Greatest Days: The Take That Musical - Palace Theatre, Manchester - Tuesday 23rd May 2023

'Could It Be Magic' during this jukebox production, 'Greatest Days', all about one of the greatest northern boy bands to ever exist? Did I need to have a little 'Patience' while watching or did I 'Pray' for it to never end...? Read on to find out!!

Story & Cast

You don't normally go into a jukebox musical thinking that the story is going to be that fleshed out (We Will Rock You and Rock of Ages, I'm looking at you!) but I was pleasantly surprised with the book for this show written and co-directed by Tim Firth. I don't know if this is correct comparison, but I felt it had the same pace as a 90's Film Four productions and the same comedy value as something similar to 'Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps'.

Following the character of Rachel played by Kym Marsh and the younger version of her played by Kym's daughter Emilie Cunliffe, we see a group of friends fall in love with 'The Band' (as they're called throughout the show) go through a traumatic event, part ways and then reunite 25 years later all because of the same band, and that's all in 2 hours!

There was a great mix of comedy, and I mean laugh out loud comedy, and emotional punches to the gut which left me not knowing whether to laugh or cry throughout. It was a real rollercoaster of emotions with highs and lows for all the characters.

The cast were split into 3 parts, the younger group, the older group and the band.

The band had some amazingly crisp harmonies throughout the songs in the show and their choreography was 90's boy band inspired, for sure. They worked really well together to keep the flow going with the classic Take That songs as well as being the stage hands for set movement. However, I will say, they're individual singing wasn't the greatest.

The Band:

Taylor Alman (Cover)

Kalifa Burton

Archie Durrant

Regan Gascoigne

Alexanda O'Reilly

The younger group of friends very much embodied northern16 year olds in the 90's. The chemistry between them was great and we could really feel the fun they were having on stage with each other. Each character was fleshed out and you could tell the different personalities of each of them easily.

Young Rachel: Emilie Cunliffe

Young Heather: Kitty Harris

Young Zoe: Hannah Brown

Young Claire: Mari McGinlay

Debbie: Mary Moore

Switching to the older group of friends, 25 years later, although things have changed, appearances have altered and personalities have shifted you can still tell who is who and link them back to their younger selves which I think is amazing that they're all able to do it so easily. A classic middle-aged group of friends reuniting is always a great story and each character brings humour and emotion to this one!

Rachel: Kym Marsh

Heather: Rachel Marwood

Zoe: Holly Ashton

Claire: Jamie-Rose Monk

And finally we have Every Dave... literally EVERY Dave in every scene!! and then Jeff both supporting characters with not much stage time but left great impressions when they were there.

Every Dave: Alan Stocks

Jeff: Christopher D Hunt

Sound & Lighting

Greatest Days did an amazing job at making you feel like you were at a musical during the dialogue and non-band songs but put you right in the middle of a concert with those big Take That classics. The sound ramped up, the bass was felt in your chest and it felt like we were at the Apollo not the Palace Theatre! I loved this contrast between the two as it also meant that during the songs you couldn't hear the people around you singing (although our audience were very well behaved for once!).

The lighting was nothing short of an Arena Tour lighting package!! No expense was spared here. Again best utilised during the band numbers it really did feel like a concert!

Overall

I went in with low expectations, and boy, was I wrong to do that! With a story that could easily be translated into a feature film, music from an amazing boy band and some amazing acting from all involved, you'd be a fool to miss this show while it tours the UK!

I'd happily see it again!

Story ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Cast ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Music ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Lighting ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Sound ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Overall ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