From 12th—16th February Rugby Operatic Society staged its production of Chess.

Written and devised by Tim Rice with music by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus from Abba, the show is a complex Cold War love story from the 1980s, set against a backdrop of political power struggles, hidden agendas and unrequited love between the players, their supporters and the political aspirations of the USA and USSR.

The music, which started out as a hit album before being incorporated into the musical, includes a number of hits from the mid-80s including I Know Him so Well by Elaine Paige and Barbara Dixon, and One Night in Bangkok by Murray Head.

A cast of over 70 performers – including 30 youngsters – came together under musical director David J King and director Rex Pogson.

The cast included singers from the Rugby Philharmonic, Rugby Male Voice and the Revel villager’s choirs, members of Leigh-Anne Campbell School of Dance, and Harris Academy vocal group Audacity.

Photography by Martin Pulley