THE “almost experience” of seeing one of the biggest bands of all time live isn’t one you want to miss.

This is an uber-tribute show, a fantastic opportunity to jump in a time machine and visit the utopian Strawberry Fields where The Beatles are all alive and playing the concert of their lives, without all that troublesome screaming that put them off the whole business in the first place.

Our band is called Let it Be, there is no actual footage of the Beatles on stage or screen and the stage band do not refer to each other by the names we all know so well.

They are a hugely talented bunch. For each gig, five members of the 12-strong company (Fab Four plus keyboard, including pretend sitar, harpsichord etc) perform live. The only Help they need is provided by the respectful, slick production which this show delivers.

With sparse dialogue, this is a musical tour through some of the grooviest music and groundbreaking moments of the band. The stage is quickly transformed into The Cavern, The Shea Stadium, Sergeant Pepper’s and more. Two ancient-looking TV monitors loom large, blasting out 1960s ads, footage and well-crafted homages to the visual accompaniment to the story.

This could be one giant singalong, but this audience is the real fan base for the band so there is an unusual reverence for this show, a touching silence denied the band in their actual live performances. We’ll all get on our feet for Twist and Shout and clap on demand, but we’re here for the music.

This is a fab night out.

Money may not buy one love, but it can produce a walrus of a show well worthy of this gigantic band.

  • Until Saturday. Box office 0844 887 8989 and online atgtickets.com/sunderland

Sarah Scott