ALL singing and dancing musical show, Footloose, returns to Southampton's Mayflower Theatre next week following its success on that stage last year.

Taken from the film of the same name which starred Kevin Bacon, the stage show follows the same story and has Johnny Shentall as city boy Ren McCormack, who moves to a rural backwater in America, where dancing has been banned. But it is not long before Ren breaks loose and has the whole town on its feet.

Singer Lyn Paul plays the preacher's wife, Vi Moore. It is her husband who has banned all dancing, but Lyn says "she is a very strong woman and she helps to bring dancing back."

Lyn shot to fame in the 1970s as a member of the New Seekers with their Number 1 song, I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing.

The New Seekers became internationally renowned, winning countless awards for their anthemic song, which also came second in the Eurovision Song Contest.

One of the highlights of her career with the New Seekers was performing the song at the White House for President Nixon's inauguration. "You cannot imagine how thrilling this was," says Lyn.

Lyn speaks warmly about the show, Footloose. "It is a big, showy musical and all the performers are such great athletes and actors as well as great singers - full of talent and energy."

One of the highlights of Lyn's busy career is working with Lisa Minelli in the 1970s in America. "I learned so much from her, she was pure showmanship. Everything I have learned about performing on stage, it has to be from her," says Lyn, who has a solo in Footloose called, Can You Find it in Your Heart?

Footloose runs from Monday to Saturday next week and tickets are available from the Mayflower box office.