Venue goes Gaga for Mayhem Ball extravaganza

ADAM MAIDMENT WATCHES SHOW THAT'S 'ONE OF THE BEST HE'S EVER BEEN TO'

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T'S been 11 years since Lady Gaga last performed in Manchester.

In this time, she's won an Oscar, headlined the Super Bowl and even shimmied across the River Seine in high camp fashion for the Olympics. The less said about our own personal achievements in the same timeframe, perhaps the better. It simply can’t compare.

So, it was always going to be a big turn out when she inevitably chose to return. And when it comes to the Mayhem Ball, she made it a show worth waiting so long for - with high fashion, high stakes production value, and an exhausting-in-the-best-way run-through of 30 songs.

And, the dramatics began before she even took centre stage at the Co-Op Live on Tuesday night (October 7) for the first of two shows this week.

For proceedings, the huge 24,000-capacity venue is turned into an operatic auditorium as Gaga herself appears on screen as she outlines the "Manifesto of Mayhem". Not much happens, but it does set the tone of sorts.

When she eventually disappears off screen, the crowd roar into loud cheers and we know that the superstar is just moments away from appearing on stage.

And appear she does. Body popping out of a huge crinoline dress slash gothic doily. It's appropriately Gaga in every sense. It’s something perhaps only she could get away with. And along the way, there’s all kinds of shenanigans with plenty of costume changes, props, dance routines and pure production value. And did I mention there's 30 songs performed?