BBC News Online: Entertainment: Showbiz

Pet Shop Boys musical opens

Closer to Heaven, with words and music by the pop duo, received a standing ovation at London's Art Theatre.

Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe teamed up with acclaimed playwright Jonathan Harvey for the tale of sex, drugs and rock and roll in the clubs of London.

Other celebrities who lent their support to the première included Sir Ian McKellen, Germaine Greer, Simon Callow and Janet Street Porter.

The Pet Shop Boys rose to fame in the 80s with their unique brand of electro pop, notching up hits such as West End Girls, Always on My Mind and It's a Sin.

'Incredible'

Sir Elton, who attended with partner David Furnish, gave the show his enthusiastic thumbs-up.

He said: "I thought it was absolutely brilliant, I thought it was one of the most incredible nights I have had at the theatre for a long time.

"It has great music, a great story and great performances I would give it 11 out of 10."

It has taken Tennant and Lowe five years to get Closer to Heaven off the ground and onto the stage.

The standing ovation the performance received stunned Tennant.

He said: "I was incredibly moved, I have been very, very nervous and have been surviving on half my usual amount of sleep, but tonight made it all worthwhile."