The audience could well be spellbound by Pellow's performance in the musical, which is based on the Warner Brothers film starring Jack Nicholson, Michelle Pfeiffer, Susan Sarandon and Cher.

The Witches Of Eastwick tells the story of three desperate housewives in small town America who, when they wish for the man of their dreams, get far more than they bargained for.

And all hell breaks loose, literally, when Daryl Van Horne (Marti Pellow) arrives to liven things up.

After leading Wet Wet Wet to a plethora of multi-platinum singles and albums, peaking with Love Is All Around's 16-week stint at the top of the charts, Marti has gone on to a successful solo career as well as West End and Broadway seasons in Chicago.

His most recent album, Sentimental Me, inspired by playing at the famous Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, was released in April this year and he has just completed a sell out UK tour.

Wearside fans flocked to see him when he announced the Glaswegian four-piece was performing an intimate gig at the Quayside Exchange in Sunderland, proving the Scotsman has still got what it takes to attract the ladies.

This new production is directed by Nikolai Foster, one of the country's leading young talents.

His production of Aspects of Love, starring David Essex, played to sell out houses at theatres around the country, and proved popular when it stopped off at the Theatre Royal in Newcastle.

Other credits include the musicals Assassins and A Chorus Line at the Crucible Sheffield, A Streetcar Named Desire at Theatre Clwyd, Of Mice and Men at the Mercury Theatre Colchester and Season's Greetings at the Liverpool Playhouse.

The Witches of Eastwick can be seen at Sunderland Empire from Tuesday to Saturday, March 17 to 21.

Tickets, which go on sale today, cost between £10 and £32, available by phoning the Box Office on 0844 847 2499 or logging on to www.sunderlandempire.org.uk