'Hilarious, touchingly romantic and emotionally charged,' is how this week's MK Theatre piece of escapism is described.

Our House, which starts on Monday, is a musical, though not in the classic, retro sense – this one is based on the music of 80s chart-busters Madness.

Our House centres on 16-year-old Joe Casey. He is in love for the first time, but when you take a seat at the venue and soak up a performance, you will see the fateful day when his world is torn in two...this is a touching tale of life and love, heartbreak and comedy, right and wrong, and it's all sewn up with no fewer than 15 Madness hits: My Girl, Wings Of A Dove, Baggy Trousers, House Of Fun, Driving In My Car, It Must Be Love...you get the picture.

So, who have we got leading the way in this fresh delivery which has taken an Olivier Award for Best New Musical?

How about the chap who won the first ever series of ITV's X-Factor back in 2004? Steve Brookstein consequently shifted a cool 250,000 copies of his debut album Heart and Soul.

It's fair to say that the follow-up didn't do quite as well, but 40,000 Things was a pleasant surprise, and critically acclaimed. In fact, even this hard-as-nails music fan liked it. So there. Steve will play 'Dad' in the show, and returning to MK's stage is Gwyneth Strong. She put in a sterling performance when she toured here in the Goodnights Entertainment production Girls Night back in 2006.

The whole country knows her as Cassandra, Mrs Rodney Trotter in Only Fools and Horses, of course, but she has heaps of other credits to her name.

Our House has a fab writer behind it too – Tim Firth also penned Calendar Girls. Our House just has an air of cool around it. You just know that it is going to be a winner.

Suggs, frontman with Madness, agrees: "I'd describe the show as one of the best things I've ever seen...a fantastic romp through the underbelly of London life as seen through the eyes of a young couple and all the trials and tribulations that go with growing up in London – the music's not bad either!"

It turns out that the idea for a Madness musical had been in the offing for a while too: "We'd had the idea of doing a musical for some time because our songs are so narrative and they are little stories in themselves," Suggs said. "The musical will appeal to absolutely everybody, without wanting to sound cliched."

And if you were to ask him to sum up the show in just three words, Suggs would come right back with 'really, fantastically excellent'.
There you have it.

Our House begins a six-day run here from Monday. Performances are Mon-Sat (7.30pm) with additional matinees on Wed and Sat at 2.30pm.
Ticket prices have a low of £10 and a high of £28. Of course you'll need to go One Step Beyond this here article if you want to see the real thing.

Pick up the blower and call 0870 060 6652.