AN 80s classic that took the world by storm and remains embedded in the hearts of many.
Footloose is a tale everyone is familiar with and a sensation that never fails to get people in the mood for a bit of dancing.
As I sat in the Mayflower Theatre waiting for the musical to start, I wondered how a story that captured the hearts of young and old could be adapted to the stage.
For me, those classic 80s movies were something I was brought up with - something my mum loves and something she shared with me on those rainy Sunday afternoons when I was a teen.
Photo Mark Senior
But I was not left disappointed last night.
This feel-good show kicked off at the Mayflower Theatre with a toe-tapping soundtrack and an energetic cast.
After his dad abandons him and his mum, city boy Ren McCormack - played by the fantastic and cheeky Joshua Hawkins - is rushed off to the rural Bomont, a town where dancing is illegal.
Ren, along with his new friends, takes matters into his own hands and soon has the whole town on their feet letting loose.
Photo Mark Senior
It's there that he meets the rebellious heartthrob Ariel Moore, played by the talented Lucy Munden, daughter of Reverend Shaw Moore.
Ben Barrow played Rev. Moore in last night's performance and he gave the audience true star quality portraying the angst of an over-protective father who only wants the best for his daughter following a family tragedy that left a hole in his family's life.
But I think the couple who really captured the hearts of the audience - and me in particular - were the cheeky, adorable and comical Willard Hewitt and Rusty, who were played by Jake Quickenden and Oonagh Cox.
Photo Mark Senior
They oozed that awkward teen romance and pumped the stage full of humour.
The musical was fast-pace with songs such as Holding Out For A Hero, Let's Hear It For the Boy, and of course Almost Paradise which had the whole audience clapping and singing along.
Towards the end of the performance, when the town was finally able to put those dancing shoes back on, we heard that classic riff that never fails to get people moving.
Photo Mark Senior
The whole audience lit up as the cast came together for Footloose and not a single person was sat still in their seats.
The cast encouraged everyone to get up on their feet and dance with them, which really immersed people in the experience and left everyone wanting a little more boogying in their life.
Footloose is at the Mayflower until May 7 and ticket are available at www.mayflower.org.uk/whats-on/footloose-2022/
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