Staging this full-blooded production of Green Day’s award-laden musical American Idiot was a brave move. But the combined talents of Bournemouth University and Arts University’s Performing Arts Society - PARTS to their friends - have produced a stunning show involving a cast and crew of 80 students and graduates.

With a guitar driven punk soundtrack it tells the story of three boyhood friends - Johnny, Tunny and Will - adrift in small town America trying to make sense of life in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

It seems that when the twin towers came crashing down all their hopes and dreams did too.

Johnny (Nicholas Tuck) heads for the big city, Tunny (Dave Wheeler) joins the military and Will (Declan Galpin) stays at home. It doesn’t play well for any of them.

With great numbers like Boulevard of Broken Dreams, 21 Guns, Wake Me Up when September Ends and of course the title track American Idiot, the show zips along with full supporting cast, singers, dancers and an excellent five piece band.

Stand out roles, apart from the three talented principals, include Josh Jones as the dope dealing St Jimmy; Elise Jones as Johnny’s girlfriend Whatsername; Becky Bennett as Extraordinary Girl; Andrew Davies as Theo; Bona Olsen as Heather and Rhiannon Gregory as Alysha.

But there are many others who have made this musical such a success from the extraordinary performing ensemble to the people who do the costumes, hair and make-up, the sound and lighting designers and of course director Frankie Leonard and assistant director Izzy Penhallow.

*Green Day’s American Idiot runs at the Shelley Theatre until Saturday, March 18.