BLACK Country stage stars brought that 'summer holiday' feeling to Brierley Hill Civic Hall when they put on their 'dancing shoes' for their latest musical.

Tab Operatic Society members brought to life with gusto the lively musical based on the 1963 film starring Cliff Richard about a group of bus mechanics who take a converted double decker on a road trip across Europe.

Jam-packed with popular Cliff ditties including In The Country, Living Doll, Do You Wanna Dance, Bachelor Boy, I Could Easily Fall in Love With You, The Young Ones and the title track - the show was a real feel-good outing for young and old alike.

Mitchell Bastable was just the ticket as bus mechanic Don; he looked just the part with his quiff hair-do and seemed really at home in the leading role famously played by Sir Cliff Richard in the hit movie.

While Elysia Stretton was a delight as American singer Barbara Winters who stows away on the red double decker bus to get away from her overbearing mother.

She was thoroughly believable throughout and her American accent was effortlessly accurate - and the pair made a great stage couple.

Sarah Oliver-Field's US accent wasn't quite as up to scratch but nevertheless she brought a touch of humour and plenty of character to the proceedings as Barbara's tough-talking, self-centred mother Stella.

Long-serving Tab performer Louise Griffin, Rebecca Perry and Heidi Cooper all gave credible performances as British singing trio Do Ray Me.

Beautifully vibrant costumes and toe-tapping instrumentals by The Shadows played in between scenes helped to create that 1960s feel - and meticulously choreographed song and dance routines (courtesy of producer/choreographer Audree Henwood and musical director Richard Ganner) almost tempted theatregoers to get up and join in.

The show wasn't without a few sound glitches and some of the scene changes could have been slicker but given the challenges, which included repeatedly manoeuvring the large and cumbersome stage bus, the backstage team did a worthy job. A particularly imaginative touch was a miniature red bus that chugged along the stage between scenes.

All in all, this bright and breezy outing was a credit to the society and a clear hit with the audience which seemed larger than previous productions of the last few years.