Every two years Swindon’s Estelle School of Dance presents an all-singing, all-dancing spectacular, performed by the students in aid of charity.

This year Hans Christian Andersen the Musical is the chosen production and the Wiltshire Air Ambulance will benefit from the show, which is at the Wyvern Theatre from today until Saturday at 7.30pm.

Principal of the dance school Pat Bennett always does an Alfred Hitchcock in her shows and this year will be giving a cameo performance as Doros’s maid.

She has a cast of 70 ranging in age from little Thumbelina, who is two, up to adults in their 70s.

Matt Perry, 21, from Ashton Keynes, is playing Hans after stepping into the breach five weeks into rehearsals, after the original actor had to pull out.

This is the second time the dance school has performed the musical.

Pat said: “We did it 20 years ago and I have been waiting for the last 10 years to get the performing rights to perform it again.”

This year’s show is very much a family affair, with Stuart Benjamin, who recently appeared in the Gondoliers, treading the boards with his son Jordan and daughter Stephanie. Pat’s own daughter Jennifer Bamford is the musical director and her granddaughter Alexandra, nine, is also in the junior chorus.

Pat is proud of her students, some of whom go on to make the theatre their career.

Alice Baker, who was Cinderella in her last show has been asked to appear in her second professional panto alongside Julian Clary, in Wolverhampton.

“Her mum is still helping us out as a chaperone this year and Alice came back to wish us luck,’’ said Pat.

Tickets to see the musical are £10 and £12 from www.swindontheatres.co.uk – Flicky Harrison