An Officer and a Gentleman: Classic love story set to 1980s hits sweeps Sheffield audience off its feet

And, last night in Sheffield that famous moment was re-lived when An Officer and a Gentleman made the big jump from screen to stage.

Only it wasn’t just the leading lady Georgia Lennon (playing Paula Pokrifki) who was swept off her feet on opening night...but the entire Lyceum audience!

Sticking to the original storyline, this jukebox musical version of the Hollywood hit remains gritty and true as it portrays the lives of working class people of Penascola in Florida, USA, aspiring for better lives.

But set to a soundtrack which defined a generation, this stage version of the legendary film takes audience members of a certain age on a nostalgic trip down memory lane, while at the same time managing to entertain an entirely new fanbase.

In The Navy Now, Material Girl, Heart Of Glass, The Final, Countdown, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun and Livin’ On A Prayer were just some of the hits woven into the storyline.

But it was Up Where We Belong in the final scene, originally performed by legendary Sheffield rocker Joe Cocker, which brought the house down.

The story follows the lives of US Navy recruits training to be pilots whose lives become embroiled with factory girls, many of whom believe that their only chance of escape is on the wings of a naval aviator.

An Officer and a Gentleman is being performed at The Lyceum, Sheffield, until Saturday, June 22 - book here.

Triple threat Luke Baker, playing Zack Mayo, not only sings, dances and acts but has a captivating stage presence in the lead role.

His chemistry with Georgia Lennon (playing his love interest Paula) and Paul French (playing Zack’s best friend Sid Worley) feels genuine and the partnerships share some emotional scenes where they have to display raw emotion.

But there are as many lighter moments in this memorable musical too, plus high energy choreography and strong vocals helping to prove that on stage is where this story now belongs.