Jodie Strobel (18) as Pearl Pacemaker and Calvin Mitchell (19) as Dr Malcolm McToxic. PD1594159

Dazzle, the hilarious Star Trek parody, is set to blast off this week with an ambitious production by performing arts students.

The show has seen a quantum leap in the design of the familiar main hall at Hartsdown Technology College in Margate - the stage area has been reconstructed to resemble the bridge of the spaceship, complete with banks of blinking computer screens.

Artistic director Charlie Morton said: "We have had to beg and borrow scaffolding and timber to make this project work. It is probably the most ambitious stage set we have created for any of our summer shows but it will look splendid on the night."

Businesses that have helped the college will receive free publicity in all of the production's promotional material and will be VIP guests at the show.

The story features the adventures of Captain Sarn Galactic, ordered by the President of Homeworld to transport his daughter Dazzle Star, to her finishing school. The captain and his gallant crew are just tucking into a Chinese takeaway, space style, when they learn that Dazzle Star has been kidnapped by Slimebag the Haemorrhage, an Irish astral pirate.

The story is based on a score by Andrew Parr and a book by John Gardiner. The show can be seen on July 8, 9 and 10.