THE place is Gotham City, where criminals outnumber police and a vigilante in a black cape continues his never-ending fight against evil forces.

Miniature buildings lit up with sweeping search lights recreate this troubled place within the Echo Arena, resembling those little candle-filled ceramic houses you get at Christmas.

Then they’re swept away as we witness the murder of young Bruce Wayne’s parents – the origins of his transformation into the caped crusader – and the stage appears to flood with animated bats.

But it’s not Batman’s beginnings we are here to witness – it’s Robin’s, taken under Bruce’s wing (pardon the pun) after his acrobat parents’ unexpected plummet from a sabotaged trapeze.

Aided by some incomparable special effects and pack of unfriendly villains – including the slimy Penguin, enigmatic Riddler, Poison Ivy and the Scarecrow – the Joker attempts to bring down the heroic pair.

With help from an unlikely ally, will they make good their escape?

It’s very definitely the world of the DC graphic novels we’re invited into, rather than that of the films.

Everything looks slightly illustrated, even the sleek, black Batmobile, designed by Formula 1’s Gordon Murray.

There’s a stronger storyline than you might expect, fast-paced and exciting, and the special effects whisk you from scene to scene before you can catch your breath.

The production takes full advantage of the Arena space – with an apron stage that leads out into the seating, placing the action right in front of the audience.

A giant screen plays with perspective and scale, images growing and shrinking to pull the viewers in and out of locations – one moment inside the dining room at Wayne Manor, the next falling through floors into the Bat Cave.

It could be wittier, but that’s easy to forgive when you’re faced with such an extravaganza of special effects and theatrical design.