THE final week of a major touring production coming to Bournemouth has been cancelled.

The Sound of Music was due to run at the Pavilion from September 22 to October 9, but will now finish on October 2.

Steve Turner, entertainments programming manager for the BIC and Pavilion, said the final week of the Bournemouth leg of the tour had been axed after the show’s producers, David Ian Productions, informed him of a scheduling problem.

“I don’t know exactly what the issues were, but they were in a pickle and couldn’t do that last week.

“I’m sure it was a good reason, otherwise they would not have done it. We had to move the quietest week and that was it at that stage. It disturbed the least amount of patrons,” he said.

A spokesman for the show itself would only say: “Due to unforeseen scheduling issues The Sound of Music will now play the Bournemouth Pavilion between September 22 and October 2.”

Those with tickets for the cancelled shows have been sent a letter.

One couple affected were Mark and Allyson Bailey, from Lilliput, Poole, who had booked as part of a group of 60 people attending from Bournemouth Collegiate School – the group will now likely be split across different performances.

Allyson said: “It has to be the economy and people not booking, but we will still get to see it and we have still got a great price.”

Mark added: “They’re obviously having real problems selling tickets.”

One of the world’s best known musicals, the production is on the road following its West End run and stars Michael Praed as Captain Von Trapp, Kirsty Malpass as Maria Rainer and Marilyn Hill Smith as Mother Abbess.

The lavish show has been critically acclaimed and tells the story of the Von Trapp family’s flight across the mountains during World War Two and includes an unforgettable music score.

Connie Fisher, who won the role of Maria in a BBC television series, is not due to perform in Bournemouth.