An Officer and a Gentleman The Musical at Newcastle Theatre Royal

I have never seen the film "An Officer and a Gentleman" - my knowledge of it is pretty much limited to "Richard Gere in a white uniform" so when I was invited to the press night of An Officer and a Gentleman at the Newcastle Theatre Royal I took my seat knowing literally nothing about the storyline or characters.

For anyone who, like me, somehow managed to completely miss out on seeing the 1982 Oscar winning film, An Officer and a Gentleman tells the story of trainee US Navy Pilot Zack Mayo who enters Naval Aviation Training with a lot of baggage and leaves a new man having learnt several very important life lessons.

A story filled with love, tragedy and a good dose of catchy tunes from the 80s including Girls Just Want to Have Fun and Material Girl, the brand-new musical brings the story from screen to stage in an explosion of perfect choreography and music.

Taking my very own Gentleman along for date night (yes I'm talking about my husband, not Richard Gere!) knowing nothing about the story I settled myself down with no expectations and before I knew it I was completely immersed in the story and fully invested in the characters.

The cast boasts some of the finest talent from the West End including, my star of the night, four time Olivier Award nominated Emma Williams as Paula Pokrifki. Her solos gave me goosebumps and her presence on stage was spellbinding, I just couldn't take my eyes off her.

It was the ladies who really shone for me on stage and their powerful voices gave the story some punch. You may be wondering how the story works as a musical but the talented cast really deliver and the reworking of the classic 80s songs really work in a story that's actually pretty dark!

Of course I have to give a mention to our hero of the night Jonny Fines who got the theatre into a bit of a tizz with his amazing arms and beautiful voice, and when we finally got to "that" important end scene he appeared on stage to a huge cheer.  It seems like the whole theatre had been waiting for the moment.

When the opening few bars of "Up Where We Belong" belted out over the theatre we all knew exactly what was going to happen as the film's most iconic scene played out in front of us. Sure it's pretty cheesy but at the same time who wouldn't want the love of their life to stride in to their place of work and carry them out the door? It's impossible not to get swept away in the romance of it all.

An Officer and a Gentleman is the perfect night out for old school romantics or those who just love a good 80s classic. Feel good theatre that leaves you feeling warm and fuzzy and with an uncontrollable need to pull your old dungarees from the 80s out of the back of the wardrobe.

An Officer and a Gentleman The Musical is at the Theatre Royal Newcastle until Saturday 23 June and tickets start at £23.00 and you book your tickets here or by calling the Box Office on 08448 11 21 21.

I was invited to the Press Night of An Officer and a Gentleman and was given two complimentary tickets in exchange for this honest review.