Footloose The Musical has danced its way into Ipswich with a stunning cast who expertly bring the 1980s film to life. 

For two hours, audiences find themselves transported to the small town of Bomont in 1984, where dance is outlawed after four teenagers are killed driving back from a dance hall. 

Ren McCormack (Luke Wilson) has just moved to the town from Chicago with his mother Ethel (Nina Kristofferson), with Ren quickly judged as a troublemaker by the townsfolk because he does not follow their rules. 

There he meets Ariel Moore (Kirsty Findlay), who rebels against the strict rules imposed by her father Reverend Shaw Moore (Robin Simpson). 

Luke Wilson and Kirsty Findlay as Ren McCormack and Ariel MooreLuke Wilson and Kirsty Findlay as Ren McCormack and Ariel Moore (Image: Fraser Band) READ MORE: Ipswich singer lined up for show hosted by Sir Lenny Henry

The teenagers of Bomont band together to try and bring back dance and rock and roll music to the town as a way of letting go from the pressures life put on them. 

Wilson has all the charm and wit needed to play the iconic Kevin Bacon character, but he also is not afraid to show the sensitive side of a boy who carries the weight of his father leaving and the blame he feels for saying the wrong thing.

The production at the New Wolsey, which was directed by its head Douglas Rintoul, has a very strong ensemble cast who take on the iconic roles as well as play all the music live - swapping in and out from behind their instruments in each scene. 

Having the musicians in the background subtly reacting to what is happening in front of them added a fresh dynamic to the show.

It helped to elevate the "in a small town everyone knows everything about everyone" message the girls warn Ren about in the song Somebody's Eyes. 

The musical is based on the 1980s film starring Kevin BaconThe musical is based on the 1980s film starring Kevin Bacon (Image: Fraser Band) The set may have also been simple but it was used well.

The cast used the different levels to show the different locations such as Ariel sneaking out her bedroom window and a beam coming down to create the railway bridge in the second act.

Some of the standout performers in an all round amazing cast were Wendy Paver as Vi Moore, Ariel's mother, and Luke Thornton as Willard, a slow-witted cowboy who quickly becomes Ren's friend.

Paver gave an emotional and tear-jerking performance as a mother who just wanted her family to go back to loving each other after facing tragedy while Thornton's acting lifted the comedic moments of the show and gave the audience a sense of triumph when he finally learnt how to dance.

READ MORE: Award-winning comedian to bring international tour to SuffolkThe ensemble cast also played the musicThe ensemble cast also played the music (Image: Fraser Band)

The show culminates with the return of dance and a showstopping number to the title song Footloose which had the entire audience on its feet during the encore and bows. 

Footloose The Musical is at the New Wolsey Theatre until Saturday, October 26. 

Tickets can be bought at www.wolseytheatre.co.uk and start from £13.