West Country audiences will be the first in the world to see a new musical based on the hit film, Mrs Henderson Presents, when it opens in Bath tomorrow.

The show features a cast of the most distinguished musical theatre performers in the country, led by Tracie Bennett as Mrs Laura Henderson, Ian Bartholomew as Vivian Van Damn and Emma Williams as Maureen. Adapted and directed by multi award-winning Terry Johnson with lyrics by Oscar-winning Don Black, this world premiere production runs at the Theatre Royal until Saturday, September 5, before moving on to the West End.

In 1930s London, recently-widowed eccentric Laura Henderson is looking for a way of spending her time and money, when her attention falls on a run-down former cinema in Great Windmill Street. Hiring feisty impresario Vivian Van Damn to look after the newly renovated Windmill Theatre, the improbable duo successfully present a bill of non-stop variety acts, but their formula is soon copied by other theatres. As war looms something more is required to boost morale and box office.

Inspired by the Moulin Rouge in Paris, Mrs Henderson makes an unprecedented decision - for the show to go on the clothes must come off. Cleverly avoiding censorship by the Lord Chamberlain, she dreams up the idea of The Windmill Girls – glamorous young women posing as nude statues – and audiences flock.

This true story tells of the extraordinary determination of Laura Henderson, Vivian Van Damm and their plucky company of performers, who take on the Hun by ensuring that the spirits of London theatregoers never flag when the Blitz hits the capital.

Originally a hit film starring Judi Dench, Bob Hoskins, Kelly Reilly and Will Young, Mrs Henderson Presents, written by Martin Sherman and directed by Stephen Frears, was nominated for a raft of awards worldwide on its release in 2005.

This glittering new musical about the people who ensured that the famous Windmill Theatre went down in history, promises to be both exhilarating and unforgettable. Directed and adapted for the stage by Olivier and Tony Award-winning Terry Johnson, Mrs Henderson Presents is filled with songs from Oscar-nominated George Fenton, who has written the music for over 100 feature films and Simon Chamberlain, with whom he collaborated on the original film score, with lyrics by Don Black, whose numerous accolades include winning an Oscar, two Tony Awards, a Golden Globe, and five Ivor Novello Awards.

Tracie Bennett, who plays Mrs Henderson, is a double Olivier Award-winner for her performances in the musicals She Loves Me and Hairspray. She received huge acclaim all over the world for her portrayal of Judy Garland in End Of The Rainbow, and was Tony Award nominated for her lead role in the production, also directed by Terry Johnson - which toured to Bath in 2011. Her West End credits include the musicals La Cage Aux Folles, receiving a WhatsOnStage Award for her performance, and Les Miserables. Amongst her many stage credits, she also performed in the National Theatre production of Honk!, which toured to Bath in 2001. Her many television roles include playing Sharon Gaskell in Coronation Street, Liz in Next Of Kin, Tracy Glazebrook in Joking Apart, Sharon in Scott and Bailey, Norma in Making Out, Bev in Burn It, and appearances in Casualty, Doctors, Dalziel and Pascoe, The Royal and New Tricks.

Mrs Henderson Presents appears at the Theatre Royal Bath from Saturday 15th August to Saturday 5th September. Tickets are available from the Theatre Royal Bath Box Office on 01225 448844 or online at www.theatreroyal.org.uk