Umoja flies back from Sicily

The cast of the hit West End musical Umoja are flying back to London today after the "performance of a lifetime" at a £12 million party thrown by one of Britain's richest families.

The show's 50 cast and crew were flown from South Africa to Sicily by members of the Rausing dynasty, and performed the entire show for the Rausings' 600 guests in an ancient Greek amphitheatre in Taormina.

Show producer Joe Theron said: "Our performers come from quite impoverished backgrounds in South Africa but here they were, performing in the most beautiful place we have ever seen. We still can't quite believe it."

The one-off performance - which cost about £150,000 - was part of the entertainment arranged by the Rausings during a four-day cruise party that began in Cannes on Sunday.

? Professor and Mrs Hans Rausing wish it to be known that, contrary to the story on page 7 yesterday, they have no connection with the cruise party.