TWO performers will have the time of their life as they prepare to go on tour with a Dirty Dancing production.

The classic 1980s film is being adapted for the stage and Eloise Grey, from Canvey, and Darius J James, from Westcliff, cannot wait to take the show on tour.

A Night of Dirty Dancing follows the story of Baby and Jonny Castle’s holiday romance during the summer of 1963.

The production will see Eloise and Darius sing, dance and act across the country as part of a four-month tour covering 64 venues.

Eloise, 22, of Tabora Avenue, Canvey, said: “I’m really excited and I was shocked to get the part.

“I’m a big fan of the film and everyone has always said I should do it because I look like Jennifer Grey who played Baby in the film.

“The final scene is the scariest. We have to make sure we get it right on the night with that lift.”

Making sure nobody puts Baby in the corner, Darius says he is excited to take on the role made famous by Patrick Swayze. He said: “I’m thrilled, it’s such a great film. It’s a classic and it is going to be very cool to do the lift.”

As former pupils at Masters Performing Arts College in Rayleigh, the pair are no strangers to show business.

Darius said: “I’m doing Peter Pan in Barking this Christmas and I’ve just finished a UK tour of the Jungle Book playing Mowgli. I’ve been performing since a very young age, first with the Southend Boys’ Choir and then with local drama groups. It something I just love to do.”

Before becoming Baby, Eloise had been gigging across the county, but came out on top, with 1,200 performers auditioning for just ten roles in A Night of Dirty Dancing.

Producer Phil Hawkins, from theatre company Easy Theatres, said: “Eloise brings an honesty to the role of Baby.”

A Night of Dirty Dancing comes to the Towngate Theatre, in Basildon, on Tuesday, February 24.