Real-life dance teacher Sarah Fox has her work cut out as Mavis, who tries to change rhythmically-challenged coal lumps into diamond tap-dancing superstars. It’s always ominous when a really hard tap sequence is preceded with the words “It’s not too complicated”.

Actually, it’s choreographer Aggie Gryszel who is put through her paces. Her clever technique was to teach her students the sensational dance finale first. Only then did they learn to dance badly which is what we see at the start.

By that logic, the hilariously uncoordinated and nervous Geoffrey and Andy-long for Ann-played by Ross Bannister and Fran Rooker are the most talented dancers.

It’s the 1980s so big hair, leggings and leg warmers are compulsory. Andrea Howard as Vera also makes sure the braver women in the audience are out buying silver jumpsuits with matching shoes sometime soon. Edwina Gascoyne is wisecracking Maxine. Having to cope with her teenage stepson, ‘Wonder Boy’, she’d rather give the proceeds from Save the Children charity gala to Save the Parents. Amusingly, Edwina’s real daughter, Charlotte Gascoyne, plays the rather more sensible and grown-up Lynne in convincing fashion. Adele Timmons is sex-obsessed Sylvia. She mercilessly teases the only man, Geoffrey, but she’s a softy really.

Adele’s dad Ian Walker expertly directs this fine show. Judith Wade, Jenn Aspinall and Marjory El-Afif as Mrs Fraser, Dorothy and Rose complete the excellent dectet of performers.