Even for a musical that is dedicated to reliving the most stand-out popular culture moments of the 1980s, it is astonishing how many references they managed to get into the musical.

’Back to the 80s’, a musical set in a typical American high school to the backdrop of pop-rock anthems of the decade, was a brash, bright, colourful and hugely enjoyable two hours of music, dance and nostalgia.

Produced by the new theatre group Centre Stage productions, the excellent cast largely featured young singers and dancers who would have been born far to late to have enjoyed leg warmers, ra ra skirts, day-glo clothes and stone-washed denim the first time around, but who threw themselves into singing the songs and the anthems with tremendous skill and energy.

The classic boy-gets-the-girl tale was told through the eyes of Corey Palmer, played by Tom Pamplin , who relived his last year at high school, and his attempts to win the hand of the popular girl at school, Tiffany Houston.

Josh Molyneux and Alexandra Slater starred as the couple, who clashed against the popular kid in school, Michael Feldman, played by Isaac Murtagh, and his hangers on, Rhys Griffiths, Lewis Poultney and Daniel Smith.

’Wake Me Up Before You Go Go’ and ’Kids In America’ were the first songs up, followed by the introduction of Tiffany and her friend Cyndi, played with a wonderful cat-like attitude by Shay Marsden. Naturally, they come on singing ’Girls Just Wanna have Fun’.

The sub-plot of teacher Mr Cocker finding out about his girlfriend’s glamorous past was a great excuse to sing ’My Girlfriend is a Centrefold’.

Joseph Long stole every scene he was in as Fergal McFerrin III, the school geek who came out on top.

Robyn-Mae Lawler and Jasmine Colligan were introduced as the twins Mel and Kim, and danced and sang to a backdrop of songs expertly played by the on-stage group, featuring Dave Holland and the three Johnnies, Peacock, Galbraith and Barlow.

The boy eventually gets his girl, and Josh and Alexandra led the cast in a celebratory version of (I’ve Had) The Time of my Life) to finish the night.

The end result was a joyous and irresistible romp through every 80s cliche you could name, performed by a terrific young and spirited cast, and one which it was impossible not to enjoy.