The Band (UK Touring)
Having already had one successful stage musical in the form of ‘The Girls’ based on the film Calendar Girls, Tim Firth teams up again with Gary Barlow to bring another to the stage, this time with the added likely ‘success factor’ of a catalogue of ‘Take That’ Hits to bank on courtesy of not only Mr Barlow but, Mark Owen, Howard Donald and Robbie Williams.
Casting for a group of fresh young talent to play ‘The Band’ via the television series ‘Let It Shine’, prime time viewing on BBC 1 earlier in the year a proven formula for discovering musical theatre talent these days. Much consternation after the guys from the group ‘Five to Five’ won the show, that their roles in this musical would be peripheral to the main action and concern that all the hype might have been for nothing.
With this thought in my head I wasn’t quite sure what to expect as the lights dimmed, suffice to say if anybody out there is worrying that they have been duped and will not see something interesting, entertaining or memorable, you needn’t worry as all three of these adjectives are appropriate and this is an engaging and touching piece of musical theatre.
Basically a story of regaining lost youth, mourning a deceased friend and how music really does bring people back together. Providing an opening soliloquy is Rachel Lumberg as a likable central character (also called Rachel) recounting her quite challenging youth in a broken family and as she leaves the stage is immediately replaced by Faye Christall as her teenage self.
Rachel and her teenage pals, maneater Heather played with outstanding bravado by Katy Clayton, budding diver Claire, geeky bookworm Zoe and group organiser Debbie (Sarah Kate Howarth, Lauren Jacobs and Rachelle Diedericks respectively) attend a concert by ‘The Band’ with tickets won by Rachel despite her 'not being the sort of girl that wins competitions'. Having missed a chance to meet the guys and their bus home they meet at a local landmark to reminisce and then split-up for the final walk home during which Debbie tragically dies.
Despite trying to manage grief at her funeral it’s obvious that this will have a lifetime effect on them all and as we move into Act 2 the girls morph into their older incarnations, Rachel with long time partner Jeff (a warming performance from Martin Miller) never marrying as she is unable to face a wedding without Debbie as her bridesmaid, Heather now a lesbian (great piece of character acting from Emily Joyce), Claire no longer athletic and never a diver and Zoe now with four children (meaningful yet still entertaining performances from Alison Fitzjohn and Jayne McKenna respectively).
Rachel again wins a competition and reunites with her friends in Prague to see ‘The Band’ one more time, unfortunately the trip is somewhat disastrous and after some time in the Police Station they miss the concert, the guys but, rekindle long lost friendships. Eventually they return home and all of her friends act as bridesmaids to Rachel as she finally marries Jeff and they all remember Debbie back at the same local landmark.
It’s a highly emotional story but, what of ‘Five to Five’ I hear you ask, well the guys are there throughout whilst sometimes as ‘The Band’, also as airport workers, bus passengers and other characters and providing some exceptional vocals for the songs that are known so well. On this night they were AJ Bentley, Curtis T Johns and Yazdan Qafouri, complemented by Harry Fabulous Brown and Jamie Corner (in the absence of Nick Carsberg and Sario Solomon who were unfortunately indisposed).
Simply have to give a mention to Andy Williams who plays a multitude of cameo roles, including a Czech Policeman with complete comic virtuosity.
This one is touring until 14th July 2018 and take my word for it that you don’t have to be a ‘Take That’ Fan to enjoy the experience (although I’m sure it helps).
Book Here
Casting for a group of fresh young talent to play ‘The Band’ via the television series ‘Let It Shine’, prime time viewing on BBC 1 earlier in the year a proven formula for discovering musical theatre talent these days. Much consternation after the guys from the group ‘Five to Five’ won the show, that their roles in this musical would be peripheral to the main action and concern that all the hype might have been for nothing.
With this thought in my head I wasn’t quite sure what to expect as the lights dimmed, suffice to say if anybody out there is worrying that they have been duped and will not see something interesting, entertaining or memorable, you needn’t worry as all three of these adjectives are appropriate and this is an engaging and touching piece of musical theatre.
Basically a story of regaining lost youth, mourning a deceased friend and how music really does bring people back together. Providing an opening soliloquy is Rachel Lumberg as a likable central character (also called Rachel) recounting her quite challenging youth in a broken family and as she leaves the stage is immediately replaced by Faye Christall as her teenage self.
Rachel and her teenage pals, maneater Heather played with outstanding bravado by Katy Clayton, budding diver Claire, geeky bookworm Zoe and group organiser Debbie (Sarah Kate Howarth, Lauren Jacobs and Rachelle Diedericks respectively) attend a concert by ‘The Band’ with tickets won by Rachel despite her 'not being the sort of girl that wins competitions'. Having missed a chance to meet the guys and their bus home they meet at a local landmark to reminisce and then split-up for the final walk home during which Debbie tragically dies.
Despite trying to manage grief at her funeral it’s obvious that this will have a lifetime effect on them all and as we move into Act 2 the girls morph into their older incarnations, Rachel with long time partner Jeff (a warming performance from Martin Miller) never marrying as she is unable to face a wedding without Debbie as her bridesmaid, Heather now a lesbian (great piece of character acting from Emily Joyce), Claire no longer athletic and never a diver and Zoe now with four children (meaningful yet still entertaining performances from Alison Fitzjohn and Jayne McKenna respectively).
Rachel again wins a competition and reunites with her friends in Prague to see ‘The Band’ one more time, unfortunately the trip is somewhat disastrous and after some time in the Police Station they miss the concert, the guys but, rekindle long lost friendships. Eventually they return home and all of her friends act as bridesmaids to Rachel as she finally marries Jeff and they all remember Debbie back at the same local landmark.
It’s a highly emotional story but, what of ‘Five to Five’ I hear you ask, well the guys are there throughout whilst sometimes as ‘The Band’, also as airport workers, bus passengers and other characters and providing some exceptional vocals for the songs that are known so well. On this night they were AJ Bentley, Curtis T Johns and Yazdan Qafouri, complemented by Harry Fabulous Brown and Jamie Corner (in the absence of Nick Carsberg and Sario Solomon who were unfortunately indisposed).
Simply have to give a mention to Andy Williams who plays a multitude of cameo roles, including a Czech Policeman with complete comic virtuosity.
This one is touring until 14th July 2018 and take my word for it that you don’t have to be a ‘Take That’ Fan to enjoy the experience (although I’m sure it helps).
Book Here
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