I love musicals; the bustle of the theatre-goers as you find your seat and the eager anticipation as you wait for that curtain to go up.

At the last three shows I have seen, that excitement has been met with huge disappointment, so when I headed to watch the UK and Ireland tour of the acclaimed new West End musical The Drifters Girl at the Churchill Theatre in Bromley this year my expectations were low.

I love the songs but had a niggling vision of myself being disappointed once again after my previous let-downs. However, I needn’t have worried.

From the minute the curtain came up and the four dapper men in their blue suits danced onto the stage and belted out a medley of the group’s classics I knew I was in for a treat.

I heard all my favourites in the first five minutes and hoped it hadn’t peaked too soon.

I was not let down. All the classics, from Sitting in the Back Row of the Movies to Save The Last Dance For Me featured numerous times throughout, including a fantastic mini-concert encore with the whole audience on their feet and swaying to the beat.

But while the opening may have led me to believe I was in for a fun-filled feel-good two hours, I was mistaken.

Not knowing the story of the famous fifties RnB group, I had no idea the show would take so many dark turns including everything from divorce, death and drugs to suicide, racism and alcoholism.

It was all there and it was all played out by an ensemble cast of just six.

Carly Mercedes Dyer, former star of Six the Musical and Anything Goes, played the group’s legendary manager Faye Treadwell.

Carly lit up the stage with each of her solo performances with an astounding voice and breath-taking stage presence.

Playing the role of the world’s first African American female music manager, she encompassed the grit and determination of the woman, who alongside husband George Treadwell turned Atlantic Records’ hottest vocal group into a global phenomenon.

From the highs of hit records and sell-out tours to the lows of legal battles and personal tragedy, The Drifters Girl charts the trailblazing efforts of how she refused to ever give up on the group she loved and fought for three decades to see them succeed.

Co-created by singer Beverley Knight, the show marks the debut touring role for 18-year-old Jaydah Bell-Ricketts as Faye’s daughter, known only as Girl.

But while Carly and Jaydah play just one role the four male leads play a host of different characters.

Working their socks off, they used the old trick of swapping a hat, glasses or scarf to distinguish between each role - which did make for some confusion in some parts.

A big shout out must definitely go to X Factor star Ashford Campbell who showed his amazing vocal skills as the legendary Ben E. King and Daniel Haswell as lead singer Johnny Moore.

Miles Anthony Dale also gave a touching performance as George Treadwell.

The story of the every-changing group’s 30-year career was sped through at a pace but did not detract from the essence of a love story between Faye and George and the couple’s passion to see the group succeed.

Director Jonathan Church went back to basics with his use of a minimal cast and props to distinguish the different parts, while the scenery was virtually non-existent.

Instead, he let the music and vocals sell the show. And boy did they.

With high-tempo dance routines, the audience soaked up all the group’s greatest hits including Save The Last Dance For Me, Under The Boardwalk, Kissin In The Back Row Of The Movies, Stand By Me, Come On Over To My Place, Saturday Night At The Movies and many more, I urge you to book yourself a seat.

The show runs until April 27 in Bromley before moving to Edinburgh.