WHEN Gordon Collins, the director of The New Venture Players, had a fundraising idea for the society, he contacted past and current members to ask if they would be interested in appearing.

His idea of a tribute to the Rat Pack, for one night only, came after he was reading about the three who used to take Las Vegas by storm.

Current society member Paul Chard was delighted to take on the role of Sammy Davis Jnr, Lewis Cook jumped for joy when asked to play 'old blue eyes' Frank Sinatra and Tony Wright of the Capital Gold breakfast show, (who was a member of society many years ago) said although he was at the New Theatre in Cardiff until January 28 in Peter Pan, he would love to take the role of Dean Martin, even though the event is happening on his only night off.

The three have been rehearsing and hope to provide an evening of fun and music as they re-live the Vegas years of the Rat Pack at the famous Sands Hotel.

Lewis said: "We are doing it as they used to on stage at the Sands Hotel, only this time on stage at the Dolman Theatre."

He said: "We are an eight-piece band so that will keep Paul and me happy and there will be a bar on stage, so that will keep Tony happy!" The evening is called Fly Me To The Moon and is being staged for one night only at the Dolman Theatre in Newport on Monday, January 23. Gordon Collins said: "The boys are going to perform some great Rat Pack classics including Little ol'wine Drinker Me, Mister Bojangles and That's Life just to name a few."

Tickets are £8 and can be ordered by calling 01633 265660 - but get in there quickly as more than half the tickets have gone and it is for one night only, remember, so don't miss out on this very entertaining evening of swing.