My brother and I would watch Chitty Chitty Bang Bang on repeat growing up, acting out our favourite scenes and singing and dancing along to the songs.

So when I saw the production was touring again and would be visiting the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury for almost two weeks, I knew we had to go.

Before the curtain had even gone up on opening night, the packed-out audience was clapping along as the band played a montage of tunes from the film.

And it did not stop there as the crowd clapped and danced in their seats every time the Oscar-nominated title track Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was played and even cheered when the car made its first appearance.

The musical is based on Ian Fleming’s 1964 children’s novel and the film adaptation by Roald Dahl and Ken Hughes and features songs by the Academy Award-winning Sherman Brothers.

The story follows Caractacus Potts (Ore Oduba), an unsuccessful inventor who restores a broken-down racing car with his children, Jemima and Jeremy.

When the family discovers the car has magical powers, they soon take off on an exciting adventure to a far-off land, known as Vulgaria.

Strictly star Oduba was fantastic in his part as the eccentric inventor and didn’t disappoint.

Liam Fox, best known for playing Dan Spencer in ITV’s Emmerdale, was equally brilliant as he returned to his role as Grandpa Potts with his walk and mannerisms exactly like they are in the film.

There were so many laugh-out-loud moments with one-liners and gags from Adam Stafford and Michael Joseph who took on the roles of the Vulgarian spies Boris and Goran.

Jenny Gayner and Martin Callaghan who played the Baroness and Baron were also brilliantly funny and even played off the audience’s reactions making you feel a real part of the show.

A special mention must also be made to EastEnders’ Charlie Brooks who was terrifying as she returned to her villainous ways as the Childcatcher leading her to being booed by the audience as she took her final bow.

The whole production was fantastic but the most impressive part has to be when Chitty Chitty Bang Bang starts to fly across the stage.

I still cannot work out how they did it!

I was slightly apprehensive about how the family favourite would work on the stage but I needn’t have been, it was truly magical and such a fun show for the word go.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang will be at the Marlowe Theatre until Saturday, April 12. You can book tickets online here.

You can also book tickets by calling 01227 787787.