A MUSICAL experience that is simply out of this world returns to Bournemouth next month.

First released in the 1970s, Jeff Wayne's War of The Worlds was released and achieved international success.

The mammoth musical enterprise meshed grandiose music with the world of H G Wells' famous science fiction story, narrated by the actor Richard Burton.

In the story, the world is invaded by Martians who kill indiscriminately in fighting machines that fire death rays. The intergalactic invaders are built to withstand everything mankind can throw at them, and in the end they are defeated by the smallest living things on the planet - germs.

There is an allegorical tale that when it was first broadcast on the radio in 1938, War of The Worlds caused panic in the streets as listeners thought it a news report of real events.

Jeff Wayne's adaptation is just as hard-hitting and includes the hit singles The Eve of the War and Forever Autumn, performed by Justin Hayward. It was awarded two Ivor Novello Awards along with The Best Recording in Science Fiction and Fantasy.

Since the album's original release in June of 1978, it has never stopped selling, and has grown into a true classic, garnering a new generation of devoted followers.

The new 2007 production, which comes to Bournemouth in December, features groundbreaking technology as never seen before.

Richard Burton as George Herbert, the narrator and journalist, appears in the form of a three-metre hologram and the show also includes a three-tonne, 10-metre martian fighting machine firing heat rays at the audience and scanning them with bug-like eyes.

Jeff Wayne said: "There were a few things we wanted to do with the show before we went on tour but until now, a lack of money prevented it.

"But now we have been able to do what we wanted and the result is truly a world first in live entertainment. It is absolutely cutting-edge."

In the new-look War of The Worlds, the actors on stage are actually able to interact with the Burton hologram while in the pit, a top orchestra blasts out the famous - and often terrifyingly atmospheric - musical score.

"The interaction between the characters on stage and the hologram of Burton is a new venture and incredibly impressive in that respect," says Jeff.

"It takes the whole show to a different level, as does the war machine, which is visually fantastic."

It took Jeff just six weeks to put the first draft of the show together and then, he says, it evolved over the next two years.

But he remains delighted that it has been taken to the hearts of his fans and has become, in every respect, a modern classic.

"It is a major sensory experience and most of the audience come along and their reaction to it is wow!', which makes it great fun to do." he says.

"I love the fact that the people who first bought the album still come and see it - and very often bring their children and grandchildren along, which opens it up to a completely new audience."

Jeff Wayne's War of The Worlds is at the Bournemouth International Centre on Monday and Tuesday, December 17 and 18 at 8pm. Tickets are £39.50. Call 0870 111 3000 for bookings and full details.