Lady Gaga kicked off the UK leg of her Monster Ball tour in Manchester last night (February 18).

The singer wowed fans at the Manchester Evening News with a dramatic “electro opera”, which featured 15 costume changes.

The concert – the first of ten UK dates – is divided into four parts: City, Subway, Forest and Monster Ball.

It saw the singer unleash songs from her debut album 'The Fame' including amid typically lavish and evolving stage sets.

Lady Gaga was surrounded by provocatively dressed dancers and was, at one point, joined on stage by an animatronic sea monster.

Initial reviews for the concert praised the triple-BRIT awards winner, with the Guardian saying it “leaves every other pop star looking a bit wan by comparison”.

The Times' music critic wrote: “The stage is wide, she is wholehearted and unique and she fills it to overflowing.”

Lady Gaga closed last night's set with 'Paparazzi' and 'Bad Romance'.

The tour continues next Wednesday (February 24) at the Echo arena in Liverpool.

(by Jason Gregory)