THE hair was huge and the rock anthems even bigger.

Rock of Ages took us back to a time of stonewashed denim, ripped tights, leg warmers and oodles of leather.

The glam rock jukebox musical is over two and a half hours of back to back 80s rock classics.

The live band were utterly superb, belting out numbers like We Built This City by Starship, Europe's The Final Countdown and Here I Go Again by Whitesnake.

Set in the 80s in live music venue The Bourbon Club on LA's Sunset Strip, everyone is waiting for their big break.

Drew (Luke Walsh) is cleaning the toilets while hoping to become a rock star and win the heart of wannabe actress Sherrie (Jodie Steele) who has also caught the eye of self-centred singer Stacee Jaxx (Kevin Clifton).

Meanwhile the developers are circling, determined to demolish the joint and turn it into a shopping centre.

Of course, love finds a way and the club lives on, managed by Dennis (Kevin Kennedy).

"Who would have put Curly Watts in the same casting bracket as Alec Baldwin?" narrator Lonny (Lucas Rush) asks the audience, establishing the tongue-in-cheek tone of the night with a nod to the film version and one Corrie favourite in the show's cast.

It's not the only 80s movie to get a mention. The subtle nod to E.T was a personal favourite moment.

The narrator single-handedly holds the show together, but this is very much an ensemble piece. It's a shame we couldn't see more of some of the peripheral characters. Pop Idol winner Zoe Birkett's voice deserves much more than the few lines it received as the rather glamorous strip club madam Justice.

The storyline is flimsy in the extreme, but it's a naughty piece of nostalgia that refuses to take itself seriously and ends up being a lot of fun.

The audience loved every moment of this show which is absolutely brimming with musical guilty pleasures and laughs and gave it a rapturous standing ovation at the end.

Rock of Ages runs until Saturday.

Tickets: 023 8071 1811 or mayflower.org.uk