songs for myself for quite a long time. As I got older I began writing them for other people. Then I got to the stage that I was no longer writing music of the day, so I began looking at different avenues.

"I have worked with other people, but then this latest opportunity came. I had always wanted to write a musical. The beauty is being able to choose when to set it and being able to write the music accordingly.

"Wakes! is set in 1953 and I like the music of the time. In that particular year, textiles were beginning to do well again. And, of course, Bolton and Blackpool played in the FA Cup final.

"The play is essentially a musical with comedy in it. It also has some romance and a little bit of drama.

"The thought of finally seeing it on the stage leaves me in emotional turmoil. I cannot believe it will finally be performed on stage. In this business you never really believe anything until it happens."

Wakes! is being staged at the Bolton Little Theatre from August 27 to 31. For tickets, contact the Albert Halls ticket centre on 334400.