The hills are alive once more with the sound of a nun and a singing family telling us about a few of their favourite things, edelweiss and explaining that a doe is a deer, a female deer.

In The Sound Of Music, widowed Captain Von Trapp employs young nun Maria as governess to his seven rowdy children, who have already seen off a host of other nannies. Through her love and the power of music she bonds with the children, while also falling in love with their father.

The Rodgers and Hammerstein show is one of the world’s most loved musicals and won six Tony awards when it premiered on Broadway in 1959. The 1965 Hollywood film, in which Julie Andrews donned the habit, won five Oscars, including Best Picture.

Currently playing Maria at the London Palladium is Summer Strallen, who was ‘cast’ in the role on the C4 soap Hollyoaks, in which Andrew Lloyd Webber guest starred as himself, searching for a new star for The Sound Of Music which he found in the shape of character Summer Shaw (Strallen). In reality Strallen is an experienced young musical theatre star who has previously appeared in The Boy Friend at the Open Air and The Drowsy Chaperone at the Novello.

Summer Strallen is on holiday between 22 and 24 January.

For more information about The Sound Of Music at the London Palladium read our First Night Feature or Big Interview with Simon MacCorkindale, who plays Captain Von Trapp.

Looking to see some musical theatre? Find out more about London musicals.