Back in the 1970s, Arlene Phillips brought the world Hot Gossip. Now the former Strictly Come Dancing judge has choreographed Jackie the Musical, reviving the era for a new generation.

Did you used to read Jackie?

I’m older than the Jackie generation, so I didn’t read it when I was young, but when I formed Hot Gossip some of the dancers read it and I picked up their copies.

Jackie magazine was a teenager’s bible in a time before mobile phones, Facebook and the internet – it sounds idyllic.

I think there was a lot of angst from teenagers in the Jackie era as there was no one they could talk to about their problems. So Jackie came along and they discovered for the first time an advice column, so it appeared life was easy. I don’t know whether in the 1960s, 1980s or now, life is ever easy for teenagers.

You were a photo story model, weren’t you?

Not for Jackie but for other magazines and I was always the girl that didn’t get the boy!

You’re busting out some of your best 1970s dance moves for this show – is it fun to revisit the Hot Gossip era?

I love the return to 1970s dance moves. It’s some time since I choreographed and directed Saturday Night Fever, in which I used lots of disco dance moves and I’ve adored reworking them for Jackie. Dancing in high heels is difficult but in platforms nearly impossible when the dancers are asked to do difficult moves.

What are some of the challenges of choreographing a show like Jackie?

Jackie has very strong story. It’s a drama, a comedy and a musical. So lots of the dances have to also have a narrative, so the difficulty is working out how each of the musical numbers build.

What can audiences expect from Jackie the Musical?

I always believe there are no guarantees in life, but the one thing I can guarantee from Jackie the Musical is the audience will have such a good time and will come out singing and dancing as well as, for many women, identifying with the story.

Do I have to have been a Jackie reader to enjoy the show?

You don’t have to have been a Jackie reader to fall in love with my show. At performances so far, there have been many families. Mums, dads and teenage offspring all having an amazing time.

THE SHOW

The kids may not realise this, but there was once a time with no mobile phones, no apps, no texting, no emails and no Facebook.

Back then, angst-ridden teenage girls waited by the letterbox for their weekly issue of Jackie Magazine... unless their big sister got there first!

Jackie accompanied millions of girls through their teenage years in the 1970s and 1980s, years of boy trouble, ironing hair and problem- solving from agony aunts Cathy and Claire.

Jackie the Musical revisits those heady days and tells the story of a 50-something divorcee who revisits her stash of well-thumbed Jackie magazines for the same reason she first read them – advice on the opposite sex.

The quizzes, fashion tips, dos and don’ts of a first date and the problem pages are devoured eagerly by plucky heroine Jackie. With her ex and a handsome new guy both on the scene, the valuable lessons she learnt as a girl begin to influence her future as Jackie discovers the one person in control of her life is herself.

With a soundtrack featuring the era’s most memorable hits, the show is a whirlwind tour of Planet Seventies.

It features local girl Tricia Adele Turner who plays Gemma, the new lady in the life of Jackie’s ex, John. Originally from Birmingham, she now lives in Stone and has read her mum’s old Jackie annuals.

Janet Dibley, who plays Jackie, co-starred with Nicholas Lyndhurst in ITV’s The Two of Us and has also been in EastEnders, Broadchurch and the BBC soap Doctors. Nicholas Bailey, best known for playing Anthony Trueman in EastEnders, has been in the critically acclaimed production The Invisible at the Bush Theatre in London as well as Siblings and Doctors and Law & Order: UK on TV.

The musical was written by Mike James, with choreography by Arlene Phillips and is directed by Anna Linstrum.

THE DETAILS

Jackie the Musical will be at the Orchard Theatre from Tuesday, June 14, to Saturday, June 18. To book tickets visit orchardtheatre.co.uk on 01322 220000.