The production was a triumph for director George Stagnell and choreographer Matthew Hill – with one of the highlights a jaw-dropping battle scene with flashes, explosions and pyrotechnics by lighting and sound team Adam Moore and Ian Thomson.

Pick Me Up’s production of Dogfight followed straight on from Buddy The Buddy Holly Story, with most of the cast and band performing in both shows. Members of the audience attracted by the more familiar Buddy had come back to see Dogfight and left raving about the show and the sheer talent and versatility of the cast.

Dogfight premiered off-Broadway in 2012, winning the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Musical, and earned five-star reviews when it was staged at the Southwark Playhouse in London last year. The Guardian called it “cleverly written and hugely enjoyable”, The Independent “one of the most enjoyable, moving and stimulating new musicals in ages”, and Libby Purves on TheatreCat said it was “warm, wonderful, wise … the year’s best new musical”.