For music fans everywhere, Take That lovers or not, The Band is a fabulous theatre night. JLife reports…
Judging from the title of Tim Firth’s latest hit musical production, The Band, playing at the Leeds Grand Theatre until 31st March, and given how auditions took place on BBC Saturday evening prime’s time Let it Shine, one could be forgiven for thinking this is simply the story of a boy band.
True, the band (called Five to Five in their real life incarnation) star in the show, and despite being very good (including Curtis T Johns of Leeds 17 and JLife fame, see JLife Leeds’ latest issue!) it is the lives of five music-obsessed teenage girls in which we are engrossed.
The show’s female stars unexpectedly face tragedy after the end of the 1992, and the journey slaloms on from there as the plot moves towards a second concert of the same group in the present day 25 years on, and follows the girls in between, growing older, their lives changing with the musical backdrop of Take That classics compounding the emotions.
Tim Firth’s writing show’s great warmth and attention to detail as it portrays the music defining our lives, and some of the tracks dished out by our lads really take you back. By the way the boys remain almost ageless throughout as they sing hits including ‘Never Forget’, ‘Back for Good’, ‘The Flood’, ‘Shine’ and ‘Rule the World’ is an ingenious way to show how these timeless songs have the power to stay with you.
Gary Barlow and his fellow Take That friends (including Robbie Williams) are all involved with production and although the Take That music is a bonus, it’s the storyline that really hits home. Compelling and touching, it’s a show that one many people who grew up loving pop stars will relate to. We laughed, sang and clapped our way through a truly fantastic show.
The Band opened at Manchester Opera House on in September 2017 to critical and public acclaim. Due to overwhelming demand, the UK & Ireland Tour has been extended to run until March 2019.
Book online at leedsgrandtheatre.com or call Box Office on 0844 848 2700.