A Chorus Line

My recent visit to The London Palladium saw a number of firsts. Never before had I been to a performance of anything alone; never before had I been to a performance of anything without an interval, and never before, despite this being in its fifth decade since its debut, had I seen A Chorus Line.

Any apprehensions I may have had quickly dissipated and, within minutes, I, along with the rest of the nearly packed house, was gripped.

Throughout the entire show there was only one inappropriate rustle of a sweet bag – unheard of. The audience was transported to a Broadway casting and swiftly became embroiled in the intimate insights offered into the cast’s lives, revealed by a succession of soliloquy-style conversations between cast members and a rather ethereal director.

This is perhaps not a show for you if you seek dramatic scenery and glitzy costumes – there is hardly any of either.

Skilfully choreographed and directed by West-End veteran, Bob Avian, this wonderful production has total cross-generational appeal.

It will excite the memories of grandparents who saw this at its debut in the mid-1970s and wondered if one day they would see their children’s names in lights; and it will appeal equally to the parents who loved Fame and secretly dreamt of attending such a performing arts academy, and their own children who today love Glee.

If you can relate to any one of the above groups, then a visit to Chorus Line is for you.

Booking until 8 September at the London Palladium, 8 Argyll Street, London W1: 0844-412 4655, www.londonpalladium.org