MY wife and I, together with two friends, were privileged to be among a full house at the Thwaites' Empire Theatre, Blackburn to enjoy a wonderful touring production of Over the Rainbow', presenting the life and songbook of Eva Cassidy.

The Telegraph preview of this production featured an interview with the star of the show, former Steps vocalist Faye Tozer, who commented that since being given the part she has quite simply lived the role of Eva Cassidy.

This was patently the case as she delivered a stunning performance, proving she a very talented singer and a first-rate actress.

Her renditions of Cassidy classics hit just the right note and the scene in which she had to portray Cassidy's desperate final lament as her cancer became too much to endure was of Shakespearian intensity and almost unbearably poignant.

It was simply terrific theatre. But Tozer was not the only bright star; she received excellent vocal support from the rest of the eight-strong cast. The instrumentalists in the on-stage band played with great verve and, as required in the tragic moments, supreme sensitivity.

The whole cast richly deserved their standing ovation and the management of the Thwaites' Empire Theatre earn full marks for attracting such a superb show.

MICHAEL NEILD, Mavis Road, Blackburn.