NOSTALGIA is the bitter-sweet theme in Dave Kirby's Lost Soul 2. It also provides a very funny backdrop to how much we often look forward to the past.

All Liverpool life is here -  the ups and downs of the Scouse merry-go-round as envisaged by Dave Kirby.

He is one of the Royal Court's much-loved, home-grown playwrights - someone who knows a Merseyside audience inside and out because he has spent a lot of time going to shows in the past.

His ear for dialogue illustrates the fact that he knows what makes for a good night out and every story he has created has a beginning, middle and an end.

Brick up the Mersey Tunnels,, Council Depot Blues, Reds and Blues, Lost Soul and now its returning sequel all offer plenty of laugh-out-loud moments.

So the question is can you see Lost Soul 2 without having seen the first instalment?

The answer is a resounding yes - it happily stands alone in its own right.

And Dave has updated it for 2024.

The cast shine through in bringing his likeable characters to life - warts and all complete with swearing and unabashed sentimentality.

There's put-downs galore aided by lots of local name checks.

Lost Soul 2 is aptly subtitled 'Smigger's Wrecked Head.'

Smigger - played by the ever-excellent Andrew Schofield - is suffering with a mid-life crisis.

He is now a granddad and he has reluctantly become a babysitter which means his weekend visits to the Soul Train over 40s disco are threatened.

His wife Donna (Lindzi Germain) welcomes daughter Amy  (Jennifer Hynes) with open arms but not everyone likes her dubious feller, Charlie, played by Michael Hawkins who calls everyone 'lad'.

It becomes a long-running joke over the emotional journey Smigger finds himself on.

The action all takes place on a revolve stage which becomes the Smigger household, Soul Train club, Pontins (for a fabulous flashback sequence) and even Torquay.

The gormless Soul Train barman Shane is again played by the versatile Lenny Wood.

Lenny laps up the role.

Director Bob Eaton gets the right balance of humour and pathos and there's some atmospheric choreography from Bev Norris -Edmunds.

The music is magical for anyone brought up on Motown.

From Van McCoy's Hustle to Heatwave's Always and Forever you are transported back to tbe 70s.

For one mini daydream moment  I was back in the She Club reimagining a slowie dance.

For all  the romantics who crave the days of discos and less stressful times, Lost Soul 2 will win you over.

The performances are all top- notch including Paul Duckworth and Catherine Rice who play best pals Terry and Pat.

In two and half hours you will feel that you have watched a whole sit com series in one go.

Welcome back Mr Kirby to your second home.

4 Stars - Gag-Packed Memories

Until September 14

0151 709 4321

@royalcourtliv