IF you know anything about the early years of rock’n’roll, the names Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley will be top of anyone’s list of performers. Add in the unmistakeable voice and charisma of Johnny Cash and you have a recipe for … Million Dollar Quartet, returning to Cirencester’s Barn Theatre for a summer run, from now untl 22nd August.

On the night of 4th December 1956, four men walked into a recording studio in Memphis and made musical history. Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley were brought together by pure chance for a jam session which would go on to shape the trajectory of rock ‘n’ roll music across the world.

In the studio, egos collide, promises are broken and dreams take shape. As the men navigate ambition, rivalry and fame they create the soundtrack that will define an era. Experience the classic songs – Blue Suede Shoes, Fever, Walk The Line, Hound Dog and many more – in the thrilling atmosphere of that once-in-a-lifetime event.

Darren Day plays Sam Phillips, the visionary American record producer, radio DJ and founder of Sun Records. The “million dollar quartet” are Connor Payne as Elvis Presley, Christopher Erasmus as Johnny Cash, Joe Bence as Jerry Lee Lewis, and Joey Bradick as Carl Perkins, Other cast members are Jenay Naima, Geraint Downing and Josh Haberfield.

Million Dollar Quartet is directed by Jonathan O’Boyle with a book by Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux. Choreography is by Joanna Goodwin, Libby Watson is the set and costume designer, Alex Musgrave is lighting designer, Nick Lodge is the sound designer and Lee Freeman is musical supervisor.

First staged at the Barn in 2022, Million Dollar Quartet was a massive success for the venue, which has responded to audience requests, bringing it back for this year’s longer summer run.

Pictured: A five-metre guitar – one of the spectacular props – being carried into the theatre during tech week.