I saw Summer Holiday The Musical at Blackpool's Grand Theatre and had a great time

It’s 30 years since Summer Holiday the Musical made its debut in Blackpool - and now it’s back in what must surely count as its spiritual home.

The show is on at Grand Theatre until August 8 - and what better way to celebrate living in or visiting the UK’s most famous seaside resort than revelling in a show packed with fun, charm and great songs?

The story about a group of friends who head out across Europe aboard a double decker bus for a summer road trip filled with adventure, musicians and romance is of course based on the film from the early 1960s starring Cliff Richard.

The period setting is still there - as illustrated by the great costumes - but while George Jones impresses in the Cliff role of Don, this is very much an ensemble piece, in which the whole cast, largely of actor-musicians, stand out.

Jones as Don and Fanta Barrie as Barbara share an enjoyable onstage chemistry, while Matthew James Hinchliffe is charming as Al, Elliott Mackenzie, Jim Duah and Robin Harris shine as Don’s friends and Niz Raza Hamilton and Trudy Ward impress as Al’s bandmates.

But it is Jane McCarry and Damian Humbley’s performances who really make their mark, portraying Barbara’s mother Stella and her agent Jerry as well as, briefly, police officers in Switzerland and Italy.

They manage to steal all their scenes with an infectious energy that often has the audience in absolute stitches.

The show packs in a host of Cliff’s best-known early songs, including The Young Ones, In The Country, Bachelor Boy, Move It and of course the title track, while there’s great homage played to The Shadows in the instrumental pieces which punctuate the scene changes.

The colourful set is simple but charmingly effective in terms of set changes, with several surprises - and look out for the bus.

The co-production between The Grand, Blackpool and Sheffield Theatres is adapted by Michael Gyngell and Mark Haddigan from the original screenplay and they throw in in several local references to the audience’s delight.

Co-directors Elizabeth Newman and Ben Occhipinti bring the very best out of the performers to ensure an evening packed with fun and - to paraphrase the title track - ‘no more worries for an hour or two’.

Summer Holiday continues at The Grand, Blackpool until Saturday, August 8. Ticket details at www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk or from 01253-290190.