THE hot-shot musical Calamity Jane is whip-cracking its way to a North-East theatre next month.

Calamity Jane is currently enjoying a hugely successful national UK tour, which will continue at Darlington Civic Theatre from May 12 to 16.

It stars Jodie Prenger in the title role, Tom Lister as Wild Bill Hickok, Alex Hammond as Danny Gilmartin and Phoebe Street as Katie Brown.

Calamity Jane can outrun and outshoot any man in Deadwood. Hard, boastful and desperate to impress, she travels to Chicago to recruit a music hall star, Adelaide Adams, to appear on the stage of The Golden Garter saloon bar theatre in Deadwood.

But things don’t go too smoothly for Calamity, as everyone in town favours the new girl and she struggles to keep her jealousy and pride in check. It takes her long-standing enemy Wild Bill Hickok to make her see sense, and realise her Secret Love.

Calamity Jane has an Oscar-nominated score that includes The Black Hills of Dakota, The Deadwood Stage (Whip-Crack-Away), Just Blew in from the Windy City and the award-winning song Secret Love.

Jodie Prenger is probably best known for winning the role of ‘Nancy’ in Cameron Mackintosh’s West End production of Oliver! through the BBC television series I’d Do Anything.

During her run in the show at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane she received both critical and public acclaim for her portrayal of the role.

Since then she has starred in the National Theatre’s hit production of One Man, Two Guv’nors both in the West End and on tour and as Lady of the Lake in Spamalot.

She is also a regular presenter on BBC Radio 2.

Tickets are priced from £22, including a £1 restoration levy, and are available by calling 01325-486555 or online at darlingtoncivic.co.uk