I HAVE just spent an evening in the company of some of the world’s legendary female singers... Barbra Streisand, Shirley Bassey, Marilyn Monroe, Edith Piaf, Liza Minelli, Judy Garland, Cilla Black and Lulu.

Not in person, of course, but in spirit... and oh, what a spirit.

On stage at Malvern Theatres, this week, is The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, the story of a shy, introverted and timid young girl, who treasures her late father's collection of records.

LV (Christina Bianco) is blessed with the surprising ability to mimic famous recording artistes and it is into this make-believe world that she escapes from her drunken, nightmare of a mother Mari, brilliantly played by Shobna Gulati.

When Mari’s latest squeeze, sleazy Ray (Ian Kelsey) hears LV singing one night, he immediately spots a money-making opportunity by arranging to put the shy youngster before a paying audience. Eventually he persuades her to publicly sing her precious songs.

The range of Christina Bianco’s voice is spectacular – especially with her performance of Edith Piaf’s Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien.

Monday’s first night may have been delayed by nearly 30 minutes due to technical problems, but it did not distract the audience, which raised the roof in tumultuous appreciation.

All of the cast, and especially Akshay Gulati as Billy, fully deserved the long applause.

The Rise and Fall of Little Voice is at Malvern Theatres until Saturday, April 16.