Greatest Days – Palace Theatre, Manchester

What a time to be a Take That fan!

Just weeks after Take That’s incredible performance at the Coronation Concert; the bands own musical; Greatest Days arrives in Manchester, delivering a heart-warming story alongside those all important Take That hits.

Greatest Days is so cleverly written by Tim Firth, it’s a story which is not only relatable, it’s emotional and moving without being far fetched or fantasy – it’s winning formula is that it’s about ordinary people, the fans and not about the stars themselves – and by doing this – you find yourself rooting for the cast throughout.

Greatest Days is a refreshed version of the 2017 Musical; The Band which featured a TV contest; Let it Shine in the lead up to find the 5 boys to be in the band. This time around, it’s a different cast featuring incredible talent.

It opens with a middle-aged Rachel played by the talented Kym Marsh introducing her former teenage self, who is played by her real life daughter; Emilie Cunliffe.

Both are brilliant in their roles and being mother and daughter in real life; the connection is so much stronger, so much more emotional.

Cunliffe is outstanding as Young Rachel, she has a stage presence in which she can hold the entire audience with just a single monologue and performs perfect vocals throughout just like her mum.

Kym Marsh as Rachel was a casting stroke of genius; relatable, likeable and talented – what’s not to like.

The story follows 5 friends who are loyal fans of a boyband, Rachel and her friends; Debbie, Heather, Zoe and Claire, it follows their lives and throughout we’re taken on a whirlwind journey through life right back to those teenage days; narrated in part by The Band and Take That’s music as it flips from present day to the 90s with an emotional story of love, loss and life.

Both the teenage girls and the middle aged version actors are absolutely outstanding, it’s so hard to single out any characters in this production as they are all so talented, all so worthy to be on that stage.

The musical doesn’t reference Take That by name but it’s a Take That Musical through and through; from the incredible back catalogue of Take That hits to the dance routines and fan hysteria which consumed us but by not referencing Take That by name, this show could in fact relate to anybody that’s ever been a fan of a musician and the excitement that consumes you, and to be honest; name me one person who hasn’t been a super fan once in their life and the belonging to something together.

The staging is scaled back from the previous tour in 2017 and we don’t get the big set pieces that was in the original tour but it still features a spectacular two tier stage with moving stairs and enough moving lights to light up the sky.

This is a story that really tugs on your heart strings while also proving to be a fun upbeat musical, for example; I don’t think I saw a dry eye in the auditorium during an emotional rendition of ‘Rule the World’ so bring a hankie, but also your dancing shoes, because in the next moment, I’m dancing in my chair full of glee at an exhilarating version of ‘The Flood’ performed to the audience like a stadium concert.

The script is solid and full of wonderful nuisances and humorous moments, Tim Firth has written a piece of theatre which will strike a chord with everyone and make you look back at your own life and your own memories.

Verdict: Absolutely Fantastic! A Must See Heart-Warming Musical!

Playing until 27th May, https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/greatest-days/palace-theatre-manchester/

Reviewer: Max Eden

Reviewed: 18th May 2023

North West End UK Rating: