Twenty-five years on and electrifying rock spectacular Return To The Forbidden Planet is still wowing audiences.

Inspired by Shakespeare’s The Tempest, this Olivier Award-winning meteoric musical is a real blast as Captain Tempest and his crew take us on a journey into hyperspace.

The talented high-energy cast of actor-singers-musicians do full justice to a string of rock n’ roll greats including Great Balls Of Fire, Shake, Rattle And Roll, Only The Lonely and Born To Be Wild.

Sean Needham excels as Captain Tempest, singing with gusto and showing superb comic timing playing off Jonathan Markwood’s excellent mad scientist Dr Prospero. But Mark Newnham almost steals the show as hopeless romantic Cookie with a fantastic guitar solo.

Joseph Mann, stepping into the role of trusty robot Ariel due to an injury to Fredrick Ruth, and Christine Holman (Prospero’s wife) also impress.

There’s plenty of Shakespearean quips and interaction with the audience from the moment cast members welcome us dressed in silver uniforms and brandishing hairdryers as guns.

The original design team again weave their magic.

Creator and director Bob Carlton and designer Rodney Ford combine brilliantly with choreographer Fredrick Ruth, musical director Greg Last and musical supervisor Julian Littman.

It’s literally dazzling!