Never Forget (Tour - Northampton)

‘Best night ever’

So speaks a huge fan of Take That after leaving the theatre on Tuesday night. Never Forget is the latest in a long line of so-called Jukebox musicals and follows the story of a young man who joins a Take That tribute hand in order to help his mother raise money. Hardly an original story – but that does not made to the hard-core fans of Messers Barlow, Owen etc who flocked to see the show.

I decided that my sister – who is one of those fangirls – was a better person to go along to review the show. She loves the band and would give me an insider’s response to the music!

And she loved it. No two ways about it. She wanted to go again.

Two of the cast were indisposed due to illness on opening night in Northampton and so their understudies were on. But Jenni reports that both replacements performed their roles with great skill and panache.

One of the big moments in the show is the end of the first act where the stage is showered in a spectacular rain effect. It certainly did not disappoint the Northampton audience – who were suitably wowed. Their reaction to Tom Bradley appearing in a gold thong was equally enthusiastic – though probably for very different reasons….

The music is performed with energy and comes as close as it can to the sound of the originals. The acting is arguably secondary to the music in a show like this – but Aimie Atkinson did shine in her role as Chloe.

All in all, this is not the greatest piece of music theatre to ever hit the stage. But it does exactly what it says on the tin. It is a perfect night out for anyone who loves the music of Take That – everyone on their feet singing along at the end of the evening. It might not be Chekhov – but it is undeniably entertaining.

- by Simon Tavener