Shortly after finishing the musical theatre production of \'Little Shop of Horrors\', the Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music (CQCM) students and staff are at it again... and this time, it\'s war.

CQCM lecturer Kim Kirkman last week started work with students on the production to end all productions - Jeff Wayne’s \'The War of the Worlds\'.

The story of \'The War of the Worlds\' has a long history as a source of entertainment and intrigue across many media forms.

The original novel by HG Wells provided the inspiration for a live radio broadcast that terrorised America in the Halloween of 1938, persuading many that they were under attack by an alien nation.

Jeff Wayne later created the music and songs in the same way Spielberg created a blockbuster for the big screen, with the same inspiration of ‘Earth under attack’.

Now it’s the Conservatorium\'s turn to provide their own impression of great machines coming from afar.

The intense and vigorous music is currently being rehearsed by a full rock band and string orchestra under the expert eye of Kim Kirkman, recent musical producer of the Choral Society’s \'The Gondoliers\' and lecturer at CQCM.

Audiences can expect belting solo 70s classic rock style tunes accompanying the dutiful narration of the story by John Waldon.

The horror of the arrival of the machines and the spread of the red weed will be embodied by large-scale animated projections and a light show that will place viewers in the bounds of the invasion.

Show times are:.

Friday September 15 – 8pm.

Saturday September 16 – 8pm.

Sunday September 17 - 2pm.

Tickets can be purchased at the Conservatorium or by phoning 4940 7800. Adults $25, Concession $20, Friend of CQCM $15, Student/Child $10, Family $60 (2 adults + 2 children).

Photo above: The music of Jeff Wayne’s \'The War of the Worlds\' is brought to life by the rock orchestra Kim Kirkman is conducting.