Joyous, uplifting and moving. This triumph of a production took Northwich by storm this evening, as we were taken on a heart-warming journey of friendship and fandom told through the iconic music of Take That. The talents of the director, Ben Ireson, musical director, Michael J Scott and co-choreographers, Sophie Megitt and Kate Scanlan, were showcased exquisitely by the entire cast of TMTC. From the outset, it was evident that we would be treated to a standard performance worthy of the professional stage – not least due to the impressive stage set and visuals.
The storyline follows a group of 16 year-old girls in the early 1990’s, who are stereotypically enamoured by the latest boyband on the scene. After a tragic event, the storyline fast-forwards 25 years, where we see the girls (now women) reunite through their love of ‘The Band’. This opens up old wounds, new revelations and cathartic conversations which were long overdue. The lyrics of the countless familiar songs are cleverly used both to reflect events in the plot and to demonstrate how music has the power to bring people together in a multitude of ways. The iconic music of Take That elevated a simple and beautiful storyline to another level, proving the continued popularity of the jukebox musical.
I have been fortunate enough to watch a number of previous TMTC productions in this venue; each time never failing to be impressed by how this company so successfully transforms the space into a world of their own. To set the scene, the staging is elaborate, with a central walkway between the seating of the auditorium, replicating the kind of stage set one might expect at a Take That concert. Side extensions and a multi-tiered stage enabled some very clever, moving special effects (which I won’t spoil for anyone who hasn’t yet seen the show).
The lighting (Aurian Lighting, Ben Ireson & Ian Wiper) was unique, intricate and incredibly sympathetic to the score, conveying different moods and timeframes to the audience through subtlety or euphoric, show-stopping displays. The large LED screen and visuals (Jonathon Hall) were absolutely spectacular. Audibility and clarity were great throughout thanks to Tom Maurice.
Costumes were simplistic for the most part, however this lent it itself well to the ‘nothing out of the ordinary’ background depicted by the female performers and allowed us to relate to them. The costumes for ‘The Band’ were excellently crafted and coordinated with a distinct style which paid homage to the younger Take That without attempting to be exact carbon copies of the original ‘boys’. Credits go to Kirsty Hall and Lesley Reed.
The boy band comprised 5 young men who are referred to as ’The Boys’ throughout (Toby Abbott, Oliver Ball, Jonathan Hall, Joel Merry & Daniel Wilson). Each exuded the essence of 90’s pop and blended impeccably as a collective. Every member had their moment to shine and showcase their talents, however the stand-out performer of the night was perhaps Joel Merry with his smooth-like-butter, faultless rendition of ‘A Million Love Songs’, which left nobody in the audience unmoved.
The younger girls (Ella Carr, Isabella Harrison, Georgina Crank, Vic Carney & Bethan Granger), which we meet at the start of the performance, were completely relatable and perfectly portrayed the stereotypical teenage girl fixated on the latest boy band. Notwithstanding this, each actress beautifully highlighted the huge array of emotions, challenges and aspirations that any group of average girls experience and importantly how individuals cope differently with life events. This led on perfectly to the revelations which we witnessed when we revisited their lives 25 years on.
The women (i.e. the girls 25 years later) delivered performances which were hilarious, reflective, surprising, transformative, moving and humbling. Hannah Young, Amy Harvey, Vicki Wood & Alison Brander were as relatable as the younger versions had been. By the end of the plot, it was beautiful see the older actresses so convincingly portraying the warmth, solidarity and ‘girlhood’ that the younger versions of themselves had emanated. The juxtaposition of simple, humble, unassuming friendship with the glamour of a jet-setting boy band was perfectly depicted by these talented women. Alison Brander’s hilarious comedic performance was noteworthy, as was the delightful cameo from Andy Dolan as Dave, who appeared as various hilarious characters murmuring Take That songs to himself.
Overall, this production was a huge hit (pardon the pun) with every member of the multi-generational audience, who had to steal themselves from singing along before the finale!
Running until 24th May at the Northwich Memorial Court, this is an epic production not to be missed. So ‘never forget’ to book now to relive your ‘greatest days’ with the talented TMTC and a truly iconic soundtrack.
Buy Tickets – https://themusicaltheatrecompany.org.uk/
Reviewer: Grace Annabel
Reviewed: 21st May 2025
North West End UK Rating: