The Official Take That Musical Greatest Days At Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield Review

Reviewed by Dottie Rood

This musical was performed at the Lyceum Theatre Sheffield which is a mid-size theatre with good views for all. The staff are always helpful and the theatre clean and well organised. They offer a number of refreshments that are reasonably priced. The show is an adaptation of a book written by Tim Firth and directed by Stacey Haynes and Tim Firth. Music and Lyrics are by Take That.

Now on to the show!

If you are fans of Take That (which I am!) you may have been waiting for ‘The band’ (Kalifa Burton, Jamie Corner, Archie, Regan Gascoigne and Alexanda O’Reilly) to ‘perform’? This didn’t really happen as such however they were there all the way through the performance. They performed lots of Take That classics (and some I hadn’t heard) with brilliant voices and ‘moves’ and offered voice overs and links to the story.

I was unsure of what the ‘story’ was going to be and even though I had done my homework and read a few reviews I was still surprised. It was a story of five 16-year-old girls (Hannah Brown (young Zoe) Emilie Cunliffe (Young Rachel) Kitty Harris (young Heather) Mari McGinlay (young Claire) and Mary Moore (Young Debbie) who were obsessed with ‘The Band’ and when Debbie wins tickets to a concert they are performing they cannot believe it!

They have varying things going on in their young lives, which were cleverly portrayed to the audience and through some ‘fibbing!’ they all manage to go to the concert. Due to a missed train, they end up on the rocks overlooking their town and have ‘meaningful conversations’ which end in a promise to meet in 25 years’ time no matter what. I don’t want to ruin the story for any future theatre goers so will jump to 25 years later and just let you know they all lost touch.

We then see ‘older’ Rachel ( played by Kym Marsh) and her partner Jeff( played by Christopher D. Hunt) sorting the washing and listening to the radio where they hear her name mentioned and realise she has won tickets to see ‘The Band’ in Athens! Jeff immediately suggests they take two friends with them and is disappointed when Rachel decides to contact her friends who went to the last concert with her.

What follows, when they meet, is funny, poignant, sad, and uplifting in equal measure.

I have to mention Every Dave (played by Alan Stocks) who has popped in and out of the whole performance in a number of guises with hilarious reactions each time (he also pops up in Athens!).

They actually miss the concert! But I think, gain so much more! with a very emotional ending back on the rocks overlooking the town!

This was a cast of just sixteen (as well as the above actors we also had Rachel Marwood, Holly Ashton and Jami-Rose Monk) and every single one of them performed well and all had brilliant voices. However, I would like to mention both Mary Moore and Jamie-Rose Monk for the ‘strength’ in theirs.

I know this has not told you all of the story but I feel it added to my overall enjoyment not knowing all the details, so I have held some back. I would highly recommend this show whether you are a Take That fan or not as the story and the music work in perfect harmony and would be enjoyed by all.

Rating: 5/5
Tickets cost: From £15.00 to £60.50
Greatest Days is at Lyceum Theatre 55,Norfolk Street Sheffield City Centre Sheffield S11DA
Date showing: Monday 12th June till Saturday 17th June 2023 (Also on a number of other venues across the country until 16th September 2023)
Box office: 01142496000  Lyceum | Sheffield Theatres