THE first night for any company can be a daunting affair but there wasn’t a hint of any nerves as this flash, bang, wallop of a show got into its stride.

This feast of music and dance features more than a hundred performers and at times it felt as if the golden days of Hollywood had descended en masse across Sabrina Bridge and take up residence at Worcester’s Swan Theatre.

Take that umbrella routine for instance. If that’s not Busby Berkeley then I’m a pickled walnut. In fact, as that other bitchy old judge we all love to hate on Strictly might have said, it’s a case of one word, three syllables… fab-u-lous dahling!

Producer Val Knight has quite obviously pulled out all the stops with this show. By the looks of it, she’s drilled these performers with all the zeal of a parade ground sergeant in order to get what she wants.

And boy, has it paid off. The footwork is faultless, there are no collisions during some very ornate routines, and yes at last – everyone’s smiling, even the blokes, who in previous years have sometimes appeared as if they’ve just sat in something.

But no, everyone knew what they had to do, whether it was a paso doble, waltz or jive in Strictly Movies, or letting it all hang out for the Motown section.

Some of these dancers are mesmerising, such is the slickness of the moves. And the voices, too – Dave Alban has a great soul voice, but then, he probably knew that. Right Dave?

Meanwhile, the Harlequin Stage School girls and boys shone with a dazzling brilliance. Now that’s a company jam-packed with the stars of the future if ever there was one.

And also showing great promise were the children of Claines and Wilden schools, who also seemed to sense that something wonderful was afoot on this cold November night.

Elsewhere, providing the links was compere Paul Bellamy, whose jokes are getting better every year. Yes, it’s the way you tell them Paul, but that’s no excuse.

Walking on Sunshine runs until Saturday, November 5 – and nothing could be more appropriate for bonfire night than this jumping jack of a show.

John Phillpott