MOVIE-lovers can enjoy some silver screen magic under the stars next month.

For five nights only, the garden at Oxford Castle will be transformed into an open-air cinema.

Screen classics on the bill include The Sound of Music, Grease and Saturday Night Fever – and cinema goers are encouraged to dress up, dance and sing along.

The run kicks off on Wednesday September 22 with a free screening of Home, a cinematic portrait of the planet by French journalist environmentalist and Earth From The Air photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand.

Then the mood lightens for four nights of singing nuns, pink ladies and dirty disco dancing, complete with a quartet of classic movie soundtracks.

And if watching your film favourites under an open sky were not enough, organisers want audiences to add to the atmosphere.

Castle manager Jean-Pierre Morilleau said: “Last year cinema events saw people laughing, crying, dancing in the aisle and even a conga line.

He added: “We’ve got some of my favourite films and I’m really looking forward to seeing them on the big screen again.”

Song sheets will be given out at The Sound of Music screening on the Thursday, and dressing-up is encouraged for Grease and Saturday Night Fever, on Friday and Saturday respectively.

And the audience will be expected to join Johnny and Baby for the last dance of the summer when the 1987 classic Dirty Dancing brings the season to a close on Sunday September 26.

The open-air cinema comes after a summer season of outdoor concerts at Oxford Castle, and organisers will be hoping for an Indian summer to bring in the crowds. Moviegoers can bring their own food, seating will be provided on a first come, first served basis, and a licensed bar will be open.

Tickets are £8.50 from wegottickets.com/oxfordcastle, SEE tickets 08448 718804 or the 03 Gallery.

The Malmaison is offering a pre-screening menu – quote the “3 Tenners” offer when making a reservation.

Movie schedule

Wednesday Sept 22: Home, a cinematic portrait of the planet by French journalist environmentalist, and Earth From The Air photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand (admission free).

Thursday Sept 23: The Sound of Music, the singalong favourite complete with nuns and Nazis.

Friday Sept 24: Grease, John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John take the lead in the original high school musical.

Saturday Sept 25: Saturday Night Fever, Travolta stars again, this time in the 1970s disco classic.

Sunday Sept 26: Dirty Dancing, stay, just a little bit longer, and catch Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey merengue their way through a turbulent summer.

Screenings start at 8pm.