Some musicals are conceived as such (Buddy), the odd one is a retelling of another great piece (Miss Saigon/Madame Butterfly) and a handful are vehicles for a band's towering back catalogue (Mamma Mia!, We Will Rock You).

There are few, if any, that are produced as a result of the stellar success of a best-selling compilation album. And we're not talking about the stage adaptation of Now That's What I Call Music 31 - although surely it's only a matter of time.

After the 'Dreamboats & Petticoats' compilation featuring 50s and 60s rock 'n roll and skiffle, including hits from The Shadows, Eddie Cochran, Roy Orbison, Billy Fury, Chuck Berry and others sold more than two million copies, a musical more or less insisted on itself.

With West End impresario Bill Kenwright at the helm, Dreamboats and Petticoats launched in London in 2009 and was an immediate hit. Another London run in 2010 (and 2011) and annual national tours have cemented Dreamboats and Petticoats as a firm favourite with audiences everywhere.

The tale of talented young musicians Norman and Bobby competing for the affections of the petticoated Laura is currently enjoying another London run and preparing for new national tour dates.

Tickets went on sale on Friday 27th May for six new dates from Monday 13th February 2012 to Saturday 18th at the New Theatre in Oxford.

These shows follow the continuing London run at the Playhouse Theatre (until 24th November 2011) and tour dates at the Birmingham Hippodrome (27th June to 2nd July), Edinburgh Playhouse (4th to 9th July) and the Liverpool Empire (26th September to 1st October).

London tickets are available from £25, rising to £52.50. For all tour dates, tickets start at around £20.