A theatre group will be belting out a special anthem for the Coronation of King Charles III.

Wessex Musical Theatre (WMT) has signed up to take part in a nationwide initiative called Sing for the King - an open invitation for all choirs to join in song to celebrate the Coronation in May.

Weymouth-based WMT will sing new anthem The Mountains Shall Bring Peace live at Nothe Fort on Coronation Day as part of the Nothe Fort Coronation Festival.

Musical director Jon May said: "Nothe Fort wanted to mark the special weekend with a Coronation Festival including Community Street Parties and craft stalls and kindly invited us to provide musical entertainment.

"While compiling a celebratory set of music for the event, we came across the new anthem The Mountains Shall Bring Peace and saw that no-one had registered to sing it locally.

"We thought we would take on the challenge, and now it’s great to see Weymouth and Wessex Musical Theatre represented on the official map of participants.”

Members of WMT will sing at the Nothe Fort between 11am and 2pm on the day of the Coronation, Saturday May 6.

They will perform three sets of music ranging in genre from classical to pop.

The songs will be Coronation-themed, and will include sing-along British classics, wonderful solos and favourite group numbers. 

Mr May added: "Songs have been chosen with celebration in mind and will include happy, toe-tapping, sing-along favourites, guaranteed to get the street party goers up on their feet.”

The Coronation event has come at a very busy time for WMT, with members in the middle of rehearsals for performances of the musical comedy, The Addams Family, which opens at Weymouth Pavilion at the end of May.

Mr May said: “Fitting in two sets of rehearsals simultaneously has been challenging, especially as the shows are such different events, but worthwhile when we see audiences having such a good time."

Tickets for the Nothe Fort Coronation Festival are available from Nothe Fort or online at nothefort.org.uk/news-events/coronation-festival?occurrenceID=4410

For more information and tickets for the Addams Family, see the website weymouthpavilion.com/shows/wessex-musical-theatre-presents-the-addams-family/

WMT is interested in recruiting new members. If anyone is interested in joining an active group which sings weekly and perform regularly, get in touch through the website www.wessexmusicaltheatre.co.uk or on Facebook (search for 'Wessex Musical Theatre').