The show, which is based on 70s pop legend Essex's music, including the hits 'Gonna Make you a Star', 'A Winter's Tale' and 'Silver Dream Machine', will delight audiences during its run in Belfast.

The story is set in England in 1978. Levi's fun fair has become a relic and his son Jack is seeking a change. However, Levi is still stuck in the past, mourning the death of his wife.

When Jack falls in love with a local girl, the young couple's love leads to a tragic series of events in this moving production, which takes the audience from laughter to tears.

Featuring some superb performances from the cast and a fantastic stage setting and lighting, bringing the feel of the fair to life, the show delivers just the right amount of laughter and serious drama.

Much of the audience was boosted by the presence of David Essex fans, and they weren't disappointed with his star performance as Levi. The night, however, belonged to Chris Crosby, stepping into the role of Jack for this performance, and delivering a superb turn as the troubled son unable to communicate with his father, seeking change in his life and all the while driven by his love for Alice (Tanya Robb).

Equally compelling was Stefan Butler as Jonny, a young man who delights in life with the fair, simply seeking somewhere to fit in.

The trouble begins when the fun fair's resident clairvoyant Rosa (Louise English) warns Alice that the boy she longs for will break her heart. However, Rosa's daughter Mary (Emma Thornett) is also in love with Jack and you can't help but feel that it is not just her 'second sight' that is leading her judgement.

Despite the difficulties standing in their way, Jack and Alice embark on their relationship. However, her over-protective father Harvey (David Burrows) and his thuggish sidekick Druid (Barry Bloxham) will stop at nothing to separate the pair.

Essex's music fits wonderfully into the story, from the tragic 'A Winter's Tale' to the fantastic 'Hold Me Close' and a beautiful performance of 'If I Could' by Jack and Alice.

The 'Wall of Death' motorcycle sequence works really well, especially as Essex and co perform 'Silver Dream Machine'.

Essex delivers a fine performance and he raised much laughter around the audience, when in a nod to his youthful self he reminisced how he "used to have long black curly hair."

Colin Richmond's fabulous stage setting brings the fair to life, especially with the dodgems and hobby horses, and the audience is swept away as the drama unfolds.

The local fans were on their feet as the cast took their bow, and deservedly so, as the cast delivered a fantastic vocal and dramatic performance - all that was missing was the candyfloss for the audience.

All the Fun of the Fair will continue its run until Saturday (March 7) at the Grand Opera House. To find out more information or to book tickets you can lot onto www.goh.co.uk.

stacey.heaney@ulsterstar.co.uk