The official Take That musical is heading to Manchester this spring, and will star both Kym Marsh and her daughter Emilie Cunliffe.
Greatest Days will visit the Palace Theatre as part of a major UK and Ireland tour, coinciding with the release of a film based on the hit musical, which will star Aisling Bea and Jayde Adams.
The theatre show has been created with the music of boyband Take That, featuring more than 15 of their record-breaking songs.
This heart-warming and hilarious story of love, loss and laughter has been written by the award-winning Tim Firth, who was also behind Calendar Girls and Kinky Boots.
Greatest Days follows a group of five best friends who reunite after 20 years to see their favourite 90s boy band one last time.
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Kym Marsh shot to fame on reality TV show Popstars way back in 2000 when she ended up in the band Hear’Say – she’s since pursued a successful acting career (we all know her from Coronation Street) and has starred on the West End.
Kym Marsh
Her daughter Emilie Cunliffe has been singing and performing for almost her entire life, appearing on BBC One’s The Voice and ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent, with a debut album on the way.
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Their roles as Rachel and Young Rachel in Greatest Days were announced this week by producer Adam Kenwright.
Speaking on the role and working with her daughter, Kym said: “I’m delighted to be returning to theatre and joining the cast of Greatest Days.
“I was in my early twenties when Take That were at the height of their fame and, of course, I was a huge Take That fan – who wasn’t? Their music takes me back to so many special times in my life as it will for so many other people.
“I’m thrilled to be working with my daughter, Emilie, too. She’s a real talent and I can’t wait to share the stage with her.
“Greatest Days is a wonderful, uplifting show with iconic music, a great storyline and I know people will love it.”
Emilie added: “I’m really excited to be joining the cast of Greatest Days. I grew up listening to Take That with mum, so what an honour it is to be part of this brilliant musical celebrating their music.
“I’m really close to my mum and getting to work with her is a dream come true.”
Greatest Days was originally produced as The Band, and opened at the Manchester Opera House back in 2017.
Beloved comedy stage play The Full Monty to return to Manchester for iconic film’s 30th anniversary
Emily Sergeant
Beloved comedy stage play The Full Monty is heading on a UK tour next year, and will be stopping off here in Manchester.
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the iconic British film of the same name, which was released to the world back in 1997, a major national tour of The Full Monty will kick off next year, and will be taking to one of Manchester‘s most famous stages in the spring.
Described as being ‘fast-paced and irresistibly funny’, Simon Beaufoy’s heartfelt play tells the story of an ordinary group of men who are striving to reclaim their dignity and pride.
The film may be turning 30 years old next year, but the play remains as strikingly relevant today as it ever has, especially resonating powerfully in an era that is marked, once again, by an unfortunate cost of living crisis.
Audiences will get to watch as Gaz and his mates find themselves down on their luck, cast aside, and underestimated, but ultimately determined to fight back… even if it means revealing more about themselves than they ever imagined (wink wink).
Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the iconic film, The Full Monty is back by popular demand and the boys are returning to The Opera House!
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“A lot has changed in Britain since The Full Monty appeared thirty years ago,” Oscar-winning screenwriter Simon Beaufoy said.
“What hasn’t changed is our need for laughter, compassion and dignity. I’m so delighted the Monty Men are back on the road with all their flaws, jokes and wobbly bits, bringing a bit of much-needed joy to audiences once again.”
So, what can audiences expect? Well, the production will deliver a ‘rollercoaster of laughter and heartbreak’, as crowds are invited to relive the iconic music of the 90s cheering on this unforgettable group of lads as they prepare to put on the show of their lives.
The Full Monty will take to the iconic Manchester Opera House stage from Monday 5 through to Saturday 10 April 2027, as well as dates in other northern cities like Sheffield, Bradford, Liverpool, York, and Glasgow, alongside many more major UK locations.
Casting is set to be announced soon so keep your eyes peeled.
But in the meantime, tickets are set to go on sale in March – with pre-sales starting on Wednesday 11 March, and general sale starting the day after (Thursday 12 March), both at 10am, and you can get your hands on them here.
Featured Image – Supplied
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Wigan favourites Stanleys release first single ahead of debut album next year
Danny Jones
Fast-rising Wigan band Stanleys have dropped the lead single from their debut album, which is finally on its way and will be coming sometime next year.
Entitled ‘Pass The Time’, the Stanleys’ latest outing arrived on Friday, 20 February, and while there’s still no specific release date for the first-ever full-length LP, we do know it’s coming at some point in 2027.
To simply label it as more catchy indie would be a disservice to the craft and graft these lads have put in: this is definitely a step forward and in a slightly different direction, with an even more guitar-driven feel and an extra bit of gruff about it compared to previous Stanleys material.
Our only minor complaint is that we wish it lasted a little longer – we want MORE.
An energetic two-and-a-half-minute track that we can already see becoming a fan favourite, it’s one we’re looking forward to hearing in the flesh.
We’ve caught the Stanleys boys live a few times now, both here in Manchester city centre and at their sold-out show in Wigan as part of The Monaco relaunch, as well as at the likes of Kendal Calling festival in recent years.
Safe to say, they never disappoint, and neither do their growing crowd of die-hards.
With lyrics touching on not just the passing of time but also that sense of youthful ambition and how it fluctuates with age, it feels like one of those defiant indie rallying cries we grew up listening to in our own adolescence, and it definitely has plenty of energy to it.
Both The Manc and our wider Audio North team had the pleasure of chatting with them back in November 2024, and you can tell they have big plans to take on not just the local music scene but the UK and beyond.
The release of ‘Pass The Time’ comes almost a year on from their last song, ‘Out the Door’: a similarly fast-run song, albeit with a different vibe.
Positioned as part of Wigan’s next generation of new bands and artists, Stanleys are clearly looking to keep developing as musicians, and if tunes like these are anything to go by, then we can’t wait for their first full record.
They’re also going to be playing a night here in Manchester city centre and beloved grassroots venue, Night and Day, this April; you can grab tickets HERE.
So get adding it to your Spotify playlists, watching the music video, and maybe we’ll see you at the gig.
Daisy Jackson -
28th February 2023 
