AN iconic 1970s dance movie will be performed on stage in the region next month.

The Theatre Royal stage, in Newcastle, will be awash with neon as Saturday Night Fever arrives on March 5 to 9.

It’s 40 years since Saturday Night Fever hit UK cinema screens, thrilling audiences everywhere with the story of bold young Tony Manero, and his reckless, electrifying road to dancing success. Now Bill Kenwright’s highly anticipated new production has reincarnated the movie like never before in a live music and dance stage extravaganza.

Starring Matthew Bourne favourite and Casualty star Richard Winsor in his first leading role in a major musical, the show pays homage to the movie, while upping the ante with intoxicating live music, fresh new drama and dazzling new choreography. It promises to transport audiences back to the sensational disco scene of the 1970s like never before.

The classic Paramount/RSO movie, with story by Nik Cohn, was an instant hit when it was released in cinemas, and the album remains the best-selling movie soundtrack of all time. Naturally, the stage show celebrates all the Bee Gees’ greatest hits including Stayin’ Alive, How Deep Is Your Love, Night Fever, Tragedy and More Than a Woman as well as ‘70’s favourites Boogie Shoes and Disco Inferno.

For the first time ever, Saturday Night Fever will also feature a group playing the Bee Gees live on stage - Ed Handoll (Barry Gibb), Alastair Hill (Maurice Gibb) and Matt Faull (Robin Gibb) will sing the hit soundtrack featuring all the disco classics.

Richard Winsor (Tony Manero) is a British actor and dancer known for his role in BBC One’s award-winning medical drama Casualty and his frequent collaborations with Matthew Bourne. Richard was a series lead in Casualty from 2014-2017 playing the role of Caleb Knight, and his performances on the show have earned him critical acclaim and cemented him as one of the most popular characters in the show’s recent history. His other screen credits include series regular Frances in Hollyoaks and Tomas in StreetDance 3D. His stage credits with Matthew Bourne include Dorian Gray, The Car Man and Edward Scissorhands.

Kate Parr (Follies) plays Stephanie, with Owen Broughton as Gus, Michael Cortez as Joey, Raphael Pace as Bobbie C and Jared Thompson as Double Jay.

The show is directed and produced by Bill Kenwright, with choreography by Olivier Award winning Bill Deamer, designs by Gary McCaan, lighting by Nick Richings, and sound by Dan Samson. The stage adaptation is by Robert Stigwood in collaboration with Bill Oakes.

Get ready to strut your stuff and feel the fever like never before! Saturday Night Fever is at Newcastle Theatre Royal between March 5 and 9 playing evenings at 7.30pm (Fri 8.30pm) and matinees Thu 2pm, Fri 5pm, and Sat 2.30pm.

Tickets from £15.50 can be purchased from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448-11-21-21 (Calls cost 7ppm plus your phone company’s access charge) or book online at www.theatreroyal.co.uk