JUST for next week, her name will be Lola. She will, indeed, be a showgirl. And yes, before you ask – yellow feathers in her hair – check! Dress cut down to there – all present and correct. Cathy Miller, 33, a solicitors' secretary from the city centre, will be taking on the role of one of pop's most famous tongue-in-cheek tragedy queens in Barry Manilow's Copacabana at the Theatre Royal from Tuesday.

Cathy has been a member of Nottingham Operatic Society for 12 years, having trained at the Guildhall in London.

Although the Operatics are an amateur company, many of their members have had formal stage training. They also hire stage sets and a professional orchestra to give their productions – which take place annually at the Theatre Royal – a polished feel.

Copacabana is, hopefully, another sure-fire hit, following on from the Operatics' sell-out success with Oliver! last year.

It contains a similarly catchy score, composed – of course – by Dear Old Bazza, which incorporates a couple of his other hits: Sweet Heaven and Who Needs to Dream.

"It's in the same genre as Mamma Mia – it's going to be a really good feelgood show," says Cathy. For those unfamiliar with the production, apparently the lyrics to Barry's hit song are a pretty accurate indication as to the content of the show.

"It's really similar – the lyrics do tell the story of the show," says Cathy.

Well, almost.

Lola does not, you'll be relieved to hear, end up losing her mind – although she does go through a bit of a rocky patch.

"Poor old Lola – she does go through it!" laughs Cathy. "And it's all Barry Manilow's fault."

And Tony (Andrew Regester) may actually survive his shoot-out with the evil Rico (played by Dan Armstrong, a doctor in Chesterfield).

To find out if that's the case, you'll have to book a ticket to the spectacle.

All ticket sales help to fund the Operatics' performances, with any profits going to charity.