Members of a 100-year-old amateur operatic society are preparing to return to the stage this week with a musical production that they have been waiting 18 months to perform.

It is the last week of rehearsing for the Whitehaven and District Amateur Operatic Society (WADAOS) ahead of their official first showing of the musical 'Annie' on September 15 at the Solway Hall on Lowther Street in Whitehaven.

The production was initially cancelled due to the first Covid-19 lockdown.

WADAOS Vice Chair, Lynn McTiffin said the atmosphere in rehearsals is "absolutely amazing".

She said: "Everyone is over the moon, especially those children.

"They were absolutely devastated that they couldn't get back on stage after all those months of rehearsing.

"They have come back, they are older and they are raring to go.

Lynn said she hopes some of the well-known songs of the popular musical, like 'The Sun Will Come Out', will lift the spirits of members of the community after what has been a challenging year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

She added:"[The sun is] certainly going to come out for us next week on that stage and hopefully it will bring a bit of happiness to the community.

"It would be wonderful if they could come and spend a night with us so that we can provide them with some entertainment.

"Hopefully it can bring a bit of joy back to the community because it has been an awful time with the Covid-19 pandemic."

Showings of the production will be running until Saturday September 18.

Tickets are available here.

You can also keep up to date with what the operatic society are getting up to by checking out their Facebook page.