EXTRA terrestrial sightings over Great Yarmouth College were just a friendly invasion this week to help performing arts students publicise their forthcoming musical.

EXTRA terrestrial sightings over Great Yarmouth College were just a friendly invasion this week to help performing arts students publicise their forthcoming musical.

A feast of special effects will bring aliens to Yarmouth's Hippodrome this summer for performing arts students' production.

The circus ring will be transformed into the secret US military base in Nevada, for an alien invasion in the musical drama Area 51.

The show's writer, Daniel O'Brien, is keeping in close touch with the students, and director Nick Ball as they begin rehearsals and Daniel will also travel to Yarmouth to watch the show.

Performed by first and second year students on the BTEC National Diploma, the sci-fi rock musical is the third college production to be staged at the Hippodrome.

Second year student Frankie Goffin said: “It's a brilliant show and we really hope people will come to see it. Sometimes people think that student productions won't be good but the last two shows at the Hippodrome have proved that's not true.”

The production starts with alarms and claxons thundering around the auditorium. A video screen sparks into life with a journalist making a desperate final broadcast in the midst of a vicious alien invasion.

Action is in the high security military base as extraterrestrial figures land and Rick Adams, head of the base's top secret scientific research facility must find a way to halt the alien invasion before all of humanity succumbs to the extraterrestrial onslaught.

Area 51 is at the Hippodrome from June 18 to June 20, 7.30pm nightly.

For tickets contact the Hippodrome Box Office on 01493 844172 or online at www.hippodromecircus.co.uk