No, it's not an emergency cabinet meeting of the Howard Government.

The 2001 Rock Eisteddfod Challenge promises more outrageous costumes than Alexander Downer's wardrobe when 600 students take to the stage to battle it out.

Bathurst PCYC, Kelso High and The Scots' School are joined by Lake Cargelligo Central School and Sydney's MLC School for the sight and sound spectacle.

Each group is given eight minutes to convince judges of their performance's merit through music, dance, drama, sets and lighting.

Ben Hope, director of the Bathurst PCYC eisteddfod, began working on "A day in May" mid-1999, after hearing a story he felt needed to be told.

The ill-fated Irish love tale, which was witnessed by his friend's dad, centres around troubles involving the Irish Republican Army in Belfast.

The PCYC's 110 cast and crew come from Bathurst, Kelso, Oberon and Mackillop High Schools, catering to those students who were unable to be involved in a school performance.

Ben said co-ordinating and putting together the eisteddfod, without the backing of a school, had been stressful, although many sponsors had helped out.

"It's been hard for us because we have to rehearse out of school hours and fit into the PCYC schedule," Ben said. "But I haven't had any anxiety dramas or attacks about it.

"It will be worth it in the end."

He said their chances of winning the heat were strong given all the effort, but said the students would not have given up "precious sleep time every Sunday" if the experience wasn't fun.

"Ninety percent of them have not been in a rock eisteddfod, but unless I said that you wouldn't know it."

He said the commitment of those involved on and off-stage had been amazing, with most of the choreography and set design done by participants and their parents.

Tickets for tonight's show are available by calling the Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre on 6333 6161. The show begins at 7pm and tickets are $16 each.