JADAR

★★★★★

Strictly Come Dancing is one of the most popular shows in the country – and the franchise it spawned, Dancing with the Stars, is the world’s most popular television programme – but with a 400-capacity audience, very few people get the chance to watch it live. To tackle the disappointment, someone had the genius idea of taking the show on tour, visiting arenas all around the country (not just a studio in London and a ballroom in Blackpool) and recreating a live show, complete with judges, VTs, and even results!

The show is theatrical even before it begins. There are two sets of gleaming motorised curtains onstage: a rounded curtain for the front stage (the normal stage at the arena) and a circular curtain for the oval-shaped stage in the centre of the floor, where audiences would usually be seated or stood. There are a few premium seats around the stage on the floor, in case you fancy getting splashed by Vito’s sweat (I mean, who wouldn’t?).

Opening Number

Following a countdown, the Strictly pros made their way from backstage and walked to the stage in the centre. Soon after, the curtain raised and they performed a fiery routine – complete with pyrotechnics – with the celebrities briefly circling the stage before heading back off. The routine ended with the pros without partners getting a moment to shine before Janette Manrara (a former Strictly pro and now the host of Strictly: It Takes Two) arrived onstage and welcomed the audience.

The partnerless pros are Strictly pros Nadiya Bychkova (who was also partnerless on the latest series), Karen Hauer (12th), Katy Jones (5th – her partner withdrew), Neil Jones (no partner) and Nancy Xu (15th) – alongside Robbie Kmetoni (a new addition) and Jake Leigh (who has appeared in many Strictly Live! tours).

Introductions

The eargasmic theme tune played as the judges – Shirley Ballas (head judge), Anton Du Beke (pro turned judge) and Craig Revel Horwood (original judge of both the series and tour; director and co-choreographer of the tour) – walked down the grand staircase and offered us a little shimmy, alongside Janette. Out of the TV show’s judges, only Motsi Mabuse is not doing the tour.

This was followed by the introduction of the couples.

The first couple was Krishnan Guru-Murthy (who came 8th in the last series) and Jowita Przystał (13th). On the series, Krishnan danced with Lauren Oakley, but she is on tour with Giovanni Pernice (which I reviewed the night prior), so he has been paired with Jowito (whose show partner, Jody Cundy, is not doing the tour).

They were followed by Angela Scanlon and Carlos Gu (6th), Greater Manchester’s own Layton Williams and Nikita Kuzmin (joint runners-up), Angela Rippon and Kai Widdrington (7th), and Bobby Brazier and Dianne Buswell (joint runners-up).

Next up were Annabel Croft (4th) and Graziano Di Prima (10th). Annabel’s show partner, Johannes Radebe, is busy prepping for his own tour, and Graziano’s show partner, Zara McDermott, is not doing the tour, so they were paired together.

The final couple to be introduced were reigning champions, Manchester’s own Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola.

Most performances featured live vocals from Tommy Blaize, Andrea Grant, Tara McDonald and Patrick Smyth, with a backing band headed by Musical Director Allan Rogers. Choreography is by Craig Revel Horwood and Jason Gilkison.

Act 1 and 2 Performances

Ahead of each performance, there was a VT, featuring the couple, a convention of the Strictly shows on TV.

The couples each performed two routines which they had performed on the show, one in each act. Krishnan and Jowita’s first performance was a cha cha cha to Apache Indian’s ‘Boom Shak-A-Lak’, accompanied by the female pros. Whilst they had a lot of fun, it was the show’s lowest-scoring dance, with Craig only giving it a 4!

Their second performance, a quickstep to Frank Sinatra’s cover of Mitzi Green’s ‘Lady Is a Tramp’, saw the other pros dance around them, as if they were at an old-school party. This performance faired better, but they still ended up at the bottom of the leaderboard.

Angela S and Carlos showed off their comedic sides with a Charleston to Gwen Verdon and Bob Fosse’s ‘Who’s Got the Pain’ from Damn Yankees, massively juxtaposing this with a super sultry and mildly scary Argentine tango to Amy Winehouse’s ‘Back to Black’. Flames fired around the stage, scorching the atmosphere.

Layton and Nikita received full marks for both of their performances: a quickstep to Gregory Porter’s cover of Irving Berlin’s ‘Putting On the Ritz’ (accompanied by the male pros) and a paso doble to ‘Backstage Romance’ from Moulin Rouge! The Musical (accompanied by all the pros).

