WAKE up, rehearse, sleep, repeat – such is the glamorous life of the 165-strong cast of the Wyvern’s latest summer youth project, Hairspray.

A mere three hours into the first day of their Spartan training regime, the actors are already feeling the strain as I catch up with them during their speedy lunch break.

“I’m so worn out,” says 16-year-old Josh Rogers wearily before cupping his head in his hands. He perks up however, when three of his co-stars, or principals, emerge from the amphitheatre fresh from a hectic morning of harmonies, memorising lines, and running through swinging 60s dance routines.

West End thesps may enjoy leisurely six-week rehearsals to get to grips with their characters, but the youth project cast do not have such luxury. With just one week to create a stage-worthy masterpiece, each day is planned with military precision. Everyone must report at 10am only to be dismissed ten hours later exhausted but ready to start all over again the following day.

Since being handed the script in May, time-conscious Josh (panic-stricken may be a more accurate assessment) has grabbed any opportunity to squeeze in an impromptu sing-song, regardless of time, place or state of undress. “I was blasting out ‘It Takes Two’ in the bath at 2am last night and I woke my mum and sister up,” confesses Josh, who plays dreamboat Link Larkin.

“There is a lot of pressure and there is a chance that things will go wrong – you can’t ad lib – but it will come together in the end.”

Others have adopted a more pragmatic approach to the monumental task at hand.

“It’s like an exam. It’s at the back of your mind after the auditions and then it’s time and you think ‘Let’s get going’,” reasons 18-year-old Carli Green, who found himself in a bit of a pickle after ‘blagging’ his way into auditions last spring.

“I play Seaweed who is the representative of the black dancers and he is probably the most fun character I’ve played. The problem is that he’s a great dancer and I am not. I blagged it in the audition, did a few moves and now they think I can dance. But it’s not too bad. I’ve played parts before that have been played by famous people and that was a lot of pressure.”

There is little risk of comparisons being drawn between John Travolta who was cast as Edna in the movie version and the show’s plump matron at the Wyvern, for the theatre’s directors have boldly broken with tradition. For the first time since the musical first opened on Broadway in 2002, Edna will be played not by a big burly specimen of manhood, but a petite woman, Georgina Hendry.

A woman playing a woman seems banal enough on the face of things and yet this artistic twist has brought a whole host of problems for the 21 year old.

“I was actually surprised to get Edna,” she admits.

“I had never heard of a woman playing her before so it’s a lot of pressure. It’s also hard to work out what they want from me in terms of the vocal range. The songs are very deep, but I’m portraying her as a motherly figure so I have to reinvent the part in seven days.”

Set in 1960s Baltimore, Hairspray follows Tracy Turnblad, a plus-size teenager with a heart of gold who dreams of dancing on national television.

When she is cast on The Corny Collins Show, she uses her newfound fame to fight for racial equality, bagging local heartthrob Link Larkin along the way.

Building a light-hearted musical around such serious and very much current topics as racism, tolerance and integration has only strengthened its message, according to leading lady Kerrie Scarff.

“I think it helps to get the message across even more than if the show was serious,” says the 21-year-old New York Film Academy graduate and our heroine Tracy. "It’s more hard-hitting when you were singing away and then you start thinking ‘What was that about?’."

“This is so fun for me. Tracy is so optimistic and happy. She is closer to my personality and to portray a character but still be able to put elements of myself in a role is great.”

Whether spurred on by fear or adrenaline, they are determined to uphold the summer project’s pristine track record. While the grown-ups’ thoughts wander to the wrap-up party and celebratory drinks, those underage, namely Josh, rue the day they were born –literally. “I am 16 so I’ll be drinking orange juice to celebrate.” he laments with a cheeky smile as his co-stars coo in sympathy.

That’s the showbusiness life.

Hairspray runs Thursday, August 20-Sunday 23. To book go to swindontheatres.co.uk or call 01793 524 481.