Legendary comic book super heroes Batman and Robin are set to make a flying theatre debut this summer in an all-action stage extravaganza in Manchester.

The world’s best-loved crime fighting duo will appear in the Batman Live World Arena Tour featuring dare-devil stunts, stage flight, circus acrobatics and spectacular illusions.

Anthony Van Laast, the production’s creative director, described transforming the much-loved super hero to the stage as a “huge challenge” but they had made something very exciting “in its own vocabulary”.

The well-known choreographer, who has worked on the likes of Mamma Mia! and Sister Act, said that the strong storyline would serve as the show’s “hook line”.

He said: “What’s very important is that even though we can do the flying and the stunts and the circus and everything you’d expect from an extravaganza, I’ve said from the very beginning unless we have a really good story with characters we care about, the audience would get bored in about 10 or 15 minutes... In the end, theatre is only good theatre if there’s a good story.”

The production is based on the story of orphan circus performer Dick Grayson (Robin) who, after losing his parents to organised crime, begins a quest for justice aided by his vigilante hero, Batman.

As the tale unfolds, the audience will be transported from the snowy peaks of the Penguin’s Iceberg Lounge to the dark depths of Arkham Asylum.

The dazzling set design sees the arena transformed into the scattered skyscrapers and looming apartment blocks that make up the fictional Gotham City.

The world premiere of the show will take place at the Manchester Evening News Arena on July 19 and will mark the first stage appearance in the history of the comic book characters.