The UK tour of David Pugh and Dafydd Rogers and Take That musical, The Band, by Tim Firth, plays Swansea Grand from today (January 29) until February 2.
The musical reveals what it’s like to grow up with a boyband. For five 16-year-old friends in 1992, ‘The Band’ is everything. 25 years on, the group of friends are reunited, now 40-something women, and try once more to fulfil their dream of meeting their heroes.
For Penarth-born actress Alison Fitzjohn, the show is a return to home-turf. Alison who plays Claire in the production previously visited Cardiff with the show in January 2018 along with her co-stars.
“It’s about life, its empowering women and it’s a female lead cast,” Alison tells Andy Howells on the latest Ents South Wales Audio Supplement podcast.
“We have live musicians on stage which creates this amazing atmosphere in the theatre. It really pulls you on a journey. You’ll be laughing, crying, dancing, singing and that’s all kind of within a split second of each other. It’ll take you on such a journey you’ll come out thinking differently!”
Featuring the music of Take That, The Band features the songs Never Forget, Back for Good, A Million Love Songs, Greatest Day, The Flood, Relight My Fire, Shine and Rule the World.
Providing the music and the all-essential boy-band element are the winners from the BBC’s Let it Shine, Five to Five (AJ Bentley, Nick Carsberg, Yazdan Qafouri Isfahani, Curtis T Johns and Sario Watanabe-Soloman).
The UK touring cast of The Band will take to the stage of Swansea’s Grand Theatre from January 29 until February 2, 2019.
Alison feels that although the production includes many important messages relatable to todays audiences there is much to enjoy too.
“It’s not exclusive in any way,” says Alison, “it’s not middle-class or upper-class theatre it’s for your everyday person who loves music and has got friendship in their life.”
Alison continues:, “We’ve had people saying they’ve contacted friends after they’ve seen it because it’s made them think about their life and what they were when they were younger, the nostalgia element to it.”
“It encompasses all of that but most of all, you’ll have a cracking night out where you’ll just have a bloody good time!”
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Listen to Alison Fitzjohn chat with Andy Howells on the latest Ents South Wales Audio Supplement podcast above.