Having never seen Heathers, I was intrigued as to how a show about such dark subject matter could draw such an enthusiastic audience.

When we arrived at Dartford’s Orchard Theatre, the foyer was bustling with teenage girls dressed in colourful blazers, skirts and knee-high socks and it soon became clear that this show has gained a hardcore following since opening in London in 2017.

The theatre was as packed as I’d ever seen it and, as the curtain lifted, the audience erupted into screams before a single line was uttered.

Knowing the show featured themes of suicide, murder, eating disorders and toxic relationships, I was baffled by the seemingly emphatic reaction of the fans and felt as though I was missing something.

However, once the three Heathers struck a pose in their iconic red, yellow and green outfits and enticed us all with their irresistible Candy Store number, it all started to make sense.

You have to be in on the joke. Yes, the topics are dark - it is a black comedy, after all - but once you catch onto the tongue-in-cheek humour, sarcastic ‘80s quips and undertone of irony, the whole thing becomes an unstoppable wave of fun.

After a few beats, we found ourselves in the club along with everyone else and were almost crying with laughter at numbers My Dead Gay Son and You’re Welcome and cheering along when Veronica Sawyer, played by Jenna Innes, found her voice in I Say No.

The musical numbers are fantastic, but there was one real stand-out of the show right from the off, and it’s Verity Thompson.

Verity played Heather Chandler, the queen bee of Westerburg High and the first teen to meet their untimely death, and was a total scene stealer every time she strutted onto the stage in her striking red clothes.

She had star power from head to toe, and being dead definitely didn’t stop her from making her presence known.

There were some sombre moments, and it was particularly unnerving to watch Veronica’s boyfriend J.D., played by Jacob Fowler, slowly and subtly turn from a mysterious and rebellious leading man to an unhinged villain and scorned ex-lover.

But, on the whole, the show felt like a joyous 1980s school prom that we were all invited to.

I already can’t wait to go back and be one of the Heathers, complete with my own croquet stick and colour coordinated outfit.

Heathers is at the Orchard Theatre in Dartford until Saturday, May 27. You can book tickets online here.

You can also book tickets by calling 03433 100033.