A toe-tapping musical love story is the latest production by Platform Musicals and Plays and for its director, the show has particularly fond memories.

That's because it was a show that was once directed by Caroline Fritz's dad, who sadly passed away last year.

She says: "It's always been a favourite of mine back from when my dad did it when I was around ten or elevcn.

"When I saw it I remembered all the songs very clearly, especially Racing with the Clock, which has stuck with me ever since."

In the Pajama Game a union strike at the 'Sleep-Tite' Pajama Factory generates plenty of Steam Heat in a toe-tapping comedic love story, which includes other such song numbers as Hernando's Hideaway, Hey There and Once a Year Day.

Written by George Abbott and Richard Bissell, with lyrics by Jerry Ross and Richard Adler, the musical is perhaps best known for the film that starred Doris Day, although Caroline insists people should just judge it on that.

"Personally I don't think the film does the musical justice," she smiles. "It's a classic boys meets girl who fall for each other storyline but what divides them is this union dispute taking place at the factory. I think that's what gives it that little bit of sass."

This is Caroline's third time directing after doing South Pacific and Sweet Charity for the Colchester Operatic Society, as well as choreographing My Fair Lady and On the 20th Century for Platform.

"I love a show that brings lots of different people together," she adds,"and that's another reason I wanted to do The Pajama Game. There are so many great individual parts for all ages and I'm so fortunate to have a superb cast to carry them off."

That includes leads Helen McCraw who wowed in Platform's Sunday in the Park with George and Tom Pleasant, who was equally impressive in the Operatic Society's Hairspray last year, as well as Graham Bowden, Jayne Sheeran, Adam Duarte Dias and John Roberts.

The Pajama Game runs at the Headgate Theatre, Chapel Street North, Colchester, from next Wednesday, March 20, to Saturday, March 23, from 7.45pm each with a 2.30pm matinee on the Saturday.

Tickets are priced £15, available on-line at headgatetheatre.co.uk or by calling the box office on 01206 366000.