REDRUTH Amateur Oper-atic Society Trust is doing a production of the Scarlet Pimpernel at the Hall For Cornwall, Truro, at the end of June - a pre miere for the company and for the South West.

RAOST - who have delighted audiences with such South West premieres as Follow the Star, The Hot Mikado, Mack and Mabel, Scrooge, Barnum and, more recently, Titanic the Musical - are known as a compa ny that "dares to be different".

Based on the book by Baron- ess Orczy and set in the 17th Century during the bloody French Revolution, this show sees Sir Percy Blakeney, aka The Scarlet Pimpernel, sailing over to France with his band of men to rescue the French aristocracy from their heads being parted from their torsos by the smile of Madame Gulliotine.

To avoid suspicion and being recognised as the hero, who is only known by his mark of the Scarlet Pimpernel flower, Sir Percy and his men give the impression that all they are interested in is the latest fashion that France offers, for the frou- frou- ruffles, lace and chiffon.

As well as the fashion Sir Percy also goes over to bring his new French bride home with him back to England, Marguerite St Just. However, does he truly know her, and what of her relationship to Chauvelin, one of the most pow erful men in the French Revolution?

Taking on these mammoth roles of Scarlet, Margeruerite and Chauvelin are three actors who are no strangers to the Hall for Cornwall stage.

Damon Taylor, who plays Scarlet, was seen last year in RAOST's successful production of Annie Get Your Gun, playing Colonel Buffalo Bill Cody.

Karenza Richards has just recently won the women's class for singing for the South West region in Karaoke in Moorocco.

Ian Kinver, who plays the part of Chauvelin, has been treading the boardwalks for a number of years. His last show with RAOST was Jesus Christ Superstar in 2003 in a huge tent in Boscawen Park.

"'This show will be amazing,"

said Damon. "Every single mem ber of the cast have put their heart and soul into it, as you will see. However it has been particu larly exciting for us three.

"On top on the learning of the script, songs, costume changes, we've had to do an intensive course in sword fighting for the climatic end to the show.

"This is proper sword fighting as opposed to fencing, we are using 17th Century style rapier swords and having expert train ing from a guy that comes down from Birmingham who was trained at the London Stunt School."

The costumes are spectacular and have been especially made for the show. They will be com ing down from Leamington Spa as will some of the many wigs used. Damon's wig is described as "truly wonderful." He went to London to have it fitted.

The Scarlet Pimpernel, with its authentic sets, fabulous cos tumes and gorgeous wigs, will be staged at the Hall for Cornwall from June 26 to 30.