Vanessa Redgrave, Terence Stamp and Gemma Arterton are to get down and rock in a new movie.

Song For Marion, which also stars Christopher Eccleston and Anne Reid, looks at the rock-choir phenomenon that has soared in all parts of the country, and abroad.

Producer Ken Marshall, from Steel Mill Pictures, said: ‘Choirs have always been a massive part of the British social fabric,’ adding that the TV show Glee had made them even more popular.

Song For Marion will be directed by Paul Andrew Williams, whose first film, London To Brighton, was so well made — and shocking — that it forced audiences and studio chiefs to sit up and pay attention.

In the film Redgrave, who plays Marion, and Stamp, as her husband Arthur, are retired and living in the North-East of England. Marion’s a member of a progressive choir run by Ms Arterton and both women want Arthur to join them.

Eccleston plays the son who has a difficult relationship with his father.

Marshall said the songs featured include numbers by Motorhead, Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder and Cyndi Lauper.

‘Both Vanessa and Terence can sing, and each has a big solo spot number,’ said Marshall, who added that Vanessa’s number is a classic ballad ‘that will have you crying into your shirt’. The six-week shoot starts on July 18 on locations in and around County Durham.

After she has completed her scenes, Vanessa will go on to star opposite James Earl Jones in Driving Miss Daisy, which begins performances at Wyndham’s Theatre from September 26.

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