THERE are few shows that possess such a special place in the affections of the British theatregoing public as Willy Russell’s classic tale of fate, superstition and social division. 

The political message is as relevant as ever and its capacity to move its audience remains undiminished – certainly judging from the amount of tears being shed around me. 

The Nolan sisters have made the part of the long suffering Mrs Johnstone their own since the show was first produced in the 1980s, and the performance of Maureen Nolan was every bit as affecting as one would have expected – vocally and dramatically – encompassing the full range of emotion, most strikingly in her visceral delivery of the closing ‘Tell me it’s not true’ as she knelt centre stage between the bodies of her twins.

Great momentum was achieved throughout (how good to see the action moved forward immediately after each song without giving any opportunity for audience applause) by a strong cast. 

The demanding role of Mickey – beginning as a rumbunctiously comedic seven (‘nearly eight’) year old; moving to awkward teenager; ending as an over-medicated depressive adult for whom all life had been sucked out – was superbly played by Sean Jones. 

Similarly, the excellent Joel Benedict as Eddie and Danielle Corlass (reminiscent of Sheridan Smith) as Linda.

The only disappointment was Marti Pellow, who provided belted vocals and narration which was largely indecipherable, probably because of the constant veering between accents – Scouse? Scots? Scouswegian?