DIRTY Dancing fans are in for the time of their life at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre.

It’s the summer of 1963, and Frances ‘Baby’ Houseman is on holiday in New York’s Catskill Mountains with her family.

When she stumbles across an all-night dance party at the staff quarters, she is mesmerised by the raunchy dance moves and the pounding rhythms - and Johnny Castle, the resort dance instructor.

The show, which is full of passion, romance, heart-pounding music and sensational dancing, has been revamped and brought bang up-to-date while staying true to the iconic film and its hit songs Hungry Eyes, Do You Love Me? and (I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life.

Lewis Griffiths, who plays Johnny, took some time out from rehearsals to speak to the News.

When asked how he would be making the role his own, he said: "I don't think you can. The role is synonymous with the late Patrick Swayze, you'd be hard pushed to try and better that, it'd be like trying to do the Joker better than Heath Ledger - you just can't. But what you can do is stand on the shoulders of giants so to speak."

Lewis, who has had a prolific career in musical theatre, starring in Ghost, Legally Blonde and most recently, as Nick Massi during the UK tour of Jersey Boys, said his favourite part of the show was near the end, when Johnny returns for the final dance, adding: "That's the bit that everyone loves."

He said he had been continuously practising the famous lift with Katie Hartland, who is making her professional musical theatre debut as Baby.

"It's a big moment, but we're getting used to it but with live theatre, anything could happen although we do have several contingencies if it goes wrong!"

Tickets for the show, which runs from November 28 to December 3, can be booked by clicking here or calling 01902 429212.