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Watch: Take That and Lulu perform live on stage at opening of The Band

Tim Firth’s musical with the music of Take That has opened in Manchester before a UK tour

Tim Firth and Take That's musical, The Band, opened at the Manchester Opera House last night, where it runs until Saturday before embarking on a UK tour.

At the opening night, Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald were joined on stage by Lulu for a performance of "Relight My Fire".

Also on stage, producer David Pugh confirmed that the production, which has yet to announce any London dates, would extend its tour by a year – further details on this are yet to be announced.

Penned by Firth, The Band features the music of Take That and is set across the last 25 years, charting the lives of five 16 year-olds, united by their obsession with their favourite boyband and their desire to meet their heroes.

Directed by Kim Gavin and Jack Ryder, it stars Five to Five, the band who won BBC's Let it Shine. They are joined by Rachel Lumberg, Alison Fitzjohn, Emily Joyce, Jayne McKenna, Faye Christall, Katy Clayton, Rachelle Diedericks, Sarah Kate Howarth, Lauren Jacobs, Martin Miller and Andy Williams.

The Band runs at Manchester Opera House until 30 September, before commencing a UK tour.

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