Pete Townshend’s Quadrophenia: A Mod Ballet at the Festival Theatre Edinburgh

Mods and Rockers were as much a part of the Swinging Sixties as miniskirts and…The Who.

Considered one of the most influential rock bands of the 20th century, The Who were part of the Mod movement and were just as famous for destroying guitars and drums on stage or, as in the late drummer Keith Moon's case, hotel rooms.

But they've certainly earned our respect since those early days, not least guitarist, singer and lead songwriter Pete Townshend, who went on to write Quadrophenia, first as an album, then a rock opera, a film and now as a ballet.

Back in the day, leather-clad Rockers would roar into Brighton on their motorbikes to square up to the sharp-suited Mods whose mode of transport were Vespa scooters. In Townshend's ballet, their altercations brought me in mind of West Side Story's Jets and Sharks, superbly danced by a company from Sadlers Wells, headed by Paris Fitzpatrick as Jimmy, a Mod who is finding his way in the world.

Rob Ashford's direction and Paul Roberts choreography bring to the fore the raw emotions of the youth of the day – still prevalent today – who just want to belong and be one of the crowd. All this is performed against Christopher Oram's simple but effective sets but, most of all, by Yeastculture.org's stunning videos. With the opening backdrop of waves crashing and the stage 'awash' with the sea I imagined the dancers getting their feet wet!

One of the back stories is Jimmy's relationship with his father and, in a moving scene, we see him as a soldier in World War II, his colleagues being shot down around him and his best friend dying in his arms – beautifully and sensitively done.

Any Pete Townshend project would be nothing without the music, and while I was disappointed that only a couple of The Who's songs featured – with amazing guitar riffs, Martin Batchelar's orchestration and Rachel Fuller's musical direction produced music which is of epic proportions.

People may try to put them d-down (talking about their generation), but no-one can put down this production!

Image: Johan Persson

Pete Townshend's Quadrophenia: A Mod Ballet is at Festival Theatre Edinburgh until June 14.

The tour then continues:

June 18-21: Mayflower Theatre Southampton

June 24-July 13: Sadler's Wells

July 15-19: Salford