The Band

What do the critics think of Take That musical The Band?

Will Longman
Will Longman

The Take That musical The Band is headed for London's West End, with a run at the Theatre Royal Haymarket confirmed for the Christmas period.

While there's bound to be excitement among Take That fans, many have already been able to see the show as part of its UK tour, including some of the country's theatre critics. So what do they think?

Well, the reviews have mostly been positive, with many local papers across the country giving the musical favourable write-ups. In her four-star review for the Liverpool Echo, Lorna Hughes said "it's all delivered with so much heart and genuine warmth that it's impossible not to get swept up" in the relationships between the group of four friends reunited after a competition win sees them fly to Prague to meet their pop idols.

Dianne Bourne was similarly complimentary about the show in the Manchester Evening News, a personal highlight for her being a staging of "Greatest Day" that is "so impressive you wouldn't bet against Take That nabbing it for their next stadium tour".

The Guardian's Peter Robinson praised the mix between the show's story and soundtrack, saying "When plot and pop do align, it's remarkable." His four star review hails the show "a warmly articulated, exciting and funny celebration of what it is to be a music fan".

In The Stage, critic Mark Shenton likened the show to a "pop music version of Follies" as the story's characters reflect on the people they once were. His four-star review highlights the feel-good factor of being an audience member at The Band: "Kim Gavin and Jack Ryder's production has the audience joining in, waving their hands - or their lit mobile phones - along with the songs".

And in a sparkling five-star review for Gay Times, William J Connolly called the show a "thrilling new musical that champions the power and solidarity of female friendship".

The critics seem to have reached a consensus on The Band so far, and we're sure there'll be plenty more in agreement when the musical hits the West End in December this year.  

The Band is at Theatre Royal Haymarket from 1st December 2018 to 12th January 2019.

The Band tickets are available on Monday.

Originally published on

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