It’s the 30th anniversary tour and Willy Russell’s play is in great hands – actress Jodie Prenger and renowned director Glen Walford.

Serve them up with Willy’s words and the audience go home satisfied.

Jodie Prenger has been described as a ‘formidable actress’ by Mr Russell. That’s quite a compliment. And it’s true.

She is.

This is an astute piece of casting.

If anyone can pull off such a demanding one-woman performance it’s versatile Ms Prenger with her beautifully-paced, fab tour-de- force.

Like all those actresses who have played the middle-aged Shirley Bradshaw (nee Valentine) she puts her own stamp on this time-less work.

She plays the 42-year-old, wine-sipping, disillusioned housewife with a soft Liverpool-meets-Chester accent.

And she voices so many other characters to perfection.

The first half is set in her kitchen where she serves up hubby Joe’s dinner live on stage as she talks to the wall.

This conversation with a brick wall says a lot of her loneliness and has always been a poignant part of the play.

She peppers her reflections with tales of her predictable husband, her son and daughter and her next-door- neighbour.

The tale of the Christmas Nativity is a classic and Jodie also oozes the most out of Willy’s greatest quips.

There are plenty of laugh-out- loud moments alongside the observation on love, life and self-discovery.

Director Glen lets Jodie use the entire kitchen at her disposal.

Her body language is perfectly pitched The second half sees Shirley take up the offer of a free holiday to Greece where she meets a bar owner with some dubious chat uplines.

The set design from Amy Yardley is marvellous - you can almost hear the waves (isn’t that right, rock...) The wall is replaced by a beach boulder for Shirley’s sound-offs.

There’s no special effects but first class lighting from James Whiteside.

If you think you have seen Shirley Valentine on stage before then it’s time treat yourself to this bright and breezy anniversary production.

It is a vibrant, vivacious Valentine with a very big heart.

Joyful! (isn’t that right, wall?)

Five stars, until Saturday, September 22 at the Floral Pavilion.

Tickets are available from the box office on 0151 666 6000.