It’s Carmen’s surprise birthday treat, though it would help if we had some idea of the references in this show; most of the audience do, and respond with whoops. It’s a tale based on an Indian dance dynasty, from rural Rajasthan to Bollywood and back over several generations, of tradition and rejection, of the heroine’s ‘exile’ and reconciliation. But it’s really an excuse for skeins of shimmering silks and satins, spangles and sequins, pounding music – ‘ka-doong ka-doong-ka’ – ‘Shava Shava!’ And of course, great dancing and terrific choreography. There’s classical Indian temple dancing, Bollywood whirl, even a rock’n’roll sequence – and – ‘It’s The Time To Disco!’ (I love this).

Tthe action takes place rather overpowered by a digitised backdrop – huge glowing pixel blocks portraying fire, mountains, sky and so on; once again, the digital reduces the human element. But – the humans are great. At every opportunity, the male lead strips his top off, thrusting his rippling muscles at the audience, and I’m trying to read the Gothic-font tats on his bulging pecs – he has the most ridiculously muscular body! There’s a dancing jeep sequence and a troupe of glitter-encrusted bikers – it’s completely bonkers and fun: really kitsch, and great too. At the end, audience members are dancing in the aisles. We’ve brought Carmen to this, unknowing: we look at her for her verdict. “Interesting…” she says at length. (Was this a good birthday treat, then?)