The back row of the stalls was just below the roof facing a huge stage, colossal palm trees and blinding lights that all but obliterated the band and singers tucked away in their upstage cavern.
Host and previous Strictly champion Ore Oduba was a pencil-thin shape flitting around judges Craig Revel Horwood, Darcey Bussell and Bruno Tonioli.
Thank goodness for the giant screens where closeups brought the talking heads to life with Darcey’s bouffant hairdo and glittering diadem making her more Dowager Duchess than Ballerina Assoluta.
But never mind, the dancers – pros and celebrities alike – including a louche and slinky Giovanni Pernice and Debbie McGee, slogged their hearts out to overcome this overwhelming arena setting, largely designed for the big visual impact such as men knocking each other senseless in a boxing ring.
Comedian Susan Calman and her partner Kevin Wilson sensibly stuck to crowdpleasers, dancing to Morecambe and Wise’s eternal favourite Bring Me Sunshine.
From my own experience I take my hat off to Wilson coaxing, as he does, dance out of a strikingly unlikely performer.
I was particularly enchanted by Calman’s subsequent appearance as Wonder Woman.
Best known as EastEnders heart throb Kush Kazemi, father-of-two Davood Ghadami appears shamelessly at home in sequins.
Dancing with Nadiya Bychkova, Ghadami’s Paso Doble was somewhat obscured, not only by the top-heavy setting but by three men in black.
However, buttering up the locals is essential on these in/out tours and remarks such as “You don’t need Hollywood when you’ve got Newcastle” go down a treat.
Gemma Atkinson, another soap star, looked happy in the capable arms of Slovenian-born dancer Aljaz Skorjanec.
They chose Downtown and somehow achieved the impression of relaxed understatement.
Alexandra Burke won the loudest cheer while Jonnie Peacock earned the audience’s profound admiration by dancing once with his prosthetic lower leg freely exposed.
That heroic gesture alone is worth the price of a ticket.
Last week the correct lead dancer of SkogDans in The Place’s Resolution 2018 programme, should have read Livia Massarelli.