Production is the first out of the Trapps

The curtains opened and the Charter Theatre was alive with The Sound of Music last night.

The award-winning Nogal Productions are performing one of the most popular musicals every night until Saturday with a Saturday matinee.

Local actress Vicki Gallagher is playing Maria and local radio presenter Tim Walford is performing as Captain Von Trapp with Una Bird as Mother Abbess.

The Von Trapp children have been divided into two teams, bubbling with excitement over this production.

Earlier this week the young actors gathered in costume for photographs where they also voiced their enthusiasm for the production.

Maddy Markham, 10, from Heyhouses Primary School in Lytham St Annes, says: “I’ve done a couple [of productions] before.

“This one is a lot of fun because I get to play the main part.”

Maddy says her favorite scene, is “probably the wedding scene because it is fun with everyone in it and the singing, it’s just fun!”

St Annes lass Emma Yelland, six, is looking forward to this week and singing her favorite song Do-Re-Mi.

Preston girl Louisa Henshaw, nine, of Alston Lane Primary School, has been working hard to get into character.

To help this, she says: “I’ve watched the movie a couple of times.

“I’m really excited and I’m a little bit nervous.”

Olivia McGivern, 12, of St Bede’s in Lytham, says she has made a lot of friends working on the production and looks forward to seeing them during rehearsals.

And which is her favorite song? “Do-Re-Mi because it is really lively.”

Her sister Georgina McGivern, five, is also in the musical.

Georgina said learning lines was good” and that she “practiced a lot.”

She’s very excited to play her part.

Harrison Bury, 12, of Broughton-in-Amounderness Primary School, says the audience will leave exclaiming: “Oh my gosh this is amazing!”

He added: “My favorite scene is probably when we throw a ball at Elsa.

“It’s my favourite because we get to throw it at her face!”

Henry Crowhurst, 12,and Adam Heap, 15, are both from Preston and have been on the stage before.

Hannah Heaton, 15, of Wellfield High School in Leyland, and Megan Sevens, 14, also a pupil at St Bede’s, say they are expecting the week to go well.

Megan added: “The best part of rehearsals are learning things from each other and seeing the different groups act.”

Abi Cooke, 12, from Kirkham’s Carr Hill High School, says she loves the song My Favourite Things while Poppy Appleton, 11, of Lytham High School, enjoys The Lonely Goatherd because, “I feel more confident singing that song and it’s fun.”

Daisy Finnigan, 14, of Penwortham’s All Hallows Catholic High School, said her favourite part of rehearsals was: “Probably watching everyone else perform.”

On her least favourite part, she jokes: “Kissing Rolfe!”

The Sound of Music will run from tonight until Saturday, August 2 at 7.30pm with a Saturday matinee at 2pm.

Single tickets are £15 and family tickets are £46.

For tickets call 0844 844 7710 or visit the Preston Guild Hall website.

The Kirkham-based Nogal Players, which is 30 years old this year, has supplied two teams of children called The Roses and The Raindrops for the show - pictured right.

Roses:

Daisy Finnigan (from Preston)

Adam Heap (Preston)

Hannah Heaton (Preston)

Harrison Bury (Preston)

Poppy Appleton (St Annes)

Louisa Henshall (Preston)

Emma Yelland (St Annes)

Raindrops:

Megan Sevens (From Kirkham)

Cavan Wilkinson (Preston)

Abi Cook (Kirkham)

Henry Crowhurst (Preston)

Olivia McGivern (St Annes)

Maddy Markham (St Annes)

Georgina McGivern (St Annes