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Never Forget: The Take That MusicalOpening Date: July 20, 2007 (Cardiff)
Closing Date: Nov 15, 2008 (London) Air date: November 2007 Medium: DVD Where to watch: DVD (Region 2 only. As an Amazon Affiliate Filmed Live Musicals may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you). |
Stage Production Notes
Take That is a British boy band that had immense success in the early 90s, and again in the early 2000s. Formed by Nigel Martin Smith in 1990, the band featured Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Jason Orange, Mark Owen and Robbie Williams. Take That released 17 singles between 1991 and 1996, 8 of which went to number 1 in the British charts. Their top-selling songs included “Pray,” “Relight My Fire,” “Babe,” “Everything Changes,” “Sure,” “Back for Good,” “How Deep is Your Love,” “Patience,” “Shine,” and “Never Forget.”
Record label EMI licensed the early catalogue for a stage show in 2005 or 2006 (sources differ on the date). Guy Jones, Ed Curtis, and Danny Brockelhurst took the songs and created Never Forget: The New Musical Based on the Music of Take That. Based in Manchester, the jukebox musical followed the trials and tribulations of a fictitious Take That tribute band.
Never Forget first opened at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff, before embarking on a UK tour. The show was reportedly seen by over 100,000 people.
The show transferred to the West End on May 7, 2008 at the Savoy Theatre where it received lukewarm reviews. Critics universally panned the terrible script, but generally had praise for the production’s spectacular technical elements. More than one critic noted that the highlight of the evening was the finale and curtain call.
Never Forget played on the West End for 6 months before closing on November 15, 2008. Although a transfer to the Lyric Theatre had been announced, it was cancelled in favor of a UK tour.
The second UK tour was launched in 2009.
The real life band re-grouped in 2007, minus Robbie Williams who had embarked on a successful solo career, and publicly announced that they did not endorse the musical.
In 2015 band member and singer-songwriter Gary Barlow, who composed the stage musical version of Finding Neverland, announced that he would like to write his own version of a Take That jukebox musical. The result, The Band, was cast via a BBC reality television show called “Let It Shine.” The Band was scheduled to begin rehearsals and UK tour in July 2017.
Take That is a British boy band that had immense success in the early 90s, and again in the early 2000s. Formed by Nigel Martin Smith in 1990, the band featured Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Jason Orange, Mark Owen and Robbie Williams. Take That released 17 singles between 1991 and 1996, 8 of which went to number 1 in the British charts. Their top-selling songs included “Pray,” “Relight My Fire,” “Babe,” “Everything Changes,” “Sure,” “Back for Good,” “How Deep is Your Love,” “Patience,” “Shine,” and “Never Forget.”
Record label EMI licensed the early catalogue for a stage show in 2005 or 2006 (sources differ on the date). Guy Jones, Ed Curtis, and Danny Brockelhurst took the songs and created Never Forget: The New Musical Based on the Music of Take That. Based in Manchester, the jukebox musical followed the trials and tribulations of a fictitious Take That tribute band.
Never Forget first opened at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff, before embarking on a UK tour. The show was reportedly seen by over 100,000 people.
The show transferred to the West End on May 7, 2008 at the Savoy Theatre where it received lukewarm reviews. Critics universally panned the terrible script, but generally had praise for the production’s spectacular technical elements. More than one critic noted that the highlight of the evening was the finale and curtain call.
Never Forget played on the West End for 6 months before closing on November 15, 2008. Although a transfer to the Lyric Theatre had been announced, it was cancelled in favor of a UK tour.
The second UK tour was launched in 2009.
The real life band re-grouped in 2007, minus Robbie Williams who had embarked on a successful solo career, and publicly announced that they did not endorse the musical.
In 2015 band member and singer-songwriter Gary Barlow, who composed the stage musical version of Finding Neverland, announced that he would like to write his own version of a Take That jukebox musical. The result, The Band, was cast via a BBC reality television show called “Let It Shine.” The Band was scheduled to begin rehearsals and UK tour in July 2017.
Filmed Production Notes
The press night of the run at the Manchester Opera House was filmed and released on DVD by Universal Pictures in November 2007.
Film reviewer Darren Amner posted a positive review of the DVD, calling it “a fun, feel-good film” and “an unexpected surprise." Reviews of the production make no mention of the DVD release, or the fact that the production was already available to purchase on DVD a full six months before its West End debut.
Never Forget is available on DVD (Region 2; as an Amazon Affiliate Filmed Live Musicals may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you).
The press night of the run at the Manchester Opera House was filmed and released on DVD by Universal Pictures in November 2007.
