She appeared as a silhouette in a cloud of cigarette smoke, familiar roof-tops rising behind her in a pool of street light at the Alhambra this evening.

“I live on in every woman’s five inch heels,” said the ghost of Elsie Tanner, as half a century of Coronation Street raced before us in a riotous, whistle-stop journey.

Jonathan Harvey’s sparkling script, combining much-loved lines from classic episodes with knowing references, poked gentle fun at the Street and its residents, striking the right balance between humour, pathos and respect.

Six terrific actors played 55 characters, each with uncanny precision, leading us through a frantic collage of scenes played out against a striking street scene.

The action largely centred on the Barlows and Gail McIntyre, (nee Hillman, Platt, Tilsley and Potter).

“I’ve got a good feeling about this one. He’s a keeper,” beamed Gail, seconds before her fourth husband attempted to fake his own death. I didn’t stop laughing throughout – every vignette was a gem. There was Hilda Ogden showing off her ‘muriel’ to a tut-tutting Annie Walker, the ballad of Peter, Shelley and Lucy, and Tracy emerging from a decade in her bedroom as a soap witch with “a hitherto unmentioned interest in floristry”.

Most hilarious for me were the scenes involving Ken and Deirdre, beautifully played by Simon Chadwick and Jo Mousley.

There were tender moments too, not least Hilda mourning her beloved Stan.

Holding it all together was the wonderful Roy Barraclough, the slick narrator who’s seen it all. And watching over the Street were Ena Sharples and company in that Rover’s Return snug in the sky, awaiting another new arrival.

An unmissable treat for any Corrie fan. I loved it.

Runs until Saturday.