FOOTLOOSE was created by Dean Pitchford more than thirty years ago with Kevin Bacon starring in the 1984 film. It is based on a true story which covers an array of emotions that evolved from the strict Bible Belt townsfolk of Elmore City.

It is about Ren a city boy from the bright lights of Chicago who moves with his mother to the backwater of Bomont, West Virginia after his father has left them. Here dancing is banned as a result of a tragic car accident where four young people were killed including Reverand Moore's son. A boy without his father, and a father without his son.

Ren is befriended by Willard not the brightest of kids who has the unenviable task of telling him that raucous music is frowned upon and dancing is banned. Bomont is too quiet for Ren and he cannot understand how this is possible and decides to challenge the intolerant Reverand whose wayward daughter Aerial (Hannah Price) is the love interest of Ren and adores and rebels against her father.

Gareth Gates (Willard) the former pop idol star stole the show with a brilliant comedic performance competently supported by the charismatic and full of energy Luke Baker as Ren.

On the opening night the role of Vi Moore/Principal Clark was performed by Lauren Storer who gave a faultless performance as did Hannah Price.

What I love about this show is that all of the hugely talented cast are musician actors who dance, sing and act whilst playing their instruments a rare and difficult skill as opposed to having the traditional backing band.

There is great eighties music and whilst the first half seemed a little lack lustre after the interval the show burst into life, the theatre vibrant with everyone on their feet at the end.

Footloose The Musical runs until Saturday, 6th August at the Bristol Hippodrome.