Every family has its quirks - but the Hoover family may have more than most.

Little Miss Sunshine, the off-beat musical comedy based on the film, is an uplifting tale celebrating the quirks of every family, as well as the potholes in the road, and overcoming differences.

The show, which comes to the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury on Wednesday, July 31, until Saturday, August 3, stars The Voice 2015 star Lucy O’Byrne as matriarch Cheryl, with Holby City star Mark Moraghan as Grandpa.

Young Olive has her heart set on winning the Little Miss Sunshine beauty contest.

When an invitation to compete comes out of the blue, the Hoovers pile into their rickety, yellow VW camper van for the 800-mile trip from New Mexico to California.

Mark said: “Well, I thought the film was fantastic. I’m a big fan of Alan Arkin [who was Grandpa in the movie], so to follow in his footsteps, albeit on stage, is an honour. It’s one of those jobs you just really want to be involved in. I like him because he’s a naughty boy.

"He’s been around the block a few times and he swears a lot. He doesn’t suffer fools and he tells it like it is. He’s been a bit of a ladies man in his past and he still thinks he is. He’s just a fun character to play. And the lines are a gift. It’s so well written.”

He added: “I just think it’s a lovely story. I think the American pageant system is very strange; kids being dressed up like adults. But Olive is the antithesis of those kids and she wants to do it. Her heart shines through and she just lets rip. I think there are lots of nice messages within the musical.”

Little Miss Sunshine is at The Marlowe from Wednesday 31 July to Saturday 3 August. Tickets are from marlowetheatre.com or by calling the box office on 01227 787787.

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