IMAGINE Los Angeles in the mid-1980s when American glam rockers with giant poodle perms ruled the rock roost.

Sprinkle on some glitter, sequins, copious amounts of stonewashed denim, stockings, bandanas, scarves, paisley, boots, more denim and kaftans.

Add in 25 rock anthems, hi-energy performances from an almost wholly young cast and a solid live band and you have the smash hit musical comedy Rock Of Ages, soundtrack of the ‘80s.

Amidst all this mayhem stands Kevin Kennedy, best known for playing Norman ‘Curly’ Watts in more than 1,500 episodes of Coronation Street over 20 years.

Kennedy plays Dennis Dupree, manager of iconic, yet ailing rock club The Bourbon Room where the action takes place, and no stranger to sex, drugs and rock’n’roll.

That the mayor is attempting to close down the club and bulldoze Sunset Strip for redevelopment provides the flimsiest of storylines for this jukebox musical. There’s also the traditional boy meets/loses/regains girl love element.

The infamous Dupree, who’s been round the block more times than he can remember, enlists rock legend Stacee Jaxx (Cameron Sharp, looking not unlike a chubby Axel Rose) to perform a farewell gig at the venue.

Cue more mayhem, comedy and fun. This show is nothing if not lively. The soft rock hits keep on coming, in no particular order – The Final Countdown, We Built This City, I Want To Know What Love Is, Don’t Stop Believin’, Here I Go Again and Wanted Dead Or Alive.

Slade’s 1973 classic Cum On Feel The Noize slips into proceedings (presumably because it’s a great party song and was covered by Quiet Riot in 1983) along with perhaps lesser known ‘80s rock such as Night Ranger’s Sister Christian, Steve Perry’s Oh Sherrie and Mr Big’s To Be With You.

Joe Gash plays Lonny the extravagant Russell Brand lookalike who narrates proceedings and utterly steals the show. He heads an excellent cast led by the main protagonists Sam Turrell as Drew and Gabriella Williams as Sherrie Christian.

Vicki Manser as Regina, Natalie Winsor as Justice Charlier, and Erin Bell as Constance are solid support while Billy Roberts and David Breeds play despicable German father and son developers Hertz and Franz Klinenmann purely for laughs.

It’s silly, slick, infectious and really great fun. It’s also cleverly written, pretty risque, glossy, completely of its era and at times utterly hilarious. The sound may have been a little harsh at times but that’s a small quibble.

Rock Of Ages runs until Saturday, with two performances on both Friday and Saturday. Don’t forget your eyeliner.