The Band: Musical

Hi guys,

Every teenage girl went through a phase of her life when a band or musician was at the core of her life. To her, that band or singer has been like a long lost friend, a shoulder to cry on and someone to confide in. More likely than not, they're even a source of escapism from the world or problems you go through. I'm nearly 21 and I feel like this is still my life because my world is surrounded by bands who influence me every single day and have played a massive part of my life. 

Well, off the bit of a deep start - there is a reason for the introduction! The Band musical can only really be described in one word: breath-taking. I was lucky enough to go and see the new Take That inspired musical written by Tim Firth in the first few weeks of its existence at the Manchester Opera House. After a nationwide search on the BBC show Let it Shine to find the main boys to play the band, the show is finally ready to be performed to the world. It was a great way to end my summer before going off to finish my final year at university.

The musical perfectly managed to describe a teenagers and her friends lives when they're obsessed with a band to make a compelling story that people, especially me *a major fangirl*, can relate too.  It's a beautiful blend of friendship, sadness and nostalgia with the added bonus of some of Take That's biggest hits. 

The cast were phenomenon but the stars were definitely the boys who played the main boyband characters! I remember watching the show Let It Shine earlier in the year and voting for who I wanted to be the stars of the show. Fast forward to the opening weeks and I know that I used my votes on the right boys. Five to Five (AJ Bentley. Nick Carsberg, Sario Solomon, Curtis Johns and Yazdan Qafouri) were most definitely the strongest during the BBC show and they didn't disappoint me when I saw the show because they were note perfect and could dance as well as any band out there. As well as singing like angels, they were captivating the entire way through - what I mean is that I couldn't really take my eyes off them throughout the show. Yes they're easy on the eye but it was more the way they acted throughout the show. They didn't have any spoken lines but their mannerisms were entrancing and hypnotising, even when they were just stood in the background. Each of them had their own song to shine in and I felt like they were a real boyband that had been around for years! 

I was even lucky enough to meet Nick and Curtis after the show as the boys just casually left the stage door (I nearly got Sario but I was too scared initially to go). Meeting the two of them was an amazing end to a fantastic night because they were both so nice and easy to talk too! If, finger crossed, they stay together as a proper band after the musical, then I expect massive things from them and they have a fan in me! Maybe I'll be lucky enough to meet them all one day or even interview them!

So, overall, the musical reminded me a lot of shows like Mamma Mia in the way that it set the audience alive as they sung and danced along with the cast on stage. It'll make you laugh, cry and sing along at the top of your voices! It's one of the most innovative and exciting musicals this decade and I wish it all the best of luck in the future.

So, I really recommend you all go and watch it whether you're a Take That fan or not - its worth it for a good ol' night out!

That's it for this week,

Bye for Now

xx