Hairspray is on at The Shaftesbury Theatre London and if you love musicals that make you forget about the world outside and any problems you have- then book a ticket. It isn't cheap- I paid £65 for my stalls seat- but I am sure that must be more cost effective than a session with a therapist and must certainly do you as much good- if not more.

It is very vibrant and colourful and great fun- some parts made me laugh out load - it also got feet tapping and bodies moving to the beat. Now I don't know you so I cannot say if it is your kind of music- which is a big part of the enjoyment of a musical-but Hairspray has it's own website- where you can watch and listen to some of the songs, as well as see backstage documentaries. That way you can check it out before you book.

It is set in sixties America, where you will remember or know from your history lessons- there was, to say the least problems with racial issues. This is part of the story but don't be misled in thinking the tale is in any way "heavy". The main character is an overweight girl who loves to dance and the story is set around her- how she manages to stay overweight is beyond me as the energy on stage is phenomenal.

For me however the star of the show was Michael Ball playing a substantially overweight American Mama- an amazing and deservedly award winning performance. Michael Ball will I believe be leaving the show in July 2009 and is being replaced by Brian Conley. I have seen Brian Conley in musicals before and whist I feel it will be a different performance- I also doubt it will be any less entertaining.

Everyone in the theatre was dancing during the finale and as we left the theatre all you could see were smiles.

I do have one complaint though- it ended-I wanted it to start all over from the beginning again.