RONALD REAGAN - THATCHER MUSICAL A 'RESPECTFUL' PRODUCTION

Theatre bosses are insisting a musical about the life of MARGARET THATCHER is a respectful satire of the former British prime minister's time in power.

Unusual production THATCHER: THE MUSICAL covers the leader's time in power, from 1979 to 1990, and will be staged at the Warwick Arts Centre in England next month (FEB06).

In the musical, put on by an all-female theatre troupe, nine women play Thatcher and there is even a song about the late US President RONALD REAGAN.

Foursight Theatre's NAOMI COOKE says, "People will come with all sorts of expectations and their own points of view. But it neither denigrates nor glorifies her. It is an examination of who she was and how she changed the political landscape of this country.

"There is a lovely love song - IT WAS SURELY PURELY CHEMISTRY - about her husband DENIS and other key people like Ronald Reagan."