WHEN the curtain goes up on the first night of the comedy musical, The Wedding Singer, at the Pavilion Theatre, Gorleston later this month it will herald the beginning of a new chapter for local girl Anna Stagg.

Anna, 26, who has been involved with the theatre from the age of five, is set to make her debut as a director with her stage production of the cult musical The Wedding Singer for the Gorleston Theatre Company.

Anna said her interest in theatre came from seeing her elder sister Krista attending drama workshops with Dusmagrik Young Peoples Theatre Company and wanting to join in.

“I was five at the time and remember Krista heading off to the workshops and really wanting to go with her as it looked so much fun. There were some great times with Dusmagrik led by principal Dusty Miller, with one of my first roles being as a rag doll in Pinocchio.”

Following that first step onto the boards there were many appearances in the junior chorus and a variety of roles culminating at the age of 17 when Anna took the lead female role of her namesake Anna in The King and I, in what was to be her last production with the group. It was a case of turning full circle as she had played one of the King of Siam’s Children at the age of seven.

Anna’s talent was recognised by Stuart Durrant and Kevin Lynch who invited her to appear in their hugely successful summer show at the Pavilion Theatre Gorleston, an engagement lasting four years during which time included a pantomime appearance with Helen McDermott at the same venue. Other notable performances include the role of Maureen in Rent for Gorleston Theatre Company.

Anna, who now works in administration for Perenco, also performs in the five piece band Annalogue with her sister.

It’s 1985 and rock-star wannabe Robbie Hart, who still lives in his grandmother’s basement, is New Jersey’s favourite wedding singer. He’s the life of the party until his fianc�e, Linda, leaves him at the altar. Shot through the heart, Robbie makes every wedding as disastrous as his own.

When he meets Julia, an admiring young waitress, Robbie falls madly in love. Only trouble is Julia is about to be married to a Wall Street shark, and unless Robbie can pull off the performance of a decade, the girl of his dreams will be gone forever.

The musical The Wedding Singer will be performed at the Pavilion Theatre Gorleston at 7.30pm on October 24-27. Tickets are available from the box office at the Pavilion Theatre 01493 662832, or online at www.gorlestonpavilion.com.