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From war of the worlds to walking with dinosaurs, we're getting more and more accustomed to shows on a gigantic scale but last night's Star
Wars- The Concert took that to a new level.

The convoy of trucks outside hinted at the scale of the event.

Each date of this tour requiring an 80ft screen, massive set, the entire Royal Philharmonic concert orchestra, a choir, cast, crew and original costumes and props from the six Star Wars films.

At the centre of it all is John Williams' epic score - with its six distinctive themes woven back around edited sequences about the films' heroes and villains, its love stories and tragedies, all projected behind and overhead as the orchestra performs.

Everything about the show is on a grand scale from the music to the images to the ticket prices ( not to mention the eye wateringly expensive merchandise - £12 for a 4in flashing lightsaber!)

Does it work?

Despite the fact that hall four of the Secc is only three quarters full on Friday night, it is lovingly received by fans and newcomers alike.

The orchestra plays magnificently.

Narrator Anthony Daniels gets the chance to step out from behind the mask of C3PO - although there are plenty of little references from his gold waistcoat to an impromptu impression.

It's also true, as he said earlier, that it's much easier to follow the Star Wars story when it's told in sequence.

Purists might dismiss it all as nonsense but everyone here, from very small children to older fans, seems to lap it up and its fair to say the audience are just as gripped by the encore when the orchestra plays the main theme on its own - no lasers, no light sabers, no film clips - just a great piece of music which still stands the test of time.