A crumbling Greek villa, a summer of parties, a colourful family with more than a few secrets and some of the biggest hits of the 1980s come together in The Party! – A Big Fat Greek Experience, opening at The Playhouse Theatre in Somerset West next week.

Created by The Playhouse, with high-energy choreography by Tanya Erasmus, the production brings a cast of nearly 40 local performers together for a fully staged musical packed with comedy, powerhouse vocals and spectacular dance.

At the centre of the story is Tassia, a music-loving young woman who dreams of leaving her island home to study at the Athens School of Music. Living with her colourful Greek family in her grandmother’s rundown villa, Tassia and her fun-loving cousin Eileen face what looks set to be a very long summer.

Their solution is to revive the parties they remember from childhood, partly to bring some excitement back to island life and partly to raise funds to repair the ageing villa. Convincing Tassia’s formidable grandmother is another matter. A plan for a little summer fun soon becomes a succession of wildly different parties, from a Greek beach celebration to a full-blown Wild West night.

This is a fully staged musical theatre production, with the odd opportunity to sing or clap along. The Playhouse bar will also get into the spirit with themed drinks and specials.

Best-known ’80s hits

Music lies at the heart of the production, with some of the best-known 1980s songs woven into the story. Hits such as “Come On Eileen”, “Girls Just Want to Have Fun”, “Venus”, “I Wanna Dance with Somebody”, “Like a Prayer”, “Livin’ on a Prayer”, “Footloose”, “Don’t Stop Believin”, “Summer of ’69” and “Let It Be” feature alongside energetic medleys and a high-energy finale.

Under Erasmus’ choreography nearly every party brings a different movement style, from ’80s-inspired routines to Greek dancing, cowboys, carnival and large ensemble numbers.

Beneath the comedy, colour and spectacle is a story about family, friendship, growing up and the difficult balance between holding onto the past and finding the courage to move forward. There is her laid-back father Leo, irrepressible cousin Eileen, the long-suffering cleaner Mona, a neighbouring Yiayia with an opinion on everything, and newcomer Luca, whose arrival proves far more significant than anyone expects. Familiar Playhouse faces include Jon-Paul Ruschenbaum and Jarred Pitout, who share the role of Leo, while Angie Mitchell and Mari Swanepoel share the role of Mona.

There’ll be three special previews: an ’80s dress-up night on Saturday 5 September, a golden Greek matinée for over 65s on Sunday 6 September and Ladies’ Night on Tuesday 8 September.

• The production runs from Wednesday 9 to Saturday 26 September. Bookings are via Webtickets.