Kirsty Martin is a woman on a mission to change the fusty image of choirs.

Since setting up the Hullabaloo Quire six years ago, members have lent their voices to everything from medieval to Motown, folk to funk and political ballads to pop songs.

The 31-year-old mum welcomes people of all ages - there are no auditions, you do not have to be able to read music and no singing experience or training is required.

Yet members have had sell-out gigs at the Pavilion Theatre as well as performing in the Dome's opening and first anniversary concerts.

At the end of the month Hullabaloo will be supporting the London Gay Men's Chorus in Tying The Knot, a new show about looking for love. Among their songs is Moving On Up by Primal Scream.

Kirsty said: "I want to reclaim the word choir. People have so many misconceptions about them. My mission is to change the way people think.

"Singing is about enjoying yourself and having fun, with no pretensions or preconceptions.

"We've sung such a range - Unfinished Sympathy by Massive Attack, Fatboy Slim's Rockafella Skank, Stevie Wonder, even 13th Century medieval stuff."

Kirsty, who is also a songwriter, runs singing courses and is the founding director of Brighton a cappella festival Sea Sound Sing, moved to the city nine years ago with the intention of teaching singing.

She said: "I'll sing with anyone, anywhere, anyhow. I'm a grass roots singer. I'm not classically trained, although I'm a qualified music workshop teacher.

"I'd been living in Portugal, and although I'd met fantastic musicians - it was a very itinerant, transient community."

Six years ago, Kirsty, who lives in Kemp Town, started a drop-in group at the Hanover Centre. On the first night, six people came.

Gradually it grew and now there are 66 who meet once a week and she would like more.

She said: "One hundred would be good - that's my cut- off. I like working with big groups - it's a hat that fits.

"We're always looking for more members, particularly men as we generally tend to get more women."

"Singing is your birthright" is Kirsty's philosophy.

She said: "I get people coming in each week saying: 'I can't sing a note'. It's not true.

"I just tell them to try to be aware of their singing when they sing along to the radio.

"Good singing is 50 per cent intent and 50 per cent perseverance."

She also believes singing is a kind of therapy.

She said: "A lot of people in their 40s and above had their voices repressed - for example being told to be quiet in the choir. You'll never be told that in Hullabaloo. It's big, bold and funky - it's about letting go.

"The difference between the start of a practice, when we're all grumpy and knackered, and the end is amazing. Singing is elating."

Tying The Knot is at the Theatre Royal on November 30. For tickets, call the box office on 01273 328488.

For more information on Hulaballoo, call Kirsty on 01273 699725.