Review: The Band at Milton Keynes Theatre this week!

I think the whole audience resonated with the story of the Band. 25 years ago most of us, me included were dragged along to a Take That concert in some enormous arena where we mostly watched the show on a TV screen. To be honest I thoroughly enjoyed it but my ears were ringing for days after; thankfully with health and safety being what it is there’s no danger of that at MK Theatre!

The story of The Band then catches up with the loyal group of girl followers 25 years later when they are settled into their more mundane lives, have put a bit of weight on and are settled into domesticity. They arrange to meet up to see the band reform in Prague.

The story is interwoven with the songs of Take That with a newer and younger group of lads who have their own style and charm. This is not a tribute band at all. The audience absolutely loved the show and were singing along, up on their feet and waving their phone torches to the various ballads. It was just like the old days! For a moment we all felt a lot younger!

The show will appeal to both an older audience who remember back in the day and those younger who have been introduced to the music of Take That since their resurrection. Believe me the older tunes are the best!

It was a packed house so if you want to see this show then hurry for tickets. They won’t last long.

On at MK Theatre until Saturday 9th March.

Tickets from www.atgtickets.com/Miltonkeynes or telephone 0844 871 7652

(booking fee applies)

Take that, Take That....

For the band which has been through more changes than Katy Perry's hair colour, Take That are heading through yet another change in structure, with the announcement that Jason Orange is leaving the band. For many, keeping up with the comings and goings of the band has become all too much and Take That remain a memory in the past, yet for others, this will come as devastating news.

Having jumped into the charts in the early 1990s, Take That have been one of the most successful British bands ever, with 11 singles reaching number 1 in the charts. 1995 saw Robbie Williams leave the group, bringing the number down to four, and then in 1996 Take That announced they were splitting up. 2005 saw them back on the scene, however, when they released a greatest hits album, followed by an ITV documentary and then a comeback album, Beautiful world. This return to the spotlight left many fans wondering if they were going to be true to their lyrics and be Back for Good this time. Following the success of this album, they'd have been silly not to make the most of being back in the limelight, and in 2011 their Progress Stadium tour featured the return of Robbie Williams and became the most successful in UK and Irish history, selling a huge 1.34 million tickets in under 24 hours.

Jason Orange was apparently recruited initially for his good looks and dancing ability, and didn't actually sing or play an instrument on their first albums, but eventually ended up singing lead on Wooden Boat, the final track on the Beautiful World album. However, despite the long journey of Take That (and maybe because of this long journey) Orange has called time on his role in the band, saying he simply doesn't want to do it anymore. You might have thought that this would bring a natural end to the band's career, but the remaining three members have vowed to go on, in the words of U2, With or without you. 

We're sure many fans will be left in tears following this breakdancing hunk leaving the band, but keep your eyes and ears open, who know's what he'll be going on to next...