IF you are dreaming of an all-singing, all-dancing, tap-dancing, white Christmas then look no further than this festive musical.

Irving Berlin’s White Christmas kicked off its run at The Lowry last week and is the perfect treat for fans of traditional festive fun with a dose of classic Hollywood-style glitz and glamour.

Based on the classic 1954 movie White Christmas, the musical has returned to the Salford Quays venue following a record-breaking, sell-out run in 2009.

All thoughts of Wendi Peters’ character in Coronation Street, battleaxe Cilla Battersby-Brown, are long forgotten as she showcases her dazzlingly strong voice and musical theatre skills as bolshy housekeeper Martha Watson.

Steven Houghton, who also appeared in Coronation Street as Jeff Cullen, demonstrates his own impressive singing and dancing abilities as Bob Wallace - a role played in the original film by Bing Crosby.

Experienced stage leading lady Claire Sweeney strikes a touching balance between confident and vulnerable as Betty Haynes, who performs as a singer with sister Judy, played by Louise Bowden.

The pair shine as the glamorous and talented siblings, particularly during popular number Sisters.

The choreography throughout the show is flawless, particularly the mass tap dance routine featuring an ensemble of about 30 performers set to music from a 17-piece orchestra.

Broadway actor Ken Kercheval, best known as JR Ewing’s rival Cliff Barnes in US soap Dallas, returns to the role of General Waverly and star of the future Ashley Day plays his granddaughter Susan.

The plot is not a carbon copy of the film but follows a similar storyline of two army friends - Wallace and Phil Davis, played by Paul Robinson - who create a successful musical double act.

They meet and become smitten with the two sisters and the four seek to restore glory to their old army General’s ailing Vermont hotel, with misunderstandings and japes along the way.

The title song, White Christmas, is the pièce de résistance of the show and is sure to warm the hearts of theatregoers this winter.

White Christmas is on at The Lowry, Salford Quays, until January 5.