In just over a week, Penarth Operatic & Dramatic Society's production of Chess, the musical opens at The Paget Rooms in Penarth.

Written by the iconic Sir Tim Rice and ABBA legends Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, Chess has arguably one of the most memorable scores ever written. Featuring the global hits I Know Him So Well and One Night in Bangkok this extraordinary musical also features much-loved standards such as Anthem, Heaven Help My Heart and Pity The Child.

In between their hectic rehearsal schedule we caught up with the show's director, Fiona Porter-Smith who said: "Going through my teenage years in the 1980s, I longed to be just like Elaine Page and Barbara Dixon – I wanted to sing, I wanted to act, and I wanted those wonderful 1980s hairstyles and clothes!

"Fast forward to January 2002, and there was a spark of hope that my dream could come true. I had just auditioned for a part in Chess The Musical with Anwen Little Theatre. In those days, we waited patiently for the postman to deliver a paper copy of the cast announcement. I was spending some time away and I remember being woken in my hotel room by an early morning telephone call from my good friend, Debbie Apollonio (The White Queen). Determined to keep the tension high, she teasingly read me the entire cast list before finally revealing that I was to play Svetlana. Me - I was going to be Barbara Dixon! I cannot tell you the excitement that I felt.

"I loved been "Babs", and I can honestly say that Chess has been one of my favourite musicals ever since.

Fiona Porter-Smith

"I joined PODS purely by chance in 2007, when another dear friend, the late Gill Jakobs, asked if I would play The Cow with her in Jack and The Beanstalk.

"She didn't mention that I would be "back end", but oh how I love her for it. I quickly made PODS the permanent home of my beloved hobby and 16 years on, not only has it been fun-filled on the stage, but it has also opened the door for me to direct. I made my directorial debut with the 2012 pantomime, Cinderella – oh yes, I did! Since then, I have directed pantomimes, plays and musicals and I've even done some script writing.

"It's fair to say that prior to this year I have always directed comedies, and I have been very comfortable with that. I was asked last year what I would like to direct next, and I instantly thought of Chess. It's so different from other shows that I've done in many ways. For starters, it's a million miles from being a comedy - It is dark and dramatic with lots of argument and anger.

"There is very little dialogue, with all the drama being presented through song. That brings huge challenges as the cast need to know the music before you can set the action. Pace is very important in acting, but again the pace here is dictated by the tempo and rhythm of the music.

The Rock Choir

"Musicals are many months in the planning before an audition even takes place and I met with my assistant director, Julia Dyke over a year ago to get the ball rolling. The more and more I thought about the storyline, the more I wanted to create something very special with The Rock Choir.

"I was fortunate to see the concert version of Chess at The Royal Albert Hall in London in 2008. I remember the Choir staying on stage a lot of the time, mostly because it was done as a concert version, but this was very different to the 2002 production I had been in, and I liked it. Our entire production grew from the vision of an ethereal set of chess pieces who are nearly always present, watching, judging, manipulating. I really hope that you love what we have done with them here!

"Chess is such a wonderful musical. The music is simply sublime, and the intricacies of the storyline are just incredible. In some respects, they proved a challenge to portray easily for our audiences - seven adults, one with a tormented upbringing, two refugees, one jilted wife, two manipulating spies and a storyteller who is maybe, just maybe, playing a real-life chess game of his own. This is all told on the background of the cold war and political uprising. If all that is not complicated enough, there is also the accuracy and intrigue of the chess game itself. I have a cast of 30, a production team of 25 and we have literally lived and loved this production for months.

"In 2002, I fell in love with Chess The Musical. 21 years later, I hope that you do too!"

Chess is on the Paget Rooms in Penarth from Wednesday 17th to Saturday 20th May. Some performances are almost sold out but you can check availability and purchase tickets at www.ticketsource.co.uk/pods