Turning one of the best-loved movie musicals into a stage show is a particular challenge – not least due to the energetic performances of its original stars.

“When Donald O’Connor performed Make ’Em Laugh he had to go to hospital because he was so bruised,” says director Jonathan Church.

“We couldn’t replicate what he did eight nights a week.

“Similarly, Gene Kelly would go from one long dance sequence to another, which they would have the luxury of filming over two weeks. The actors have to do them all over one evening.

“While the movie focuses on three or four characters, the musical gives the ensemble much more to do. The plot doesn’t differ, but the structure of how we go from one scene to another is different.”

Although he has directed musicals for the stage before, this will be the first time Chichester’s artistic director has helmed one at his home theatre.

“It’s one of my favourite movie musicals,” he says.

“I really love and care about the period, that move from the silent movie to the talkies – it was an industry-changing moment. The story is so strong.

“I’ve also had some experience with rain when I was making The Grapes Of Wrath [a highlight of the 2009 Chichester Festival Theatre programme].”

Singin’ In The Rain tells the story of a pair of movie idols from the silent age, Don Lockwood and Lina Lamont, who get caught on the back foot once Al Jolson’s The Jazz Singer brings in talking pictures.

When their first talkie, The Dueling Cavalier, looks set to flop after a disastrous test screening, it is up to former song and dance man Don and his best friend Cosmo to turn the film around, with the help of confident young chorus girl Cathy Seldon’s stunning voice.

Singin’ In The Rain continues the run of song and dance musicals hosted by the Chichester Festival Theatre as part of its annual season of new theatre.

The run began with Brian Conley’s TMA award-winning stint in The Music Man in 2008, followed by last year’s Broadway-set spectacular 42nd Street.

“Singin’ In The Rain felt like a logical progression from The Music Man and 42nd Street,” says Church.

“Dance is terribly important to Chichester Festival Theatre, especially with our thrust stage which means the audience can get closer and appreciate it.

“I think we have made the musical performing world aware of Chichester – this year everybody wanted to be here, and inevitably we’ve been able to get some great people.”

Rather than rely on big names to sell the show, Church focused on getting performers who could sing, dance and act, and were proven on the West End stage.

Former Royal Ballet principal dancer Adam Cooper steps into Gene Kelly’s shoes as Don, having played the role at Sadler’s Wells and the Leicester Haymarket.

Daniel Crossley is the prat-falling pianist Cosmo, having played the equally comical Bert in the national tour of Mary Poppins.

And Scarlett Strallen, who previously appeared at Chichester in The Music Man and taken the title role in Mary Poppins in New York and London, plays young ingenue Cathy, battling against Katherine Kingsley’s diva Lina whose coarse accent looks set to kill her career.

“We have the best cast we could have in Britain,” says Church.

The production is in final rehearsals at the moment, but they have already had to work together making the short black and white films that form part of the story.

“We shot three sequences of The Dueling Cavalier at Parham House which took a whole day,” reveals Church.

“We had the full wardrobes and wigs, it was tremendous fun. We also had to film the understudies, everyone had a lot to do, but we’ve got a strong ensemble who have really worked hard.

“I’m looking forward to seeing it on stage.”

This isn’t the last musical to come to Chichester this season. Having opened the 2011 season with Stephen Mear’s take on the romantic comedy She Loves Me, the year is set to close with the dark tale of the demon barber of Fleet Street, Sweeney Todd, starring Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton and directed by Jonathan Kent.

“It’s the biggest project the theatre has ever produced in terms of scale,” admits Church.

“It will attract a lot of attention.

“Once that’s over we’ll start worrying about next year – we’ve had lots of discussions but nothing has crystallised yet.”

* Starts 7.30pm, 2.15pm matinees on Sat and Thurs, tickets from £13. Call 01243 781312.