WORCESTER God takes a starring role as he sends his children off on their first fateful steps in a musical production packed full of life at the Swan this week.

This1986 US show by Stephen Schwartz (who wrote Wicked) is not a safe choice - it's unfamiliar and its limited professional stage history doesn't augur well.

But it is a terrific surprise, packed with great songs and giving a large cast of talented singers and dancers the chance to shine with their energy and enthusiasm.

Looming over everything is God in the powerful presence of young Matthew Emeny, booming down from the three-tiered set as he points the finger at the failings of his own creations.

It's an inevitably whimsical start and a bit Sunday school as Adam (Jack Scott-Walker) and Eve (Chloe Earl) learn about their idyllic surroundings and meet the animals, including the striking forms of giraffes and elephants and the excellent dancing big cats.

Lurking in the undergrowth, though, is the tempting and sinister Snake (Verity Evans) and her insidious serpents. Adam, of course, bites the forbidden apple and it’s all over for innocence.

The Bible has been successfully mined for stories by modern musicals and this one is no more or less devout than, say, Joseph or Jesus Christ Superstar. Like the others, its focus is on the songs, ranging here from pop and soft rock to yearning ballads and soaring showtunes while taking universal themes of parenthood and reconciliation from its source material.

The second half features almost an entirely different cast, a testament to the strength in depth of this company. The performances in the first half set the bar very high, particularly Jonathan Stephens as Cain, and there's no drop in the standard as the scene shifts some generations on to the new father figure of Noah (Gary Kimber).

Only God is omnipresent, sending down the never-ending rain as Yonah (an impressive WODS debut by Laura Deacon) rocks the boat.

Excellent duets between God and Noah and Yonah and Japheth (Michael Hill) set the tone and the animals return, two by two (there are no plot twists) to fill the stage again with a vibrant colour.

The best is saved nearly for the last when Leila Moore suddenly steps up from the unassuming role of Noah's wife and storms in with a real belter, the roof-raising Gospel number Ain't It Good?

There is fine backing throughout from the excellent musicians and choir placed high and out of sight at the back of the stage and the chorus of storytellers and dancers.

The story might be familiar, the show isn't, and if a well-staged rousing musical floats your ark for an evening's entertainment, join the funny animals and get on board. It runs until Saturday, April 23.