GLITZ, glamour, cocktails...and all that jazz.

The Palace Theatre was the place to be last night as a roaring 20s-themed party was held ahead of the launch night of hit musical Chicago.

The show's stars, ex-Eastenders actress Emma Barton and entertainer Gary Wilmot, joined the revels pre-show, before entertaining the crowds in the riproaring production as murderess Roxie Hart and smooth lawyer Billy Flynn.

And a host of soap stars headed to the show in typically Razzle Dazzle style - including Hollyoaks beauty Jennifer Metcalfe and her co-stars Stephen Beard and Nick Pickard, and Corrie's Tupele Dorgu and Alan Halsall with wife Lucy-Jo Hudson.

VIPs were entertained in the theatre's Circle Bar, transformed into a 1920s-style speakeasy for the night, complete with jazz band and a host of Brockmans gin cocktails.

But despite the relaxed party atmosphere before the show, stars Gary, Emma and the show's Velma Kelly, actress Twinnie-Lee Moore, admitted they still get nerves ahead of a big launch night.

Emma, last seen on screens as Honey Mitchell in EastEnders said: "It's always quite daunting on opening night, and especially in this amazing theatre.

"But Manchester audiences are great - there's always such a buzz here."

Meanwhile showbiz legend Gary had nothing but praise for the cast of the flamboyant musical.

He said: "I would wager that no one has over done this show as good as this class, I've never worked with a whole company so dedicated to their craft as this."

And Gary said Manchester had become like a second home for him over the years he smiled: "I've been here pretty much every year in shows and I love Manchester."

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