TIME has not been kind to battle of the sexes comedies - from The Taming Of The Shrew, to Irving Berlin’s Annie Get Your Gun.

“In this day and age women in the audience wouldn’t buy this woman being subservient,” says director Ian Talbot, whose take on the love-hate relationship between crackshots Annie Oakley and Frank Butler features a slightly different ending to reflect changing times.

“Annie is a crackshot – better than all the men in the show. She unnerves Frank, but attracts him too with the fact she is totally open about her skills. She tells him she never misses – and jealousy overtakes him.”

Annie Get Your Gun is based on the real-life story of sharpshooter Annie Oakley.

The Ohio country girl gets into showbusiness when Buffalo Bill’s touring Wild West show pulls up in her hometown.

Her shooting skills (as she describes it: “what comes naturally”) astonish Frank Butler – up until then the star draw of the tour.

After she is hired by Buffalo Bill the pair spend more time together and gradually fall in love. But unknown to them the Wild West Show is heading for financial trouble.

Talbot’s version of Annie Get Your Gun follows the estate-approved 1999 Broadway revival of the hit musical – which eliminated some of the more sexist and racist elements of the original production. Taking out some of the more awkward references to Indians, it reintroduces a subplot between knife thrower Tommy and his assistant Winnie, which was written out of the 1950 film.

“I’m really proud of it,” he says. “I revived a lot of classic musicals when I ran the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, but I hadn’t done Annie Get Your Gun because I didn’t like the old version.”

He has been pleased by the response the musical has received, across all age groups, including his own nine-year-old daughter.

“When we opened I was told it was an ‘old people’s show’,” he says.

“What has been really pleasing for us is the number of young people coming and enjoying it, and wallowing in the wonderful score.”

Part of that attraction may be down to the big production values and the casting.

The 20-strong cast includes two Brighton youngsters Logan Brewer and Eliot Milward from city-based The Theatre Workshop who are sharing a role as Annie’s brother Little Jake.

The production also includes a nine-piece live band performing new orchestrations of Berlin’s score created by musical director Steve Ridley.

Heading up the cast is former Neighbours star and I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here contestant Jason Donovan playing Butler, and double Olivier Award-nominated Emma Williams as Oakley. Taking the role of Buffalo Bill is comedian Norman Pace.

“Emma is absolutely sensational,” says Talbot, who first encountered Williams when she was nominated for an Olivier Award in Chichester Festival Theatre’s West End hit Love Story.

“She has a warmth and energy – you know why Butler is destined to be with her.

“Similarly Jason has a natural warmth so it doesn’t matter how rough and sexist his character seems you can’t help but like him.”

Talbot compares Butler and Oakley to that other famous warring showbiz couple Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor.

“We did some research into Annie, who on tour used to apparently sit in their tent knitting,” he says.

“They were both very ego-centred. By the end of the musical you realise they will go on arguing forever, but they can’t get enough of each other.”

Essential information: Starts 7.45pm, 2.30pm matinees Wed, Thurs and Sat, tickets from £20. Call 08448 717650.