The Band, the jukebox Take That musical starring the winners of BBC’s Let It Shine, will transfer to London’s Theatre Royal Haymarket this December.
The eagerly anticipated production, which is packed with chart-topping songs by Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Mark Owen and Robbie Williams, confirmed its West End engagement in a tweet this morning.
Featuring the boy band’s biggest hits including Never Forget, Back For Good, Shine and Rule The World, The Band comes to London at the height of a critically acclaimed tour. Performances begin at Theatre Royal Haymarket on Saturday 1 December, playing until Saturday 12 January 2019.
The Band originally opened at Manchester Opera House in September 2017, and has since toured theatres across the country. Reuniting writers Tim Firth (who pens the book) with Olivier Award-nominated The Girls’ co-writer Barlow, The Band explores the influence of one boyband’s songs on the lives of a group of young girls.
The story flits between 1992, where five 16 year-old friends dream of meeting their heroes, The Band, and 25 years later, where the now 40-something group of women reunite in the hope of fulfilling that very star-studded dream.
The musical’s UK tour currently stars band Five To Five – AJ Bentley, Nick Carsberg, Curtis T Johns, Yazdan Qafouri and Sario Solomon – who were awarded the part as the winners of BBC’s Let It Shine competition. Also starring are Rachel Lumberg as Rachel, Alison Fitzjohn as Claire, Emily Joyce as Heather, with Faye Christall as Young Rachel, Katy Clayton as Young Heather, Rachelle Diedericks as Debbie, Sarah Kate Howarth as Young Claire, Lauren Jacobs as Young Zoe, Martin Miller as Jeff and Andy Williams as Dave.
David Pugh said of the West End transfer, “Our co-producers, Gary, Howard, Mark and Robbie, are totally chuffed that London’s glittering West End will see this award-winning production at the historic Theatre Royal Haymarket this Christmas season.”
The Band is co-directed and choreographed by long-time Take That collaborator Kim Gavin, along with Jack Ryder, and is designed by Jon Bausor. The show is produced by David Pugh, Dafydd Rogers and Take That.
When the tour originally went on sale, it broke advance box office records – so don’t miss out, book your The Band tickets, here!