A wartime romance is being rekindled on stage in the new production of South Pacific.

The musical, which debuted on Broadway in 1949, is coming to the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury for five nights, with a full orchestra and a cast of more than 30 performers.

Filled with classic songs such as I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair, Some Enchanted Evening and Bali Ha’i, the show has been performed all over the world for more than 70 years.

“The music is unforgettable,” says Gina Beck, who plays Ensign Nellie Forbush. “The score is absolutely incredible, and features hit after hit, a set list of some of the most famous songs in musical theatre history.”

Gina is joined by Lee Ross, known for his role as Owen Turner in EastEnders, Julian Ovenden, Rob Houchen, Joanna Ampil, Sera Maehara, David Birrell and Stephen John, to name just a few of the 30-strong cast.

Created by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, the story, set on a South Pacific island during World War II, follows an American nurse and a French plantation owner and the obstacles facing their love for one another.

“I think this kind of show resonates with a particular generation of course,” says Julian, who plays Emile de Becque. “But it is also nice to introduce it to a younger audience who are genuinely amazed at how much it still speaks to us.

“The show’s themes resonate strongly with a modern audience; isolation, racism, occupation, war, gender politics, ageism etc. The characters in South Pacific are forced to confront their identity not only on the island but in the world at large. With Brexit, climate change and the war in Ukraine, perhaps we are all doing that too here in the UK.”

The original Broadway production won 10 Tony Awards and the Hollywood film, released in 1958, won the Academy Award for Best Sound and was nominated for a further two of the prestigious awards.

The new production coming to Canterbury is directed by Daniel Evans and choreographed by Ann Yee.

“Daniel Evans has a way of directing these sweeping, epic, legendary musicals in a way that makes them feel like they were written yesterday,” explains Gina. “He keeps them classic and with all the parts in place that you would expect from a Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, but every single moment is cleverly thought out to bring new relevance to a modern audience.”

South Pacific is at the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury from Tuesday, November 15 to Saturday, November 19. Book online here.

Tickets range from £15 to £70, and availability is limited.