The Band

This was the first time we have seen the musical The Band, and we had a thoroughly enjoyable evening watching this uplifting production. The musical follows a group of friends whose shared love of a boyband in their youth binds them together, before revisiting their lives years later as they reunite through a competition to see their idols once more. It is a story rich in nostalgia, friendship, and personal reflection, and this production captured all these themes.

The show comes alive through the music of Take That, featuring a host of well-known hits including Relight My Fire, A Million Love Songs, Never Forget, Greatest Day, Patience, and Rule the World, along with many other beloved favourites. These were clearly enjoyed by the audience, who were on their feet by the end of the production, dancing and singing along as though they were at a live concert with the band themselves. We also noticed a great deal of social media publicity leading up to the show, which was cleverly and effectively executed. Congratulations to the Publicity and Marketing team.

The band members, Rob Chilton, Tom Banks, Jack Bayes, Morgan Hemstock, and Ross Trail, worked exceptionally well together, clearly demonstrating a high level of rehearsal and commitment, which really showed in their performance. Vocally, they were strong throughout, confidently delivering challenging harmonies with precision, their staging was particularly effective, with inventive entrances and exits that added an element of surprise, keeping the audience fully engaged. Choreographically, their movement was well executed and exactly what you would expect from a boyband, adding to the authenticity and entertainment value. Each member had moments to shine in solo sections, all delivered with confidence and individuality. However, it was their unity as a group that stood out most, working seamlessly together and making it difficult to single out any one individual, as they truly performed as The Band.

The younger cast opened the show with great energy, Lauren Adams (Debbie), Georgina Anderson (Young Rachel), Charlotte Bennett (Young Claire), Sydney Hemstock (Young Heather), and Harriet Basile (Young Zoe) each created clearly defined and individual characters. Their personalities were quickly established, allowing the audience to understand their interests, friendships, and shared devotion as fans of the band. They convincingly portrayed the carefree nature of youth, while also demonstrating strong vocal ability and clear projection throughout their dialogue. As the story unfolded, they navigated a range of emotions including sadness, anger, and loss with sensitivity and sincerity. Their performances were both engaging and believable, and they worked exceptionally well together as a close-knit group, creating a strong emotional foundation for the rest of the production.

Equally impressive was the transition to the adult characters. Louise Simcox (Rachel), Lucy Slaney (Claire), Heidi Hand (Heather), and Claire Jarman (Zoe) were very well cast, with believable links to their younger counterparts carrying on the story clearly.  They are all strong singers and delivered their songs confidently. Their acting showed real emotion, and you could really believe the close friendship between these characters that had lasted over the years, their connection felt very natural.

Gary Rowley (Jeff) gave a warm and funny performance as Rachel’s husband. Martin Counter (Dave) deserves special mention for his versatility across multiple cameo roles, bringing humour and a different character to each appearance, a clear audience favourite. The ensemble brought lots of energy and enthusiasm to the numbers and the backing dancers Cassie Barrett, Emma Chadwick, Lisa Scott-Savage, and Olivia Thompson added to the concert feel, providing the band’s dancers.

From a technical perspective, the production was of a high level. Direction by Phil Simcox ensured a clear and well-paced narrative, supported effectively by Assistant Director Scarlett Winson. The detailed and thoughtful videography, also by Phil Simcox, was a standout feature, with carefully researched projections adding realism to locations such as the Prague scenes. Musical Direction by Dave Adey resulted in tight harmonies and confident performances throughout. Choreography by Roxhanna Tucker was well suited to the style of the piece, complementing both the narrative and the concert elements of the show.

Sound design by Phil Simcox and Pete Gough ensured clarity and Jamie Vella’s lighting design effectively supported the action on stage, from the concert moments to the more serious and emotive scenes of the production. The staging was particularly noteworthy, with seamless scene changes managed by Stage Manager Steve Cole and stage crew Heath Parkin and Henry Pratt, especially given the pace of the production. Props by Kate Evans were great and costumes by Ali Watkins, Carol Pratley, and Charlotte Hanser reflected the time period and characters well.

A lovely warm welcome from the Front of House team and we must mention the programme, which was vibrant and engaging, providing an excellent introduction to the production. We particularly loved the centre-spread poster, which brought back memories of our youth and reading Smash Hits.

Many congratulations to Good Companions Musical Theatre for delivering a fantastic production and a thoroughly enjoyable evening. We look forward to their next show, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

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