&Juliet is a bubblegum musical which mixes modern pop songs with bawdy 16th century puns penned by the bard himself.

It is Shakespeare, but not as we know it.

In this show a feisty feminist Mrs Shakespeare gets in on the act big-time with girl power re-writes adding to the many gender-blending, side-splitting, laugh-out-loud moments.

Think West Side Story meets Grease minus any nasty moments (that’s if you don’t count a coffin or two).

The storyline explores age gap and same sex relationships in a steam punk setting with strobe lighting and slick stage changes.

And the moral of the story is getting married aged 13 after a four-day relationship is not okay but going clubbing in Paris is okay!

Loved it from the scaffolding balcony scene to the Steps signature dance routines mimicked by the arm-waving audience and led by former band member Lee Latchford-Evans.

The superfit dancer/singer plays adulterous French speaking Lance Du Bois the love interest/bed fellow of naughty but reformed nurse Angelique (Sandra Marvin).

And a resurrected and promiscuous Romeo (Jack Danson) performs a teen angel dream scene straight out of the Grease musical number Beauty School Dropout.

The love story between May (Jordan Broatch) and Francois (Kyle Cox) is memorable for its ‘sin’cerity and pathos.

They were all marvellous but for me the standout performance was Lara Denning as Anne Hathaway who is BFF to Juliet (Gerardine Sacdalan).

It is a high octane show within a show.

Like many I have read the play/book, watched stage performances, seen the film(s) and answered exam question on Romeo & Juliet ad infinitum with my favourites including the manic 1996 film by Baz Luhrmann and a version in the round performed at the Bristol Old Vic many years ago.

My theatre companion on press night on Wednesday, January 15, at the Bristol Hippodrome was equally impressed.

Rob Deacon said: “Excellent evening of entertainment.

“Top-notch acting and singing from a very talented cast blasting out hits from the nineties and noughties including Baby One More Time, Oops I Did It Again and I Kissed A Girl.

“Special mention to Juliet for a commanding lead role and pitch perfect singing.”

Created by the Emmy-winning writer from Schitt’s Creek, this hilarious musical flips the script on the greatest love story ever told and asks, what would happen next if Juliet didn’t end it all over Romeo?

Juliet’s new story bursts to life through a playlist of pop anthems as iconic as her name, including Britney Spears’ Baby One More Time, Katy Perry’s Roar and chart toppers Since U Been Gone, It’s My Life, I Want It That Way, and Can’t Stop the Feeling! all from Max Martin, the genius songwriter/producer behind more hits than any other artist this century.

&Juliet plays the city centre theatre until Saturday, January 25.

Online tickets from  £13 with £3.95 transaction fee from https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/and-juliet/bristol-hippodrome/.

The show has 8+ age guide.

We will add that one middle-aged man we meet in the bar during the interval wasn’t impressed – he didn’t know the music and was surrounded by exciting girlies – if he was expecting a classic tale my husband suggested he should have done his homework first!

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Carol Ann Deacon