As a devoted Spice Girls fan, I had big expectations for the new Viva Forever musical. And despite the fond revival of many fabulous and familiar pop songs the script is a disappointing vehicle for the band’s hits. Much like We Will Rock You and Mamma Mia, Viva Forever is a musical based on the songs, this time of the Spice Girls, and not a story about them. I soon began to wonder if the latter would have made a better show.

I have always rated Jennifer Saunders and her hilarious contribution to British comedy, so I really expected more from her script that is largely unfunny and unconvincing. We watch X-Factor come to life on stage – the banter, the drama, the judges and the music. Focused on the journey of young Viva’s career to stardom the narrative follows her ups and downs, emphasising the inevitable cost of fame, and how it affects the important relationships in her life. The Spice Girls songs are slotted in with varying levels of relevance, some work (a brilliantly funny placement of Two Become One) and some really don’t.

The cast are good, with a few stand out performances. It is a tricky task to bring this narrative and weak characters to life, and they manage to make much of the show entertaining when credibility is not an option. I particularly noticed the wonderful Hatty Preston who brings life to the role of Minty, she has exceptional comic timing and my eye was drawn to her whenever she was on stage. The mums are great too, Sally Ann Triplett as Lauren and Lucy Montgomery as Suzi. Leading lady Hannah John-Kamen (Viva) has a great voice but I found the constant hand gestures a real distraction.

The best part of the evening comes at the end, after the curtain call, when the whole cast dance and sing merrily to the Spice Girls’ biggest hits. At last it feels like a celebration of the music.

I hope Viva Forever! doesn’t disappoint too many die-hard Spice Girls fans. Though the narrative is a flop, I must admit I enjoy dancing in my seat and reminiscing about the girl band who were so important to me in my childhood.

Viva Forever continues until 1 June 2013, book here.