"Benidorm – Live”
Nottingham Theatre Royal

Starring Jake Canuso (Mateo), Janine Duvitski (Jacqueline), Adam Gillen (Liam), Sherrie Hewson (Joyce Temple-Savage), Shelley Longworth (Sam), Tony Maudsley (Kenneth) and featuring Neptune’s very own Asa Elliott, this is one show that I have been looking forward to since I first heard that the show was going on tour, especially as I am a massive fan of the award winning television show.

Also featured were Serena Giacomini (Sophie), Bradley Clarkson (Ben), Will Jennings (Ricky) and Damian Williams (Derek).

All the actors looked like they were having a party on stage and I loved that the things that "went wrong" were embraced by the cast which added even more fun and frivolity.

Derren Litten created 74 TV episodes over 11 years which attracted many cameos from well-known stars like Cilla Black, Robin Askwith, Bananarama, Sheridan Smith, Su Pollard, Joan Collins, Una Stubbs and Tony Hadley. It was sad to find out that after all of these years, Derren revealed that the TV show was to be no more. And then came the live on stage theatre show!

Litten has worked to his strengths, and the strengths of the show and its’ characters. He has remained faithful to the TV style script which shows that he knows what his audience like and what they want to see and he delivers.

First off let me mention the staging as I was most fascinated how this would work as the TV series has so many settings. Well, this is done via a revolving platform which provides the back drops for Neptune Bar, the entrance and reception to the Solana, the pool area, Blow ‘n’ Go Hair Salon and Joyce Temple-Savage’s office, and there is so much details has gone into the creation of these sets. A brilliant job by Mark Walters.

A mention must also go to Ben Cracknell who designed the lighting, making you feel the warmth and feel of a sunny Benidorm holiday resort.

The story for the show is there are rumours about a threatened take over of the Solana, which leaves the staff fearing for their jobs, and when they find out that the guests have been infiltrated with undercover hotel inspectors, Joyce Temple-Savage and her workforce take action.

The whole show is very slick, and that is because the cast have worked as a family over the last eleven years and they are comfortable in their characters and their fellow actors, and it’s this familiarity that makes the comedy flow. Well I say flow, at times it’s almost Tsunami level and every character gets their chance to shine.

Previous characters from the TV series receive nods from the cast, keeping us in the loop as to what they are doing.

It helped, being a die hard fan of the TV show, because I knew the characters, the actors and the characters' back stories, so it was like slipping on an old comfy pair of slippers. I, and the majority of the audience, were in Neptune heaven by Act two and the finale of "Spanish Eyes" and "Y Viva Espana" had the audience singing and clapping along resulting in a massive standing ovation.

It is saucy, with much of that sauce being added by Jake Canuso and Janine Duvitski with lashings of double entendres inserted by Tony Maudesley and Damian Williams. Sherrie I feel has found her iconic role in Joyce and shows a lot of class, and gets to wear some classy costumes here. Shelley Longworth's Sam is just a lovely, girl next door character and, what a lovely voice in her solo of Faith Hill's "There You'll Be", and Adam Gillen's Liam is just a brilliant comic character who can make you laugh and feel sorry for him with his voice, as well as creating some wonderful physical comedy.

There are some great party songs in this show - watch out for Asa's brilliant vocals and Janine's backing on "Rubber Ball".

You will not leave the Theatre Royal without your cheeks aching. This is exactly how a successful TV comedy can be adapted into an equally successful stage show. I absolutely love this show, and so will you!

“Benidorm Live” is at the Nottingham Theatre Royal until Saturday 30 March