FOR this year's summer concert the Colchester Operatic Society are exploring the roles of women in musical theatre.

Dolls 'n' Guys came about after the cast volunteering for the annual concert was predominantly women.

Jo Daniels, who is making her directorial debut for the group, says: "It's actually quite tricky putting the concert together," she adds, "mainly because you don't have a script to work with. You have to devise a way of putting all the songs together and that has been a real challenge.

"Then when the group came together, and it was mainly women, the idea of doing numbers that related to women in musical theatre seemed like an obvious choice."

From the love-lorn to the murderess, musicals have depicted a wide range of women. Whatever the role, musical theatre has given them the glory, the comedy and the pathos to enthral audiences, and that's exactly what Colchester Operatic Society are determined to show off.

"We're looking at all kinds of portrayal," Jo adds, "from Nancy in Oliver to a murderess in Chicago, and then of course female icons such as Judy Garland. We even have women becoming The Jets in West Side Story."

Every year the Society puts on a summer concert in between the senior's show at the start of the year and the junior's production in September, raising thousands of pounds for charity.

This year will be no different as they are supporting a very appropriate charity, bearing in mind the subject of the concert, and that's Breast Cancer Care.

Dolls 'n' Guys is at the Headgate Theatre, Chapel Street North, in Colchester, from June 7 to 11 at 7.45pm with a Saturday matinee at 2.30pm.

Tickets are £12, available from the box office on 01206 366000.