“It is perhaps the filthiest piece of theatre I have ever seen.”

The words were delivered with a real smile and mischievous glint in the eye.

For those that have not met Brighton Festival CEO Andrew Comben, he is one of the most straight-edged, gentlemanly and very proper people you are likely to meet.

So when something causes him to become act like a very naughty schoolboy, you know that it’s definitely got a little something eyebrow raising to it.

The subject of his description was Our Ladies in Perpetual Succour, a play that collected more five star reviews at Edinburgh Fringe last year than the cast of six young women probably had hot dinners during it’s sell out run.

A year on, it’s coming to Brighton with the promise that it will deliver a “cocktail of exhilarating cocktail of singing, sex and sambuca”.

Penned by Billy Elliot author Lee Hall, the musical play is set in a Catholic school in the small west coast town of Oban.

It focuses on the story of the six teenage girls from working class roots who are brought together by the school choir.

Kirsty MacLaren, who plays Manda, told The Argus: “Our Ladies is a rollicking adventure of these teenagers who are trying to discover themselves and what they want from life.

“It’s all about living in the moment and not thinking about the consequences of actions, it’s about being young and being free.”

With a title as serene and classically sounding as Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour, does Kirsty not think it gives people the wrong impression of the play?

“The blurb of the play certainly shows that it’s not necessarily as innocent as it may sound. And the 16+ recommendation will help,” she laughed.

“But the first three minutes of the play, you are probably looking at most innocent show ever seen.”

The play’s opening number sees the girls perform a piece of very rehearsed classical music. After that, mayhem ensues.

With 15 songs running throughout the show, ranging from Bach to ELO, the musical selection is as eclectic as some of the language.

“I suppose some it is a little filthy,” Kirsty said. “But after about five minutes you sort of get used to it.”

According to the young actress, what brings the whole play together is the theme of family and belonging; that at the end of it all, the choir is what brings them all together.

Speaking in her gentle Glaswegian tones, she said: “The title is a funny one as the name is perfect - you really shouldn't know what you’re going to see as it’s their story.

“They want to portray it and they don't want any direction about it as it's their identity.

“The school choir is what brought them together and is what holds the together.”

Away from the stage, and this feeling of a mutual respect exists with the all-female cast.

With just six actors, three musicians and director Vicky Featherstone, the ensemble exist as a small family.

And what makes this play unique is that Lee Hall wrote the main bulk of it after the six main characters were cast.

That’s what the play is all about, says Kirsty That and the relationship between the six cast members too - and that’s why those in the cast have no fears that Brighton will take to it it as much as Edinburgh.

“There is complete acceptance and no judgement made between any of the girls”, Kirsty said.

“It's a beautiful picture of teenage girls. You will see these girls anywhere in the world “The fact that as a six we all got on very well is important as we could not portray that if we did not have a really good connection.”

And what about the singing, sex and sambuca?

Kirsty said: “I’d say there are equal amounts of all but not in the way you'd expect.”

“Well the singing is very important as that's the way the girl’s express themselves.

“There’s lots of sambuca too. But as for sex, it's more the discovery of sex. It's the discovery of being a teenager and learning what you want from life.”

If the sheer thought of the play can make a prim and proper CEO smile the mischievious grin of a school boy, then they definitely must be doing something right.

Our Ladies in Perpetual Succour

Theatre Royal Brighton, New Road 

Tuesday May 17, to Saturday, May 21, 7.30pm, Fri/Sat, 2.30pm, from £10.