ENJOY the quality of the West End on your doorstep without going to London as Cabaret returns to Little Missenden.

After the popularity of last year's show a West End star who has played both Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly will be wowing audiences in the intimate surroundings of Little Missenden Village Hall.

Anita Louise Combe has also appeared in Saturday Night Fever, Les Miserables, Sunset Boulevard and Evita. She was recently invited to perform in the Beaufort Bar at The Savoy in London, to mark the reopening of the hotel following a multi million pound refurbishment.

She will be accompanied on the piano by musical director Tom Wakeley who is currently Assistant Conductor of Chicago.

Wakeley, who lives in Lacey Green, said: “Last October in Little Missenden with Tiffany Graves- the response was so good we are going to be doing it again.

“The audience hadn't quite realised what it was like to be so near a first class performer.”

Eddy Joseph, who won a Bafta with his colleagues for sound on Casino Royale, is also looking after sound on the night.

Wakeley, 58, added: “Musical theatre comes from the spoken word whereas opera comes from the singing word.

“It is in the language we understand.”

He said we can all relate to music and quite often it is taken for granted.

Combe will be singing songs from Chicago. She is one of the few actresses who have played both Roxie and Velma and she will be coming out in appropriate dress.

He said they are all looking forward to playing in a small venue adding: “It was amazing. At the end of last year's show everyone stood up as one.

“For us as performers that is the greatest accolade we can have. Being in such a small place you could almost reach out and touch the performers.”

He said people who came to see the show did not realise what a high standard it would be.

Wakeley has three children called Ellie, Jessie and Tom. His wife, Cher, is also a musician and was a music therapists working with mentally handicapped people.

He said: “The power of music is amazing. It is a necessity in many ways.”

Tickets are £18.50 to include canapés and there is a licensed bar. Show starts at 7.30pm.

For more information and to book tickets please call: 01844 342303 or 01494 713200 or 07850 812305.