ROMANTIC Chris Nieuwoudt took centre stage – by proposing to his girlfriend at the Octagon.

Chris convinced Klaudia Gzyl that they were attending a regular matinee performance at the town-centre theatre.

But when she went inside, the 26-year-old was greeted with a stage strewn with rose petals, candles and the sound of Chris de Burgh’s Lady in Red.

As she stood in shock, Chris, aged 25, produced the ring and got down on one knee to pop the question.

The surprise had Klaudia in tears of joy as she happily said yes.

Speaking afterwards, she said: “He is very romantic but I didn’t expect this, it’s so nice! I could not move when he proposed, my legs were completely stuck.

"He told me we were going to a big show and a lot of people were going but when I got in here it was empty. When I heard the song I realised. I’m in shock and still shaking.”

Klaudia, who is a saleswoman at Fiat and is originally from Poland, said she had realised Chris was the one when they were listening to the Chris de Burgh classic, and the track meant a lot to them.

The couple from Masefield Drive met two years ago when they were together in Dubai, moving to Bolton a couple of months ago.

Chris, who works in construction and is originally from South Africa, spent two weeks planning the proposal after choosing the Octagon as the ideal venue because of their joint love of the theatre.

The theatre staff were more than happy to help out, preparing the stage – which is currently set for a production of Enemy of the People – and setting the most romantic scene possible.

He said: “I told her I just had to say I really love her and want to spend the rest of my life with her. I didn’t prepare anything because there was too much stuff already on my mind.”

The couple plan to tie the knot locally, but then fly out to South Africa and Poland to hold wedding celebrations with their families.

Staff at the Octagon said many couples had met under the watchful eyes of its spotlights, but that Chris and Klaudia’s proposal was the first of its kind.