A musical of meteoric proportions will be remembered for light years to come when it journeys from hyperspace to Kent.

Interstellar rock show Return to the Forbidden Planet will be performed at Dartford’s Orchard Theatre in a new, 25th anniversary production.

The musical was inspired by the 1956 MGM science fiction movie classic Forbidden Planet. This stage version is also loosely based on The Tempest and the characters speak in Shakespearean-style verse.

It is well packed with musical gems such as Great Balls of Fire, Heard It Through The Grapevine, Johnny B Goode and Born To Be Wild. The cast of actor-musicians will even be complemented by an appearance – via video projection – from Queen guitarist Brian May as the Newscaster.

Return to the Forbidden Planet opened in the West End in 1989, where it ran for more than 1,500 performances and won the Olivier Award for Best Musical in 1990.

Audiences can expect stunning special effects for their in-flight entertainment while joining them on board will be a mad scientist, a huge, green-tentacled monster and a skating robot.

So fasten your seatbelts, set your ray guns to stun and prepare for blast off!

Return to the Forbidden Planet is at the Orchard Theatre from Monday, February 2 to Saturday, February 7. Tickets cost from £15. Visit www.orchardtheatre.co.uk or call 01322 220000.