The Band, Lochgelly Centre: music from Take That comes alive in this fabulous show

The music here is now iconic and was first used in a 2008 musical Never Forget, but then Tim Firth wrote The Band as a stage musical and casting was on a BBC reality show called Let It Shine in 2017.

The show opened in Manchester later that year and moved to Theatre Royal Haymarket in the West End in December 2018 for a limited run. Now called Greatest Days the owners have released The Band to amateur companies to perform, and this was snapped up by Dalgety Players in their 50th year.

The scene is set immediately in the intimacy of the Lochgelly Theatre as musical director Isobel Brown fires up her five-piece band for the overture for what was to come. Kat Bandera has installed the energy of the cast, and this is the immediate impression from the young teens who are Betsy Simmons, Sadie Lax, Mollie McNab, Freya Jamieson and Mya Harley to the adult ladies Heather Henderson, Kelly Laing, Ellen Callender, and Angela Sussex.

Together they master the Manchester accent in character while telling the story of the teens seeing The Band then their reunion some 25 years on.

A lot hinges on The Band themselves though. Theo Hart, Robbie Mason, Arthor Fraser, Angus Marshall and Archie Dodds are all under 18 but take on these massive songs like it was their own and at one stage have their own screaming fans with torches and banners in the auditorium which was a nice authentic touch. The boys have their own fans too with a section of the audience and rightly so.

The dance crew blended in among all this, creatively choreographed by Sophie Lister which included one outstanding solo piece from Freya Jamieson.

The songs of course are a joy. It Only Takes A Minute, Could It Be Magic, These Days, Rule The World and Shine are here but tender moments like A Million Love Songs and Patience are given tearful consideration and effective presentation and with subtle lighting from Michael Maclean. A special mention must go to Hazel Hudson who has several roles as Dave. From bus driver to airport check in she steals the show with great timing and comedy worthy of the West End stage.

A lavish programme and a table of merchandise add to the fan orientated theme here with wristbands and T-shirts galore and all this creates a carnival atmosphere in this friendly venue on a stage set with creative screens, stairways and a balcony. By the time the megamix finale came the audience were on their feet loving every second of this wonderful show.

> The Band is at Lochgelly Centre until Saturday, April 18. Tickets at onfife.com