Transporting us back to the 90s, Tim Firth’s news musical, The Band comes to the Alhambra Theatre where LEO OWEN caught the show

Hear the words “boy band” and you think of screaming teens. Firth’s musical subverts this idea by appealing to forty-somethings who’re giddier than the scoffing youths who accompany them.

Rather than following the current popular formula documenting the rise of a band or artist, Firth’s musical takes the perspective of a fan and focuses on a life-changing tragedy, testing her devotion to “the band”. The titular band are of course “Take That” whose music weaves through the show, delighting fans and capturing emotions as four childhood friends are reunited at a reunion concert in Prague 25 years after parting ways.

Designer Jon Bausor kicks off the show’s nostalgic journey with Ceefax projected onto the stage curtain and Top of the Pops’ old Thursday night format. Our narrator and main protagonist, Rach (Rachel Lumberg) flashes back to being a teenager in 1993 and growing up with “the band”. Directors Kim Gavin and Jack Ryder set the show’s cheeky tone from the outset with band members popping out of bedroom wardrobes, chests of drawers and school lockers.

Rach and her best friend, Deb (Rachelle Diedericks), listen to a recording of ToTPs made on a cassette recorder before the rest of the gang join and Deb’s revealing she’s won meet the band tickets. Blindingly bright stage lights signify the start of “It Only Takes a Minute” and a medley of songs played for the concert from “Do What You Like” to “Could it be Magic”, accompanied by impressive quick-fire costume changes. The heady energy of the concert is like "sex without contact" for the gang, culminating in a loud rendition of “Relight My Fire” on the bus home, saucily transforming “the band” into Roman Centurions in a chariot fantasy.

Years on and the mood is somewhat different as Rach takes stock of her life after losing contact with her chums. Lyrics to “The Garden” match this mood of disappointed resign as their older counterparts appear from their same teenage bedroom doors; disillusioned, they reflectively sing, “This is the life we've been given”. Together again, at the airport the mood picks up with “Never Forget”, forming the soundtrack and mantra of their lives.

Bittersweet, touching and cheesy, the show’s an emotional rollercoaster, veering from tragic personal stories to extremely funny one-liners. A young Heather (Emily Jocye) is mocked as being "up for the Duke of York [award after having] 10,000 men"; teen Rach’s internal “soundtrack” is both endearing and funny to watch; “earth mother” Zoe (Jayne McKenna) “grows” her own boy band and there are nice small touches with minor characters threading through the show comically misquoting lyrics.

Bausor’s design is clearly high budget from kitchen interiors to a full jet plane on stage. Sets seamlessly shift and cast are cleverly used as props - “The Band” open Act 2 posing as a water fountain statue. As Take That, Five to Five, are the weakest link and feel more like part of the set, despite being mentored by the real deal and winning BBC's Let It Shine.

Although about grief, lost dreams and life’s hurdles, The Band has such an over-riding feel- good factor that it's both fun and moving once you fully immerse and allow yourself to be swept away.

The Band stopped at The Alhambra October 17-28 before continuing its UK tour: https://www.thebandmusical.com/tour