MEMBERS of Romsey Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society (RAODS) are taking their historic theatre back to its 1970s use as a bingo hall in their latest production.

The whole town is getting set to put their eyes down for a great night as Bingo! The Winning Musical takes to the stage from April 12 to 15.

But it’s not the first time Romsey residents have heard number calling reverberating around the building. The audience will play games and win prizes just like they did in the early to mid 70s.

Audience member Elaine Payne, 75, was the winner of the last bingo jackpot at the Plaza Theatre in 1975. She said: “It was just a great social evening out, and ‘play to lose, win if you can’ was our motto. The callers used to come out with all the usual bingo sayings with the numbers. At that time, the Plaza Theatre was a bit shabby and in need of a lick of paint – not like it is these days. The winnings - I think it was £200 - paid for an unexpected family holiday in Jersey.”

A group of die-hard bingo players stop at nothing to get to their weekly game. In between the number calling, strange rituals and fierce competitions, love blossoms and long lost friends reunite. These lovable characters spring to life in a funny script set to a hummable score. Audiences will be laughing in the aisles when they aren’t joining the cast for a game!

Tickets from plazatheatre.com or 01794 512987.