Have you ever been to Butlins and had the time of your life but aren’t quite sure why?
That’s very much the vibe of 80s Live! It’s like the red coats held a competition to find the best performers and the prize is a night in the West End and a tour of the UK. And frankly, I’m here for it.
80s Live is, in essence, a covers band belting out the songs you know and love as you sing and dance along from the audience. Given recent controversies about audience behaviour, this is interestingly very much advertised as a party. There is no question about whether you will get up and dance, sing along and party hard. In fact, it would feel very odd to be the only person left seated.
If you’re of a certain age, there isn’t a song here you won’t know. This is not a show that explores the more obscure corners of the 80s. And by obscure I mean as leftfield as The Smiths. If you were an indie kid in the 80s, you won’t find your favourites here. But if you ever wanted to dance on Top of the Pops or go to a Radio One Roadshow, this is the night out for you.
The performers do their thing, but they are also very aware that they aren’t Cindi Lauper or Jon Bon Jovi. They’re there to enable the audience to have fun and they do so with gusto.
This is not a show that will change your life. But it’s a bloody good night out. Sometimes that’s more than enough, sometimes Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.