THE musical with three classic all-action songs – the title track, Holding Out For A Hero, Let’s Hear It For The Boy, and the cleverest of ballads, Somebody’s Eyes – smashes onto the Tyneside stage this week and makes one of the most determined debuts you’ll see this year.

The costumes and capers may have gone all contemporary, but the rawboned emotions of outsider Ren McCormack, coping with the loss of his father and hick town bigots, still has the power to pull red-eyed emotions.

Karen Bruce’s clever touches as director/choreographer and a set which smacks of Lloyd Webber’s Whistle Down The Wind US revamp allow this well-executed young cast to roar through the latest version of the 1984 film.

Unusual points are headliner Steven Pinder – as hard-nosed minister the Reverend Shaw Moore, who has banned dancing for five years following the death of his son – having a crack at several songs, while the much-vaunted ex-Busted singer Matt Willis – playing Bomont bully Chuck Cranston – has just one. The tattooed popster enjoys plenty of encouragement from fans in the audience, but is virtually anonymous in the second half.

Of course, all eyes are on the developing relationship between the rebellious Ren and preacher’s daughter Ariel.

It didn’t help Max Milner when his first slick move of spinning his “man-bag” off his neck took his mouth mic with it.

Thankfully, he recovered swiftly and went on to make a nice foil for red-booted Lorna Want.

The audience has to wait until deep into the show before the pair have a well-sung duet and I do worry if they have strong enough voices to survive this pulsating tour.

The surprise package is tongue-tied Willard Hewitt (Giovanni Spano), who switches from hayseed to he-man to delight seats packed with Eighties evangelists.

* Until Saturday. Tickets: £12 to £36.50. Box office: 08448- 112-121 or theatreroyal.co.uk