When the sold-out audience at Jackie The Musical rose to their feet to sing Shang-a-Lang during its premiere in Dundee, little did they know there was a Bay City Roller in the audience.
While middle-aged women were being taken back to the days of Rollermania, Stuart John “Woody” Wood, the guitarist in the 70s pop group, was watching on.
The musical is based on the DC Thomson magazine and centres on a divorcee who seeks advice once more through the pages of her old Jackie annuals on how to get a boyfriend.
Stuart, 56, gave the show, which runs at the Gardyne Theatre until October 5, an enthusiastic review.
He said: “I thought it was really, really good. Some of the one-liners and the performances were excellent.
“The entire cast impressed me with their musical abilities, dancing technique and acting. It was very entertaining and slick.”
Other songs that feature in the show are Tiger Feet by Mud, Crazy Horses by The Osmonds and 20st Century Boy by T-Rex.
Some audience members were even spotted with tartan Rollers scarves but Stuart, now a music producer, said he tried to keep a low profile.
“The songs take you back to the 70s. It has that nostalgic feel that makes you think back to that time,” he added.
“I was trying to hide at the back but I could see there were one or two women who still recognised me after all these years.
“I think if Jackie The Musical goes out on the circuit it will do very well. It’s right up there with the other nostalgic musicals.”
Stuart claimed that although the band frequently featured in the pages of the magazine, which regularly sold more than 600,000 copies in the mid-70s, he never read it.
“Back in the day we regularly had our faces splashed across their pages so I was certainly was aware of it. But did I read it? Not a chance!”