Previously titled The Band, Greatest Days broke box office records and delighted audiences around the UK when it performed from 2017-2019.
Now playing the Milton Keynes theatre, the musical celebrates the 30th Anniversary of Take That’s first ever UK number 1 single Pray, which also coincides with the summer 2023 release of the official movie of this smash hit musical.
Based on the Songs of Take That, Greatest days follows Rachel and her young girlfriends, who are bonded together through their obsession of a boy band. We follow the girls through their school days, their ambitions, dreams, and passions, as they sing along to the band songs, laughing and giggling about which band member they are going to marry. After a tragedy, the harsh reality of life emerges, they drift apart and go their separate ways.
Twenty-five years on Rachael wins tickets to see their heartthrobs live in Athens and decides that it’s her old girlfriends she wants to take with her, and so it is, they are reunited.
Staring the lovely Kym March as Rachel, alongside the inspired casting of her daughter Emilie Cunliffe as Young Rachel, we are also delighted with a hugely talented cast of actors, singers and dancers, all of whom gave it their all. I do have to mention Mary Moore (Debbie) whose amazing voice and exuberance shone out as a beacon of light; she stole our hearts. Also, Alan Stocks (Dave) whose various comedic roles provided us with humour that had us in fits of laughter.
A simple but relatable story, lost youth, dreams that that go astray and regret. A clever script, funny, poignant, and sad at times, it had me in tears reminiscing my own youth and the joy that music had given me.
The Band are fully and beautifully integrated into the drama in numerous ingenious ways, and along with the young girls, their great voices and brilliant high energy movement made the show for me.
At times you couldn’t help feeling you were at a live concert, the music was just awesome (thanks to Josh Cottell, Musical Director) and it was so difficult not to stand up and join in, but the audience left it to the experts.
I must be honest; I wasn’t sure that this was going to be my thing, however, it delivered on so many levels and had the audience absolutely buzzing. I’m so glad I saw it, definitely not one to miss, and you don’t have to, as it plays at MK Theatre until Saturday 8th July.
Reviewed by: Shahnaz (Shiny) Hussain
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