AN escape from wartime France was staged in order to send a group of actors and singers on their own French getaway.

Caldicot Musical Theatre Society successfully auditioned to perform at Disneyland, Paris in May – and they have been busily fund-raising to make the dream a reality.

So for two days the society transformed the Caldicot Choir Hall into one of wartime France’s most famous cafes as it performed ‘Allo René, based on the classic BBC comedy ‘Allo ‘Allo.

The show, written and directed by Deb Hughes, was chock-full of the original’s double entendres and saucy goings-on as René, played by Andrew Ridgen, and his friends plot, among other things, to smuggle out British airman Carstairs (Jason Heslop).

The production was performed to large audiences sat cafe-style around tables in the hall.

It also featured Louise Cochrane as René’s wife Edith, Will Jones as LeClerc, Katie Bradbury as Michelle, Nick Skinner as Herr Flick, Jo Postle as Helga and Charlie Edmunds as Officer Crabtree, the policeman who speaks rotten French.

The society’s next show is You’ll Never Walk Alone, a celebration of musical theatre at the Drill Hall in Chepstow on Monday, April 3 in aid of Saying Goodbye, a charity that supports parents who have lost children during pregnancy or infancy.