IT was the world's first rom-zom-com – a romantic comedy...with zombies.

And now Shaun of the Dead is lurching and staggering towards another first with the undead set to invade a Manchester theatre.

Almost Legal Productions is the only company to have the rights to Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright's beloved 2004 film and it is coming to The Dancehouse from Wednesday to Friday.

You can expect all the classic scenes of mayhem but each audience member also gets a 'survival kit’ with 'essential' items like a kazoo, a blow-up cricket bat and foam records for throwing at zombies.

Chas Burns is Almost Legal's director and plays Shaun.

He said: "You can imagine several hundred people flinging records everywhere. They fly all over the place and suddenly there’s raucous laughter.

"The stage is created with a 2D black and white set. It’s a bit like Paddington Bear where he was the only real thing and everything else was a cut out.

"It certainly ticks the boxes for the zombie freaks and Shaun of the Dead fans. We incorporate every detail we can, including some deleted scenes.

"It costs us a packet in make-up. That’s why we need so many people to see it – just to pay for the make-up."

As well as Shaun of the Dead, Simon Pegg and director Edgar Wright worked together on the Channel 4's cult sitcom Spaced and the films Hot Fuzz and The World's End.

The pair are known to be very protective of their work so how did Chas end up with the exclusive rights?

"We asked for them," said Chas, whose theatre collective specialises in adapting films for the stage like The Wicker Man and Misery.

"I’ve been brought up to believe you don’t ask, you don’t get in this world and what’s the worst that could happen? They’d say no.

"We’ve been graced very honourably with the fact that Simon and Edgar as well as Nick Frost have supported us.

"The film companies Working Title and Universal Studios handing over the rights is a big deal to us and so we’re going to do the best we possibly can to keep it going as long as we can.

"We want to take Shaun of the Dead Live all over the world."

What also helped Chas's cause is that he grew up in Stroud, not far from where Simon Pegg was raised in Brockworth, Gloucestershire.

But despite Simon giving his blessing to the show and Chas being on first name terms with most of his family the pair have actually never met.

"I found out that he was getting on a train at the same time as I was getting off the train in Stroud," added Chas, who has a cast and crew of 25 working on Shaun of the Dead Live.

"It was quite bizarre but I’ve never met him. I’ve met his brother and went to his first film premiere, I’ve met his niece who used to work at our local pub and I’ve met his dad so it’s hilarious that I’ve not met him.

"After all this I think it will be a bit odd if we do meet."

The show's opening night was also held in Stroud over the Halloween weekend last year, attracting people from as far as Minnesota in the United States.

People have been coming to the shows dressed as zombies or their favourite character since.

Chas, who has seen Shaun of the Dead about 500 times, said: "Audience participation projects have been around for 40 years now.

"The Rocky Horror Show is probably the biggest and we’re trying to take that title. I think people prefer hiding behind zombie make-up than they do behind their wife’s underwear."

Chas also reckons that despite being surrounded by the undead, Shaun's struggle is pretty universal.

"When you talk about Shaun a twinkle appears in people’s eyes.

"His girlfriend is fed up of him and we’ve all been there.

"He likes sitting around and drinking beer and playing video games. But eventually the truth is that you’ve got to stand up and be counted.

"We’ve all had to do that. Sooner or later you’ve got to get up and do something with your life."

- Shaun of the Dead Live is at The Dancehouse in Manchester from Wednesday to Friday. Visit thedancehouse.co.uk or almostlegalproductions.co.uk

- Almost Legal Productions have also launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund Shaun of the Dead Live in the West End. To pledge your support visit kickstarter.com/projects/almostlegalproduct/shaun-of-the-dead-live-stage-two

DAVID MORGAN