A NEW play with strong local interest, The Dancing Club, will be waltzing its way to The Cube in Malvern, for one night only.

And the action is based on a true story, involving Worcestershire people and a special moment in time.

A spokesman said: “Produced by Pippa Frith and written and directed by Caroline Jester: The Dancing Club is based around the remarkable and inspirational true story of Kidderminster legends Frank and Wynn Freeman and their selfless drive to get a town dancing.

“After World War II, Frank moved back to his home town Kidderminster and with Wynn’s support they realised a life-long ambition and opened a dance school in 1948. Through the gentle traditions of ballroom dancing to the explosion of rock and roll, northern soul and disco, Frank and Wynn continued to inspire Kidderminster to move for over six decades.”

The spokesman added: “In their dancing club, people learned the waltz one night and watched live music by Marc Bolan, Captain Beefheart and Led Zeppelin the next. Robert Plant was a good friend of the community heroes.

“At first Frank taught ballroom dancing and built a national reputation. A young Len Goodman gave demonstrations and judged the dance students at Frank’s school."

And it was certainly a ten from Len, when it came to the school.

He said: "I think people underestimate the value of dance schools and how important they are to the social wellbeing of towns. I wanted to run my dance studio just like Frank ran his."

Dance and music trends changed, but Frank always moved with the times and introduced different dance styles. Decade after decade, new groups of young people became associated with the club.

The spokesman added: "Whether famous musicians from sunny California or young Kidderminster mums bringing their children in for dance lessons, Frank and Wynn treated them all the same.

“Everyone in the town knew and respected the couple and when Frank died, in his beloved ballroom in 1991, the town came out in procession for his funeral.”

Caroline Jester, author and director of The Dancing Club and a former dance pupil of Frank and Wynn’s, interviewed over 100 Kidderminster residents to develop the show.

The dancing club comes to The Cube on March 9, at 7.30pm.

Tickets on 01684 892289.