MANY people up and down the country have watched Dirty Dancing more times than they can remember. The 1987 iconic film starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey is probably best known for its award winning soundtrack. That music is being brought to the stage this weekend in Wycombe.

Leading man in An Evening of Dirty Dancing: The Tribute Show, Matt Firth, has high expectations. As in the homage to the soundtrack of the film he is singing and dancing incredibly popular songs.

(I've Had) The Time of My Life, Hungry Eyes and She's Like The Wind all feature, as the cast of eight sing and dance.

Matt, 32, said: "People have an idea of what those songs are and how they should be sung.

"You want to put your own spin on it but also give what people expect from it as well."

The show has been on tour for the first part of the year and when I spoke to Matt they were casting for the autumn.

He said: "We are opening at the Swan. I am really excited about that.

"It is a great venue that is really respected and has had some great productions."

Some of the choreography in the show has changed- and there are a few extra songs.

He said: "It is really nice to develop the show and change it. It has developed a bit of a following over the last couple of years with it.

"People come back and see the show. "I am the leading man. We don't reflect the characters from the film.

"It is a concert of the soundtrack- big iconic songs. Everyone must have a copy of that CD somewhere."

And he said he loves it when he sees the audience reaction to the music with people jumping to their feet.

Matt said of the songs: "There is something about them which makes people want to get up and have a good time. "It cuts out all the boring bits- it cuts out all the talking."

And Matt said it is (I've Had) The Time of My Life, which gets the biggest reaction.

He said: "When you hear those opening chords sometimes it is almost hard to hear the music."

The original soundtrack of the 1987 film Dirty Dancing became a huge commercial success all over the world. It spent 18 weeks at number 1 on the US Billboard 200 album sales charts and went multi-platinum.

It has spawned many hits including the Grammy, Golden Globe and Oscar winning (I've Had The) Time Of My Life. The cast also get people on stage and teach them the dance moves.

The choreography is complex, Matt said, but every dancer in the show gets their moment to shine.

He said: "I go to the gym three to four times a week to stay in shape. You have to be strong.

"The girls are all so slim and little, but you have to be in good shape to hold them in the air."

The show finishes in November and has been touring nationwide since 2010.

Matt added: "If you like Dirty Dancing you will love the show."

An Evening of Dirty Dancing: The Tribute Show is at the Wycombe Swan on September 7 at 7.30pm. Tickets are £18.50 (£2 off for concessions) from 01494 512000 or go to www.wycombeswan.co.uk

Please note this production is not affiliated with Dirty Dancing: The Classic Story on Stage in the West End or on tour in the UK or worldwide.