'SEXY' is a much over-used adjective.

But, along with 'stylish', 'slick' and 'superb', it is well-used to describe Craig Revel Horwood’s production of Chess.

As a show, it’s got potential to be dated; set amid the Cold War as two of the world’s chess masters battle for supremacy, with a classic late-1970s rock-opera score by ABBA’s Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson.

But this staging - which sees all 30 performers play instruments, at one point laid on their backs, as well as singing, dancing and acting - is where stylish comes in.

The Greek-style ensemble of chess pieces never leave the stage and provide a watchful moral eye over the scheming and adulterous proceedings.

Their talent is immense; the entire musical score is memorised by each of these musicians, in addition to their vocal parts and stage movements.

With no set, bar the sliding TV screens, the action is slick and Revel Horwood’s dance expertise comes to the fore.

There’s little, if any, spoken dialogue, and his direction was one seamless choreographic tour de force.

Yes, the staging was simple but the costumes were wonderful - I can’t decide if I want to be the Black or White Queen.

Combined with a stunning lighting plot, this made for an absolute visual treat.

This is really an ensemble production, but ‘American’ James Fox and Shona White as Florence were excellent.

‘Russian’ Daniel Koek was torn and brooding, and David Erik’s ‘Arbiter’ lurked in the ensemble’s shadows.

White’s rendition of the show’s best-known number I Know Him So Well, with Poppy Tierney as Svetlana, was superb, as was Someone Else’s Story and Nobody’s Side.

I understand Revel Horwood wanted to sideline the Cold War elements to bring out the love triangle. Actually, this didn’t actually work for me.

By emphasising the USSR-USA tensions, the audience could have better understood Florence’s anguish over her background and the desire to be loved which sees her steal another woman’s husband.

In all, to coin a phrase so popular with the director: Chess was fab-u-lous!

* Chess is at The Lowry, Salford until Saturday, October 30.