The Saturdays, Royal Concert Hall

Opening to an impressive backdrop the girls went straight into What Are You Waiting For, which sparked a 100-minute show of all the hits – and more.

What we were waiting for – and got – was an evening of perfectly-performed Saturdays tracks – but it took until the eighth number before the crowd really got into the groove and jumped to their feet as one, for the Depeche Mode cover Just Can’t Get Enough.

Another of the most popular routines was also a blast from the past, as Disco Love channeled both the Bee Gees and Britney Spears, with the help of the hunky male dancers in their latest revealing costume.

That’s not to say the girls were left behind in the fashion stakes. Five different costumes, ranging from the sparkle and glitz of the opening numbers through street fashions to the skimpy firefighter kits for All Fired Up thrilled with each new entrance on stage.

At the newly-refurbished Royal Concert Hall, Rochelle, Frankie, Mollie, Vanessa and Una were on their fifth night of a 19-date tour. And while their carefully-choreographed pop routines took them upstairs, downstairs and all over the stage floor, there was surprisingly little movement apart from all that walking.

Perhaps they were concentrating on the singing, as this performance was a particularly accomplished set.

The girls’ harmonies passed the test of walking Through the Desert, which led into a triumphant Ego and the slower Issues, demonstrating the variety of their work.

The ballad My Heart Takes Over contrasted nicely with the electo Depeche Mode number and a simple request for some fairy lights among the sell-out audience prompted everyone to flick that switch on their mobiles to accompany Chasing Lights, the title track of their first album.

Or perhaps they were distracted by the outside world. Frankie’s learning a new routine each week for TV’s Strictly, Rochelle has an 18-month baby to deal with and Una is pregnant with her second child.

Considering Rochelle and Frankie formed S Club 7 spin-off S Club Juniors in 2001
they’ve come a long way in seven years of The Saturdays.

By the reaction of the young crowd on the Nottingham leg of the tour, they’re set to go a lot further.

Shrek the Musical; Theatre Royal

One thing is evident right from curtain up in this fairytale spectacular.

It isn’t your regular hum-drum screen-to-stage production with people simply dressing up.

Right from the off the actors on stage become truly believable characters as they live and breathe the world of Shrek, Princess Fiona, Lord Farquaad and Donkey.

The make-up and costumes are worthy of a big-bucks, big-screen production. Dean Chisnall without his green make-up, padded suit and doleful demeanour would easily pass as just another shopper if you were to spot him away from the stage. But on it he’s Shrek; nothing more, nothing less.

Gerard Carey as the diminutive Farquaad shares the comic star turn with Idriss Kargbo as Donkey and the pair could have been born for their roles, stuffed with one-liners, visual comedy and the ability to simply deliver a great line.

Meanwhile, everyone’s favourite princess, played by Faye Brookes, clearly enjoys her role gradually falling for our straightforward ogre hero, who’s tasked with rescuing her from the tower.

They soon discover they have much more in common than they might ever have imagined, as they embark on their journey of music, song – and the full host of nursery rhyme and fairy tale characters wonderfully played by the ensemble. We have the Gingerbread man, Pinocchio, the three little pigs, the three bears, Peter Pan (“Grow up!” he’s told – “But I can’t!” comes the reply) and a somewhat camp wolf from Little Red Riding Hood.

And here is the key. Shrek The Musical is perfect pant material. Don’t be surprised to see it coming back again one festive season.

Away from the story the show is packed with gags and asides for the children, as well as another level for the adults - which go straight over the kids’ heads. 

Each of the superb songs carries the story forward. They’re not there to fill any gaps or stretch out the show. There’s not a single dud. They are great production numbers with tried and tested harmony and techniques so that we’re treated to a couple of real show-stoppers too, such as I Think I Got You Beat and The Ballad of Farquaad. We’re treated to styles from 1940s musicals through to the 70s disco sounds reminiscent of Carwash and beyond.

We’re also introduced to what must be the most amazing stage dragon seen at the Theatre Royal, as our heroes battle to rescue the princess.

But it’s the blossoming love story between the main characters which leaves an imprint on the heart.

Down-to-earth Shrek is blind to his qualities and as long as the princess is looking for her prince, she fails to spot that she may already have found her true love.

Beauty isn’t always the same as pretty, the script tells us. Perhaps you should get along to see for yourself.

With a rip-roaring finale, it’s no wonder this show is booked in for three weeks at the Theatre Royal on the back of its huge West End success.