Not ones to shy away from a challenge, the Forest Musical Theatre Company, is bringing the gripping true story of Leo Frank to the Kenneth More Theatre.

In Atlanta, Georgia in 1913 Leo was charged with the murder of one of his factory workers, Mary Phagan and the case resulted in what was dubbed the ‘Trial of the Century’.

The tragic and powerful play Parade follows Leo and his wife, Lucille, through this turbulent historical period and is a story of prejudice, justice and ultimately of love as the couple fight to clear his name.

Alison Buckingham, who plays Lucille says: “Parade is quite different from many musicals in that it deals with real life events involving people in very complex and conflicted situations. This is a musical which gives us the chance to offer something genuinely thought-provoking to the audience.

“We love to perform more challenging productions and we wanted to tell the story of Leo Frank, almost 100 years after the actual events.“ The original production opened on Broadway in December 1998, and it went on to win two Tony Awards for Best Book and Best Original Score.

Ten years later in its run in London’s West End in 2008 the show was nominated for seven Laurence Olivier Awards.

The Essex-based company is now bringing it to the Ilford stage with a beautiful musical score by the award-winning Jason Robert Brown.

The role of Mary Phagan is played by 15 year old Jessica Daugirda. This is Jessica’s third musical with this group at the Kenneth More Theatre having appeared first at the age of six playing the youngest orphan, Molly in Annie. Having been spotted by an agent in this production she made her West End début in The Sound of Music in the London Palladium as Gretl.

Since that time Jessica has worked extensively in professional roles both in the West End and beyond in shows such as Les Miserables, Oliver!, Matilda, Billy Elliot and Emil and the Detectives.

Kenneth More Theatre, Kenneth More Road, Ilford, March 26 to 28. Details: 020 8553 4466, kmtheatre.co.uk