Angela R and Kai offered their take on the Argentine tango to ‘Tanguera’ by Sexteto Mayor and a cha cha cha to Dame Shirley Bassey’s cover of P!nk’s ‘Get This Party Started’. The latter began with the male pros walking Angela to the stage before pulling off her gleaming silver cloak. Both routines allowed Angela to show off her impressive leg skills, with the latter ending with that iconic leg move!

It is hard to believe that Angela is almost 80 years old; her flexibility is astounding. I worked with Angela on Rip Off Britain: Live, and whilst she was friendly and fabulous, I never expected her to star on Strictly – but she absolutely slayed!

Alongside some of the pros, Bobby “Ballroom Bobby” Brazier and Dianne Buswell did the samba to ‘Young Hearts Run Free’ by Candi Staton, a fan-favourite number which allows Bobby to channel Shakira and show off his hip movements. For a few minutes, the English lad transformed into a Latina!

This number was contrasted with their slower, more romantic act 2 performance: a Viennese waltz to ‘Golden Hour’ by JVKE.

Annabel and Graziano did the opposite, beginning with a heart-warming American Smooth to Benedetta Caretta’s cover of the Righteous’ Brothers’ cover of Todd Duncan’s ‘Unchained Melody’ – but it was, of course, performed by one of the Strictly singers, so it was a cover of a cover of a cover!

This was followed by the samba to Shakira’s ‘Whenever, Wherever’. As a huge fan of Latin music, like yours truly, Graziano – who co-choreographed the new musical La Bamba! with his partner Giada Lini – must have loved performing the latter.

Their two numbers were accompanied by the male and female pros respectively.

The final performers of each act were Ellie and Vito. Their fiery (literally) first number was the pasodoble to ‘Insomnia’ by Faithless – quite the interesting music choice but it worked wonderfully – accompanied by the pros, who circled the couple with blue and white material.

In the second act, the pair showed off their take on the American Smooth to to Robbie Williams’ cover of Dean Martin’s ‘Ain’t That a Kick in the Head?’ Ellie’s gorgeous red gown was, possibly, the most mesmerising outfit of the show.

Act 1 Closing Number

Each act opened and closed with a group performance. Alongside the pro’s opening number, the first act closed with a number performed by the pros and celebs, who were later joined by Janette.

Act 2 Opening Number

The second act opened with the a recreation of the TV show’s iconic tribute to Barbie, with each dancer perfectly embodying their respective character – especially Nikita as Ken in his fur coat!

Results

Whilst the judges scored each routine, their scores were for guidance only. As aforementioned, Layton and Nikita topped the scoreboard with full marks. However, they were beaten out by fellow Manc, Ellie, and her partner, Vito. It was not until January 28 when the reigning champions had their first tour win but Ellie was pretty much guaranteed a win on her home turf!

Ahead of the results, the dancers had a little improv boogie on the floor, before taking their places on the oval-shaped stage.

During the TV show’s results, the white lights go out on the couples who are going through to the following week, cloaking them in red. On tour, however, the lights go out on the couples who are definitely not the champions, leaving two couples (the aforementioned) who then proceed to walk to the far end of the arena.

The iconic music played before Janette announced the winners, with the whole audience, but especially Ellie’s friends and family, delighted.

Closing Number

The closing number is one of the best pieces of dance that I have ever seen. The professional dancers, Janette and the judges took to the stage in red and black. Following the number’s opening segment, Janette and the judges each walked to a corner of the stage, each accompanied by a few dancers. After each segment, they moved around in an anti-clockwork direction, with the troupe leading the segment placed at the far end of the arena.

The celebs joined in for the final part of the number, which ended with Craig asking the audience to put our hands together for Janette, who was raised by the cast, before everybody circled the stage for their bows – with more fireworks!

The only way this spectacular show could be improved is by following the show more closely and having a guest singer at every show but that might be slightly out of budget…

Strictly Come Dancing Live! is, without a doubt, one of the best theatrical experiences of my life – Strictly the best!

Strictly Come Dancing Live! plays at Motorpoint Arena Nottingham from February 6 to 8 before ending its UK tour at The O2, London from February 9 to 11.

Photo: Marc Brenner