THEATRE REVIEW: The Sound of Music - at the Festival Theatre, Malvern, from Tuesday, February 2 to Saturday, February 6, 2016.

GATHER up your goat herd and head for the hills. You won’t be disappointed by this joyful production.

Here’s a show that lives up to its billing as a wonderfully lavish staging of the classic musical which coincides with the 50th anniversary of the film version - the most successful movie musical in history.

Having featured on stage and on television many times down the years - including the original Julie Andrews/Christopher Plummer film over Christmas, together with a top notch live television staging, it’s a story the world knows well.

It all began with the tale of the von Trapp Family Singers and Baroness Maria von Trapp’s 1949 autobiography, which inspired Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II, Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse to create a Broadway musical in 1959.

The Sound of Music tells the true story of the world-famous singing family, from their romantic beginnings and search for happiness, to their thrilling escape to freedom as their beloved Austria becomes part of the Third Reich at the start of World War Two.

The unforgettable score features some of the most memorable songs ever performed on stage, including ‘Edelweiss’, ‘My Favourite Things’, ‘Do-Re-Mi’, ‘Climb Every Mountain’ - so spectacularly and powerfully sung on this latest stage tour by the Mother Abbess, played by Jan Hartley, along with ‘So Long, Farewell’ and, of course, the title song, ‘The Sound of Music’.

Appearing on stage in this latest touring version is BBC1’s The Voice runner-up Lucy O’Byrne as Maria… by golly the winner must have been a bit special if Lucy was nudged into second spot! She was simply stunning on this, her musical theatre debut role, and a bright future surely beckons. Warm and bubbly, with a voice to match.

Although not a fan of these manufactured tv talent shows, with their cut-aways to mock shock, surprise and sympathy on the faces of judges, I think The Voice has unearthed a gem here. With chart-topper Will.i.am as her mentor, and biggest fan, Lucy made history as the first classical singer to reach the final, impressing the nation with her stunning vocal range.

She also performed at the BBC Proms last year, so be sure to make a mental note of the name. There’s more to come.

Recent television soap villain, the award-winning Scottish actor Gray O’Brien who has many theatrical credits to his name, is also making his musical theatre debut in this touring production.

Although clearly nursing a cold-cum-throat infection, which made it a struggle now and then to hit or hold certain notes, he nonetheless impressed as a likeable Captain von Trapp. He was clearly determined the show must go on and fully deserved the considerable applause afforded him.

But there are excellent performances all round and certainly enhanced by the 10-strong musical team under the direction of David Steadman.

The seven von Trapp children are a delight. There’s a team of three for each part except elder daughter Liesl (Annie Holland) and Tuesday night’s opening ‘troop’ - who marched for exercise - were every bit as good as the high standard set by those in the 50-year old film.

Fine performances too from Isla Carter as the fabulously rich Elsa Schraeder, who finds money can’t buy you love, and Duncan Smith, who plays the fun-loving but roguish theatrical agent Max Detweiler, and the list could go on.

It’s a big and bright show, with a large cast, and it’s not just big, but a spectacular success. No flaws, no failures in sight - simply a glorious two-and-half hours of sheer joy and entertainment.