Rodgers and Hammerstein’s multi-award winning musical Carousel lights up the Margate Winter Gardens stage this week.

The popular show is being staged by the Margate Operatic Society under the watchful eye of Ray Jeffery who directs professionally for societies all over the UK as well as overseas.

In 1960, Heather Grant, from Cliftonville, appeared in the society’s original production of Carousel as leading lady Julie Jordan.

Now, 48 years later, Heather is back in the show, this time as Julie Jordan’s cousin Nettie Fowler who runs a snack bar on the beach.

Guy Underwood is relishing the challenge of taking the lead role. The 32-year-old from Broadstairs won the part of Billy Bigelow after beating six other hopefuls at an open audition earlier this year.

Billy Bigelow is a smooth talking fairground barker who has an eye for the ladies. He falls in love with a shy mill worker named Julie Jordan played by Donna Clements who he eventually marries.

He loses his job at the fairground and later finds out that he is to become a father. Desperate to earn some money he takes part in an attempted robbery and dies.

Seventeen years later, heaven gives him a second chance. The Starkeeper played by Jeff Harwood allows him to revisit earth for one day to witness his daughter’s high school graduation in order for him to redeem himself.

Guy’s father and stepmother Dave and Sherry Underwood are appearing alongside him in the production.

The show runs until Saturday. For ticket information, contact the Winter Gardens box office on 01843 292795 or the MOS box office on 01843 297780.