FOLLOWING its smash-hit production of Legally Blonde, Darlington Operatic Society is looking to something completely different for their next musical offering... a run of the musical inspired by Monty Python, Spamalot.

Rude Frenchmen, can-can dancers, the Lady of the Lake and her Laker Girls, killer rabbits, catapulting cows, and the somewhat odd knights who say "ni" are just part of the adventures and dangers awaiting them as auiences join King Arthur and his Knights of the very, very, very round table in their quest for the holy grail in the West End and Broadway smash hit musical, Spamalot.

Lovingly ripped off from the motion picture, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Spamalot is the irreverent parody of the Arthurian legend. It was nominated for 14 Tony Awards, winning three, including Best New Musical for 2005. During its initial run, it was seen by more than two million people.

There are, if only briefly, references to famous Monty Python sketches including The Lumberjack Song, Spam and the Dead Parrot, while some of Broadway's best-loved musicals are lovingly and jokingly slotted it along the way including a spoof of Andrew Lloyd Webber, Fiddler on the Roof, West Side Story, Les Miserables, and The Producers.

But Spamalot is hilarious on so many levels that you don’t have to have seen (or even heard of) Monty Python to enjoy the show. Everyone knows the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table… just add glamour, glitz and more than a touch of showbiz and you end up with Spamalot.

Spamalot, written by Monty Python legend Eric Idle and John Du Prez includes some of modern musical’s classics including The Song That Goes Like This, Diva’s Lament, Find Your Grail and the ultimate comedy sing-along song Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life.

With Darlington Civic Theatre undergoing 17 months of restoration, DarlingtonOS will be performing Spamalot at the 750-seat Princess Alexandra Auditorium at Yarm School.

Spamalot will run for one week, from Monday, October 24 to Saturday, October 29. Tickets are on sale now at £16 for adults and £10 for children (aged 14 and under). Box Office: 01325-244659 or darlingtonos.org.uk