THE pained life of Billie Holiday is brought to the Library Theatre with a dash of style, dark humour and sparkling songs.

Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill takes us to one of the jazz legend's last performances and a chance to look back with her at the events that shaped her life.

Performed by Dawn Hope the show tells the story of the young Billie's harsh upbringing, the damage her heroin addiction caused and the times with the big bands.

And it is these songs that are delivered with true passion and delicacy, the classics Strange Fruit, Don't Explain and God Bless the Child are all here.

But instead of trying to imitate Holiday, a near impossibility, Dawn Hope puts her own stamp on these songs.

The memories the songs evoke are brought to the surface, sometimes they are the good times, but often they are the darker days that eventually haunted the singer to her death bed.

Whilst pianist Warren Wills ensures the jazz club feel is maintained with some dazzling solos and atmospheric melodies.

The world of Billie Holiday must have been a bleak, often lonely place, and it is clear that she often survived on the back of her immense talent.

However, we are also given an insight into the character and wicked humour that she relied upon to become a true legend.

Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill, Library Theatre, Manchester. Until Saturday. Tel: 0161 234 1920.