JESSICA Dawes has always wanted the part of Charity in the musical Sweet Charity.

Her hunger for the part sprang from having a mother and grandmother who were passionate about the musical- so much it is Jessica's middle name.

Jessica was finishing her final year of English and drama at Cambridge University .in June when she received a telephone call from her mother telling her the New Penny Theatre Company were auditioning for their first production -Sweet Charity.

'It was a dream role for me and my mother and grandmother: said Jessica, 23.

She immediately auditioned for the part and was thrilled to be cast in the title role. Since then the company has been tirelessly rehearsing and Jessica is enjoying the experience.

“This is ideal as I really want to be an actress, so playing Charity is great in the meantime," she says.

Sweet Charity is packed with show-stopping numbers such as Hey Big Spender, If My Friends Could See Me Now and Rhythm of Ute.

"It's a great part for me -I perform six or seven songs and I am on the stage practically the whole time. It is certainly a challenge: says Jessica.

The show's director, Jeff Ea!es, of Chartridge lane, Chesham believes New Penny Theatre Company is the newest in Bucks.

"Nine of us started the company in May this year. I used to run a theatre company in Ruislip called Phoenix Productions but I moved 10 years ago and it became too far for me to go to rehearsals," says Jeff.

"It just so happened someone I knew called Mark Thorbum, who lives in Harrow and is about to move to Amersham, used to run the Young Theatre Group of Coventry.

"He and I had not run a theatre company for quite some time and –we got itchy feet to start one up in Buckinghamshire.

“The opportunity came up to use the Wycombe Swan in September and we thought 'why don't we go for it?”

So Jeff. Mark and seven other thespians got together and formed New Penny Theatre Company.

"We are all mad thespians. " says Jeff. 'I have directed about 40 productions and 11 of these were musicals,

'We raised the money together and put some of our own money in. It is a totally non-profit-making company.

"We hope to become charitable in 2005. We have already made contact with some charities. And they have been very forthcoming:

The company has also made a huge set and is using a 20-piece orchestra, some members of which play in the West End.

"I think we are putting in the biggest orchestra that has been at the Swan for years, for a musical. So we are not messing about here – we are really trying hard. he says.

The youngest cast member is Lauren Dale a 14- year-old dancer from Watford. The oldest member of the cast is jn her 50’s. Despite being described as a theatre company for young people. Jeff is keen to stress no one will be turned away because of their age -if you are good and you fit then you are in he says.

There is a cast of 50, which added to the number of people in the orchestra and those helping behind the

scenes, means there are almost 100 people taking pan in Sweet Charity.

The company has received some support from Wycombe District Council and Jeff says the production would not have been possible without its help and the support of the Swan Theatre.

"The Swan is such a good venue and has been so good in supporting us. But we still have to fill the seats. If is a massive undertaking and there is no question this is the most ambitious thing any of us has done,” says Jeff.

Although unsure about the success of the show, the company is already looking to the future and planning productions for January and April.

"In January we want to stage A Chorus of Disapproval by Alan Ayckboum at The Elgiva theatre.

"Then we want to stage Gypsy at the Swan in April and we have another exciting venture planned for the Swan next year which I'm not prepared to give details about just yet, " adds Jeff.

Auditions for A Chorus of Disapproval will take place in October in Chesham. Anyone interested can contact Jeff Eales on 07803617112. For further details about New Penny Theatre Group, visit their website al www.newpenny.co.uk

Sweet Charity runs from September 17-20 at7.45pm (Wednesday-Saturday) and 2.3Opm {Thursday and Saturday). Tickets £11.50-£ 14.50. Box office: 01494 512000.