World, European and Strictly ballroom champion Joanne Clifton lights up the stage as apprentice welder Alex Owens who in addition to her fine dancing ability has become an accomplished actor/singer in musical theatre, tonight was no exception.

In the programme it says ' Alex was young yet tough, sexy yet independent, sharp-tongued yet empathetic. She looked cute but she was nobody's fool. She did a man's job and she held her own. Women wanted to be her; men wanted to marry her - in 1983 the world could not get enough of Flashdance. Thirty five years later neither could the full house at the Bristol Hippodrome.

Her dream is to gain a place at the revered Shipley Dance Academy, to get out of the steelworks and to leave her job as a dancer by night.

The action takes place in Pittsburgh, USA at the steelworks where boss William Hurley has employed his nephew Nick (Ben Adams - A1 lead singer and also a successful songwriter and producer) who promises to do what he can for the workers as the business struggles.

The chemistry between the two lead characters is palpable which is fortunate as the show lacks the wow factor despite songs that included Maniac, Gloria, Here and Now and What a Feeling and the energetic cast giving their all.

A special mention for Emily Kenwright as Gloria who did a super job as understudy just before curtain call.

Runs until Saturday, 30th June.