Catchy songs, colourful costumes and terrible puns are returning to the Earl Cameron Theatre next week as Hasty Pudding Theatricals comes back to the rock.

HPT 175: Heist Heist Baby, the latest production from the Harvard University-based theatre company, is being brought to the island after successful performances in Massachusetts and New York.

The show focuses on a journalist, Rita L’boutette, who attends a gallery opening for the mysterious celebrity artist Spanksy, only for the $175 million centrepiece to go missing.

The development leaves Rita to solve the mystery, bumping elbows with wealthy geriatric Cassius Whatimafter, his wife Eileen Onyoufinancially, pop start Holden Outhopeforyou-Girl, art critic Alec Zis, palaeontologist Arthur Bonesburiedhere and unusually old fourth grader Eli Zaboutizage.

Further complicating the situation are the trickster ghost queen Helga Tboring, ex-Soviet spy Mischa Nimpossible and television star Mel O’Dramatic.

HPT, made up of undergraduate Harvard students, is the oldest theatrical organisation in the US with its first performance dating back to 1844.

Hannah Frazer, producer for the production, said it was thrilling to return bring HPT back to Bermuda, continuing a tradition that began in 1965.

“We’re ecstatic to keep this tradition alive and make new traditions of our own. Bermuda is such a wonderful place and we feel so lucky to be able to spend time here,” she said.

“The challenges of going on tour lie in the fact that we have to take down, set up, and transport our set three different times in rapid succession. Other than that, the tour is an absolute blast and we feel so lucky that we get to travel.”

She added that the show has so far garnered rave reviews with sold-out houses during its 30-show run in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

“Saturday and Sunday matinees in particular have been so much fun to participate in,” she said.

“We couldn’t do it without our wonderful audience and loyal patrons. The house has been such amazing energy for our company, and we’re excited to carry the electricity to Bermuda.”

Madison Pankey, another of the show’s producer’s, described Heist Heist Baby as “simply a blast”.

“We may be entirely run by college students, but I promise this show’s talent will not disappoint,” she said. “We’re unlike anything you’ve seen before, a pun-filled drag show, whodunnit mystery spectacular.

“While our show follows the traditional Hasty Pudding structure, we’re also excited to bring fresh twists to our 175th production. Come and spend quality time laughing with friends and family at Earl Cameron Theatre.”

Ms Pankey said that her favourite of the show’s many musical numbers has been “Holden out for a Hero”.

“This song is a fresh take on a 90s boy-band tune,” she said. “It’s so much fun to watch our actors bring their best dance moves to accompany the music, too.

“Hopefully people will recognise and enjoy some of our cheeky odes to 90s pop.”

HPT 175: Heist Heist Baby will be performed March 13, 14 and 15, with shows starting at 6.30pm on March 13 and 8pm on the latter nights.

Tickets cost $35 and are available now on bdatix.bm.