Film reviewer Darren Amner posted a positive review of the DVD, calling it “a fun, feel-good film” and “an unexpected surprise." Reviews of the production make no mention of the DVD release, or the fact that the production was already available to purchase on DVD a full six months before its West End debut.
Never Forget is available on DVD (Region 2; as an Amazon Affiliate Filmed Live Musicals may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you).
Never Forget PRODUCTION CREDITS
Theatre: Manchester Opera House
Producer: Tristan Baker, Bronia Buchanan, Charlie Parsons, Jason Haigh-Ellery
Book: Danny Brocklehurst, Ed Curtis, Guy Jones
Music and Lyrics: Gary Barlow
Additional Music: Barry Manilow, Dan Hartman, Adrienne Anderson
Director: Ed Curtis
Musical Supervisor and Vocal Arrangements: Mike Dixon
Orchestrations and Musical Arrangements: Chris Egan
Choreography: Karen Brunce
Scenic Design: Bob Bailey
Costume Design: Christopher Woods
Lighting Design: James Whiteside
Sound Design: Richard Brooker
Musical Director: Matt Smith
Cast:
Dean Chisnall (Ash Sherwood)
Craige Els (Jake ‘The Face’ Turner)
Eaton James (Dirty Harry)
Tim Driesen (Adrian Banks)
Stephane Anelli (Jose Reize)
Marilyn Cutts (Babs Sherwood)
Teddy Kempner (Ron Freeman)
Alexis Owen-Hobbs (Annie Borrowman)
Nancy Sullivan (Chloe Turner)
Theatre: Manchester Opera House
Producer: Tristan Baker, Bronia Buchanan, Charlie Parsons, Jason Haigh-Ellery
Book: Danny Brocklehurst, Ed Curtis, Guy Jones
Music and Lyrics: Gary Barlow
Additional Music: Barry Manilow, Dan Hartman, Adrienne Anderson
Director: Ed Curtis
Musical Supervisor and Vocal Arrangements: Mike Dixon
Orchestrations and Musical Arrangements: Chris Egan
Choreography: Karen Brunce
Scenic Design: Bob Bailey
Costume Design: Christopher Woods
Lighting Design: James Whiteside
Sound Design: Richard Brooker
Musical Director: Matt Smith
Cast:
Dean Chisnall (Ash Sherwood)
Craige Els (Jake ‘The Face’ Turner)
Eaton James (Dirty Harry)
Tim Driesen (Adrian Banks)
Stephane Anelli (Jose Reize)
Marilyn Cutts (Babs Sherwood)
Teddy Kempner (Ron Freeman)
Alexis Owen-Hobbs (Annie Borrowman)
Nancy Sullivan (Chloe Turner)
Sources
Articles
Websites
- Darren Amner, “Never Forget: A New Musical Based on the Songs of Take That,” Eye for Film (Nov 27, 2007)
- Peter Brown, “Never Forget - Take That musical,” London Theatre (May 28, 2008)
- Alex Clark, “Hell, you’ve got to love ‘em,” The Guardian (Aug 26, 2007)
- Jess Denham, “Gary Barlow promises Take That musical will happen 'in next five years,” The Independent (April 14, 2015)
- Lyn Gardner, “Never Forget,” The Guardian (May 23, 2008)
- Manchester Evening News, “Never Forget @ Opera House,” Manchester Evening News, (April 20, 2010)
- Scott Matthewman, “Never Forget review at Savoy London,” The Stage (May 23, 2008)
- John Nathan, “Take That Musical Never Forget Announces London Dates,” Playbill (Nov 2, 2007)
- John Nathan, “Casting Announced for Take That Musical Never Forget,” Playbill (June 8, 2007)
- Becky Pemberton, “Where can I see The Band, the Take That musical featuring winners of Let It Shine? Dates, ticket prices and venues,” The Sun (April 8, 2017)
- Mark Shenton, “Casting Announced for U.K. Tour of Take That Musical Never Forget,” Playbill (March 18, 2009)
- Mark Shenton, "Never Forget Cancels Transfer to London's Lyric Theatre; Tour Planned," Playbill (Oct 2, 2008)
- Charles Spencer, “Never Forget: 'My Take That shame, I enjoyed it’,” The Telegraph (May 23, 2008)
- Esther Walker, “First Night: Never Forget, Savoy Theatre, London,” The Independent (May 22, 2008)
Websites
- Never Forget the Musical, Accessed via: http://www.neverforgetthemusical.com/
- UK Student Life, “Never Forget The Musical”, Accessed via: http://www.ukstudentlife.com/Life/Entertainment/Theatre/Never-Forget.htm
Written by Luisa Lyons (April, 2017)