'THE NO.1 MUSICAL OF ALL TIME' DANCES INTO MK THEATRE THIS WEEK

Like millions of others, we own the West Side Story soundtrack. But we don't just have one copy – we have two! The beautifully emotive score is so perfect that we have a spare...just in case anything unfortunate happens to our first copy. The story of the star-crossed lovers Tony and Maria – famously based on Romeo and Juliet - is one that theatre and film-goers have taken to their hearts since the musical first aired on Broadway in 1957, and from tomorrow (June 3) it is back on the stage of Milton Keynes Theatre. Set on Manhattan's Upper West Side, the piece focuses on rival teenage gangs – the Jets and the Sharks, one white, the other Puerto Rican. When Tony falls in love with Maria, the sister of the rival gang's leader, the feud escalates, with a tragic outcome. Jerome Robins conceived, directed and choreographed the original Broadway production, and this version – which will be with us for a two-week stay – will feature his entire choreography. It's a treat from start to tragic finish – made moreso by its leading lady Katie Hall, who many theatre-goers will remember very well from her starring role in The Phantom of the Opera, which visited here in late 2012. 'Still as gloriously fresh, relevant and thrilling as ever,' decided Time Out magazine last year, a view shared by plenty of others; it was also voted the No1 greatest musical of all time by The Times in 2013. You really shouldn't need any more reasons to take a ticket to a performance, but if you do, we'll take you back to that score again - and beautiful songs by Bernstein and Sondheim including I Feel Pretty, America and Somewhere. Superb, every one of them. Tickets start at £15 and rise to £45. Performance times are 7.30pm nightly Monday to Saturday, with matinees on Wednesday and Saturday (and Thursday, June 5) at 2.30pm. A touch tour is set for Tuesday, June 10 at 6pm, with an audio described performance to follow, from 7.30pm. Call to book on 0844 871 7652, or visit www.atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes