gary barlow tour 2022 review

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Gary Barlow: ‘A Different Stage’ review

• Theatre, Musicals
• 4 out of 5 stars
• Recommended

Time Out says

The Take That frontman plays the hits – and the audience – beautifully in this slick one-man-show

When I took my mum to see Gary ‘Ooh isn’t he lovely’ Barlow, there was a moment when I lost sight of her near the loos. It was tough picking her out of the lineup. This audience is wall-to-wall mature ladies, out to get tiddly, have a giggle and get a bit closer to the blonde lad from Frodsham, Cheshire, whose swoopingly romantic ballads and sweet falsetto crooning were the beating heart of pop megagroup, Take That.

I’m happy to say those ladies got everything they came for and more. Barlow’s one-man show is a hoot. Stubbled, tracksuited and as chipper as a squirrel with a Nutribullet, the 50-something Barlow has come a long way from the smalltown teen who used to ride his BMX to the park and watch the lights of the M54, dreaming of stardom. He now has thousands of hours of performances under his belt and it shows: he nails this two-hour tour of his life and music like the pro he is, the audience lapping up every joke and revelation as he holds them in the palm of his hand.

It’s a far cry from a massive stadium gig: strippped back, intimate, the magic ingredients are a piano, a heap of packing crates and – hilariously – a Simon Le Bon wig. You can relax: it’s funny, it’s confessional and it’s comfortable and exudes the kind of slick affability Barlow would have admired many times from behind when he was a teenage organ prodigy, supporting Bob Monkhouse and other northern circuit acts as they passed through his local British Legion club. He’s now as rich as Croesus and doesn’t have to do this. But he has hired a theatrical A team to help him make it good; his regular collaborator Tim Firth directs, and the subtle and marvellous Es Devlin and Bruno Poet on set and lighting. Barlow looks very, very comfortable parlaying his triumphs and disasters into crowd-pleasing anecdotes: the teenage mega-stardom; his feud with co-star Robbie Williams; Take That’s acrimonious split; failing to break America; retreating behind the gates of his mansion and ballooning to 17 stone on a diet of spliffs, Quality Street and the local all you can eat Chinese takeaway… it’s all told with a twinkle, a self-deprecating shrug and a tinkle of the old ivories. 

The music is a treat. I’m not a die-hard Take That fan. Unlike the women behind me who got, actually, so over-excited after the interval champagne that one of them started blubbing and barking like a dog. That aside,  this guy penned era-defining ’90s pop melodies and it’s a treat to hear him unpack and sing ‘Million Love Songs’, ‘Back For Good’ and their ilk, close up and personally. 

Barlow’s voice has aged incredibly well; it’s acquired depth and feeling compared to the effortless lightness of his youth. A moment where he switches off the mic and goes acoustic is genuinely electrifying. That emotional depth doesn’t come over in the chat, the script’s tone is uniformly light and pleasing, even when it touches on truly awful episodes like the birth of his stillborn daughter Poppy. He realised at an early age, says Barlow, that ‘music makes things better’. And this is a show which, like its star, only ever aims to please - a rather lovely, humble and old-fashioned impulse for stardom. Unlike most theatre shows this one never outstays its welcome: there are no boring bits, and none of the usual theatre watch-checking moments, not even for the long-suffering husbands who get dragged along. Congratulations to Barlow’s dad who worked years of overtime to pay for the organ, and to his mum who still shows up to all his northern gigs: their support and faith is amply rewarded here in a sweet, funny, soaringly musical show that thanks them very nicely, and in a man who is clearly at peace with himself.

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NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

A Different Stage review: Gary Barlow’s cheesy but charming one-man show will win you over

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Gary Barlow makes his West End debut with new one-man show A Different Stage , a honest, cheesy and ever so slightly naff effort that will bowl you over with its charm nonetheless.

A spin-off from his newly-published autobiography, Barlow narrates the journey of his life through song, instruments and chat – and dipping into that stellar discography is when the show truly ignites.

Having previously toured the production around Runcorn, Manchester , Liverpool and Edinburgh – and with national touring plans in place across the UK and Ireland until late November – it makes its home at The Duke of York’s Theatre for a limited three-week run.

The intimate setting of one of the capital’s smaller theatres works well with Barlow’s easygoing presence and the stripped back staging of his solo effort, which sees the star surrounded by stacks of touring cases which house his props.

It’s also a delight for his fans to get up close and personal with him, in a way that Take That ’s arena tours can’t compete with: potentially an unmissable opportunity for those most passionate followers, as the star swaps spectacle for more simple, old-fashioned entertainment.

Barlow is well aware of the demographic of most of his fans (female, 40 and up), making a few affectionate jokes – including acknowledging ‘the men dragged along’ – but it’s never snide and the overall impression is one of a singer proud of – and grateful for – his enduring fanbase. His popularity can probably no better be illustrated than by the German fan I bumped into in the toilet on her 12th viewing of the show.

A Different Stage goes back its subject’s roots on the circuit in working men’s club as a youngster, complete with disco ball and gold foil fringe backdrop. Although undoubtedly deliberate, the lo-fi nature of the staging does mean it’s hard to escape a whiff of earnest drama student as Barlow cycles through costume changes and multi-use props on stage (certainly easily packable for the tour though).

It’s also a slightly odd category of performance as he presents and re-enacts sections of his life with real energy – but the rehearsed regurgitation is evident in some places.

The show doesn’t shy away from tackling the lows of Barlow’s life: his post-Take That weight gain leading him to become ‘a professional bulimic’, his father’s death at the apex of the reformed group’s fame in 2009, and the heartbreaking stillbirth of his daughter Poppy days ahead of the 2012 Olympics closing ceremony. Hearing Barlow discuss the sense of perspective her death gave him, and the uplifting song that came from the harrowing experience, makes for the most powerful five minutes of A Different Stage.

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He also happily makes some good-humoured admissions about ex-Take That colleague Robbie Williams – from expecting him to fade ‘into obscurity’ on leaving the group to the countless people who would tell him in his own years in the wilderness: ‘Robbie’s doing well, isn’t he?’

The highlight of the night is undoubtedly Barlow’s musical interludes, where he deftly displays his skills as a pianist. The vocals are still as smooth and flawless as ever too, belying the 30 plus years since Take That first formed. It also helps that as the lead singer and songwriter on almost all of their 12 number one hit singles, Barlow and his piano are just as satisfying as the original recordings. That natural ease and emotion that might be slightly missing from some of the narration is all here, and in spades.

A Different Stage offers nothing mind-blowingly original other than Barlow himself, whose effortlessly engaging persona can sell the hell out of pretty much anything – yes, fans will be most satisfied by the show, but even the most hard-hearted will find it hard to resist cracking a smile or humming along at points. And yes, all the hits are there, plus a few more treats thrown in as well.

With the show, the sense that Barlow does it because he wants to, and not because he has to, is clear. This format is something different, and a new challenge – and fair play to him.

A Different Stage runs at The Duke of York’s Theatre in London until September 25. The tour begins in Cornwall on September 27 and runs until November 20 in Wolverhampton.

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‘A Different Stage’ Gary Barlow tour review

For most of us, Gary Barlow has been a household name for as long as we can remember. Known to millions as a member of pop game-changers Take That, a solo artist in his own right and a judge on X-Factor, the Mancunian has been a hugely influential part of British entertainment for over three decades. Now, under the title “A Different Stage”, these very sold-out shows gave Gary an opportunity to visit some of the UK’s more intimate theatres and, in the company of just a few hundred lucky fans each night, tell his life story.

Not content to take the easy option, this show sees Gary taking fans back to where it all started right through to how he became one of the biggest names in modern British pop music. What a journey it has been as well. Looking back at his early years, his first loves and discovering Top Of The Pops, it’s obvious to see how family life has kept him grounded throughout. Hearing how he started out in his bedroom with a cassette recorder and a Yamaha organ, it’s hard to picture the humble beginnings of the pop superstar slogging away in empty working men’s clubs but it’s the chapter of his story which ends with him meeting four other wannabee pop stars and, well, the rest is history really.

The next part of the story, and a major chapter in 90s British pop music, played out in front of millions of fans as five unknown lads from Manchester and Stoke went from performing their first gig at an empty club in Huddersfield and being the first band to tour the UK playing school assemblies to touring the world. Despite the sell-out tours and hit albums, Gary recalls how the bubble burst and the Take That dream ended leading the Mancunian into one of the darker times in his life and a battle with bulimia.

Recalling his disastrous attempt to crack America as a solo artist coupled with the meteoric rise of his former bandmate Robbie Williams, Barlow soon withdrew from public life entirely. Thankfully, years later a chance phone call and a Take That Documentary brought the remaining four members back together in a London pub and the pop icons returned.

A story of as many ups as it has downs, it’s very easy for fans to forget the normal life away from the glitz and glamour associated with artists like Barlow. “A Different Stage” sees Barlow take fans into that side of his life recalling not only the happy times but also darker times such as the heartbreaking loss of both his father then his daughter Poppy. Throughout though, it is all delivered with a twist of Barlow’s own humour as he reveals how his father was buried along with his Take That AAA pass.

Of course, the two hours couldn’t have passed without a musical treat or two from Barlow to accompany the story and he didn’t let these hardcore fans down. Taking to a piano to perform some of his biggest hits along with some of the songs that shaped his formative years, the end of the night saw the crowd on their feet as Barlow signed off with arguably one of the biggest songs in British pop music.

Now, many artists who take their life story out on tour simply spend two hours recalling stories to a host and the audience but “A Different Stage” was more than that. This one-man show played out like a dramatised theatre show, taking you on a wonderful emotional rollercoaster journey through the life of a British entertainment icon. Wonderfully narrated by Barlow, whether you are a hardcore fan or, in his words, a reluctant attendee, “A Different Stage” is a story that won’t disappoint you.

Gary Barlow 2022 UK tour dates: Tuesday 15 March – Saturday 19 March – Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool Tuesday 22 March – Sunday 27 March – Lyceum, Edinburgh

Limited tickets can be found here

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Gary Barlow review: Take That man bares heart and soul at intimate hometown show for just 400 fans

Strictly no photos, just 420 fans at each show and Gary Barlow giving his all

• 12:14, 12 FEB 2022

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Gary Barlow has entertained thousands and thousands of fans at the world's biggest arenas and stadiums - with boyband Take That, and as a solo artist.

But his latest project takes him to an entirely different type of stage stage - in front of just 420 fans at The Brindley Theatre in Runcorn.

Why Runcorn?

Well, it's just a stone's throw from where the entire Gary Barlow story started, in his hometown of Frodsham in Cheshire.

READ MORE: You can now see the Sistine Chapel art in Manchester

Naturally, upon announcing this new one-man theatre show in January, it swiftly sold out - even though there were few details about what would be in store in the show aptly titled A Different Stage.

"I didn't know what to expect, but it wasn't that" laughs one lady leaving the auditorium on Friday night, still wiping away mascara trails from all the tears.

"I didn't know how funny he was either," chirped her friend.

It's safe to say none of us knew what to expect with this new one man show from Mr Barlow, hot on the heels of his huge solo arena tour in December.

At those gigs , fans got exactly what they expected - Gary singing all his biggest hits and a few Christmas songs thrown in for good measure.

What Gary delivers with A Different Stage is a brave and beautiful retelling of his whole life story - warts and all - and he really does bare heart and soul.

For those who grew up on the music of Take That, it makes this more than just a show, this is a seriously emotional experience.

Gary is keen to keep the element of surprise with this project - fans are warned from the outset that there are strictly no photos or videos allowed inside, and at the start of the show Gary's voice booms out to comically ask that the audience go old school in their approach tonight - and "watch with your actual eyes".

Over the course of the two hour one-man show we get to hear all the magical, memorable and heart-wrenching stories from Gary of growing up in the north west and playing the working men's clubs of Halton and Connah's Quay, while dreaming of hitting the big time somewhere exciting and glamorous "down the M56".

We hear in his own words how he first met Take That creator Nigel Martin-Smith in Manchester, and how he became one fifth of the boyband that aimed to become "the British New Kids on the Block" - Take That.

Gary has worked with his old friend and theatre collaborator Tim Firth on this show, which is essentially Gary narrating his life with brilliant comedy timing as well as important songs peppered into the action.

So don't expect this to be a Gary's greatest hits night.

Instead, this is the story of how music first shaped a man, and how his music shaped the lives of so many.

I don't want to ruin the surprise of the evening with too much details of the stories Gary tells, but I will say that for Take That fans it's an unmissable night of hearing how those four northern lads (and a young upstart from Stoke) became the biggest band in the country, on to the pain of their split, and the emotional toll it all took on Gary, before that triumphant comeback.

He doesn't shy away from any topic - from the highs of pop superstardom to the heart-breaking lows and yes, even talking about that tax scandal.

He reveals the stories behind some of Take That's biggest hits of which Gary performs snippets of through the night, at first on his original casio keyboard bought for him at the age of 11, through to the Yamaha organ his beloved dad Colin worked night and day to afford to buy him, and on to his baby grand piano.

You'd have to have a heart of stone not to be moved by many of the incredibly moving elements in this show.

Indeed I can feel myself tearing up again just recalling the moment Gary talked through the tragedy of his stillborn daughter Poppy - and how she inspired his new perspective on life and the beautiful song Let Me Go.

Naturally, the show all ends on a high, with the crowd on their feet not only to wave their arms in the familiar salutes to Never Forget, but to give Gary the most deserving of standing ovations for this most personal and poignant of performances.

The show continues at The Brindley Theatre for the next four nights, and if you're lucky enough to have secured a ticket you're in for a night you'll never forget as well.

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Gary Barlow – A Different Stage

This show about the life and times of Gary Barlow, starring Gary Barlow, has surprisingly broad appeal. It’s a sweeping generalisation, perhaps, but there are three categories of audience members in attendance in a show like this. There are the diehard Take That fans, some of whom aren’t entirely sure how to react when Barlow acknowledges that, at the time of Robbie Williams’ resignation, he was quite content to see him go. All of them know all the words to all the songs – but, as if wanting to underline the point that this is a play with songs and not a concert, Barlow begins with modified lyrics to introduce the show. I thought it was a stroke of genius, and far more effective than any number of pre-show warnings not to sing along.

He’s an engaging storyteller, and as a pop star, quite used to being heckled and talking over occasional shouting in the audience at the performance I attended (nothing on the scale a Take That stadium concert would presumably be like). It’s a well-drilled and well-rehearsed performance, and there’s nothing wrong with that in the world of theatre. The narrative can come across as sanitised in places – the tax avoidance scheme that first came to light in 2012 was glossed over (frankly, he’d have been better off not mentioning it in the first place), and his stint as a judge on The X-Factor is, interestingly, unacknowledged.

What became a running joke about fans and acquaintances rubbing Williams’ solo career successes in his face at a time when his own public profile was essentially non-existent, as well as recollections of personal tragedies including his stillborn daughter Poppy and the loss of his father Colin, provided insight into his coping mechanisms in difficult times. Some of these did more harm than good: candid retrospective thoughts on bulimia drew gasps from the audience, even from patrons who already knew about it. Let’s just say Barlow seldom, if ever, does anything by halves.

He is, first and foremost, a singer and songwriter, and with a keyboard, piano and organ on stage, he is palpably at his happiest and most comfortable when belting out one of his compositions to a live audience. I went in wondering why on earth he’d brought his show to the 640-capacity Duke of York’s Theatre – he could quite easily, I would have thought, sold out a considerably larger venue (Take That’s 2019 tour played at, amongst other places, The O2 Arena and Anfield). But what, by his standards and by his own admission, is an intimate experience, works well, with everything stripped back.

In telling his story going back as far as his formative years, there’s a much wider repertoire of songs than one might reasonably expect from an evening with Gary Barlow, including “Blaze Away!”, a military marching tune composed by Abe Holzmann (1874-1939), a song his father enjoyed, and for reasons made clear in the narrative, Neil Diamond’s ‘Sweet Caroline’ and Barry Manilow’s ‘Copacabana’. It was also intriguing, for instance, to discover who precisely ‘you’ is in the lyric, “ Whatever I said, whatever I did, I didn’t mean it / I just want you back for good ”. An insightful and entertaining show.

Review by Chris Omaweng

Created by Gary Barlow and his long-time friend and collaborator Tim Firth, A Different Stage sees the singer-songwriter narrate the journey of his life alongside the music from his incredible discography. In a production unlike any other, the audience will go behind the curtain, with nothing off limits in this special performance.

After selling over 50 millions records worldwide, Gary Barlow is one of Britain’s most successful songwriters and record producers. As part of the group Take That, he has won eight BRIT Awards and sold over 45 million records. Aside from his achievements with Take That, he has also co-written and produced music for other renowned artists including Dame Shirley Bassey, Sir Elton John and Robbie Williams.

In more recent years, Barlow has also turned his attention to the world of theatre, composing the score for the hugely successful production of Finding Neverland; working alongside Tim Firth on Calendar Girls The Musical; and collaborating with Firth and his Take That bandmates on The Band, a record-breaking stage musical currently being adapted into a feature film.

London Savoy Theatre Mon 21 Nov and Mon 28 Nov 2022

Aylesbury Gary Barlow at Aylesbury Waterside Theatre Wed 19 Oct – Sat 22 Oct 2022

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About The Author

Chris Omaweng

1 thought on “gary barlow – a different stage”.

Saw the show today . He was brIlliant . Genuinely Mr nice guy that has suffered with his mental health in the past . Very brave and honest to share those times with us . Congratulations on your success Mr. Barlow . Loved it !!

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• Sep 8, 2022

Review: Gary Barlow - A Different Stage (Duke Of York's Theatre)

Review by Daz Gale

One of the biggest names in British music is touring a very different show at the moment. Though he may be more used to playing arenas and stadiums with Take That, Gary Barlow himself is no stranger to the West End having in the past being involved with musicals The Girls and The Band (The Take That musical currently being adapted into a movie). Nearly four years after that show finished its limited run, I guess now it’s time for Gary’s one-man show A Different Stage to see him back in the West End… though disappointingly not for good.

Let’s address the giant elephant in the room (Take That fans will immediately think back to The Circus tour). I am a huge Take That fan and have been all my life. As a kid, I ran to my local shop (ask your parents) to buy their latest album the day it came out on cassette (ask your grandparents). When they reunited, I became an even bigger fan, seeing them on every tour. In fact, my love for their music pre-dates my love for theatre, so it was an interesting concept for me to see these two beautiful worlds unite. But the question is what would my critical theatre brain make of this show?

This isn’t your everyday Gary Barlow concert. A Different Stage is exactly as it describes itself – a very different show for Gary which recounts the highs and lows of his life and career thus far. No bells and whistles, none of the grand set pieces you have come to expect from a Take That shows (which means no giant elephant). Instead, what you are left with is a stripped back, completely intimate show which allows Gary to show his personality and vulnerability with no holds barred.

Directed by Tom Firth, Gary effortlessly commands the stage with little more than his voice and the odd musical instrument to tell the story, displaying his natural charm as he talks to the audience like he is in a room full of old friends (which in some cases, he is). We all know what an accomplished songwriter Gary is, but his writing extends past just the music as this show is a well crafted and speedy look into the life Gary has had in and out of the spotlight for more than 30 years now.

A relatively bare set, littered only with boxes to resemble a packed up stage does exactly what it needs to. Designed by Es Devlin, minimal props are used to great effect with the presence of his various musical instruments including a glorious organ providing the centrepieces. A Different Stage also utiilses a beautiful use of lighting from Bruno Poet – one highlight of which are a series of spotlights to resemble Garys absent band members.

Without giving much of the content away, Gary touches upon how he was discovered, his rise to fame in Take That, the darker years after his solo career failed to take off and the second wind he got after Take That’s surprise comeback. Stories of his career are interspersed with tales from his personal life, where Gary unflinchingly recounts his experience with immeasurable personal loss including the heart-breaking stillbirth of his daughter Poppy, and a perhaps surprising inclusion of his dealings with an eating disorder. Garys flow telling these stories is utterly gripping, with the more emotional of these moments cutting through and leaving not a dry eye in the house. My only criticism of this perhaps is that each story is barely touched upon before we have moved on to the next thing. This is to be expected in a 2 hour show that has to cover a lifetime, but such is the calibre of the storytelling, it really does leave you wanting more.

Of course there is music present, but if you’re expecting to be treated to a career-spanning greatest hits, the contents are far more surprising. Without giving away all of the songs he does, ‘Rule The World’ takes on a whole new meaning while poignant solo single ‘Let Me Go’ is an undoubted highlight. There are also some unexpected covers and teases of Take That classics, all of which are performed in fine voice from Gary.

I may have been a bit hesitant at the beginning of this show, but Gary well and truly won me over on a truly captivating and charismatic show that appealed to both the Take That fan and the theatre lover inside of me. Full of surprises, A Different Stage is a brutally honest and heartfelt piece of theatre that was a true masterclass in storytelling. While he will soon be back to playing to tens of thousands of fans in some of the biggest venues in the country, getting the chance to experience Gary Barlow recounting his life in such raw detail in such an intimate setting is an evening I will never forget.

A Different Stage is playing at the Duke of York’s Theatre until September 25th.

Tickets available here

It then tours the UK until November. Dates and tickets at http://adifferentstage.show/

Photos by Claire Kramer MacKinnon

'A Different Stage' review – Gary Barlow shines in this gem of a one-man show

A million love songs later, here he is. We’ve seen the Take That line-up shrink over the years, from five down to three; now Gary Barlow unveils his own solo show, and it’s an absolute cracker. A Different Stage , which visits the West End during its national tour, could easily have been just a greatest hits concert peppered with some smug anecdotes. Instead, Barlow has teamed up with Tim Firth, his co-creator on musical The Girls and book writer for Take That musical The Band , for this tightly scripted gem.

The one-man show, based on Barlow’s new autobiography of the same name, guides us through his life, from his humble beginnings in small-town Cheshire (never forget where you’ve come here from!) to ruling the world – and then losing it all. We’re now so used to Barlow’s status as acclaimed songwriter and national treasure, popping up at royal jubilees and the Olympics Closing Ceremony, that it’s almost shocking to recall how he crashed out of the industry and faced serious personal challenges.

All of this is told with utterly winning self-deprecation. Barlow began his career in Northern working men’s clubs, and the show draws on that tradition – the cheeky patter, the callback gags, the chumminess with the audience. He gently pokes fun at his naïve younger self, whose hammy, crowd-pleasing early sets leapt from “A Whiter Shade of Pale” and “The Phantom of the Opera” to “Copacabana”.

It’s an effectively simple staging from co-director Seimi Campbell and designer Es Devlin, with Barlow using mainly musical props to chart his journey: from his first miniature keyboard through to a plastic Yamaha organ (which his hard-working Dad sold his time off to buy), cassettes, boombox and sampler. But it’s the piano to which he returns when he’s figuring out his songwriter identity, and to which he dedicates “Back for Good”.

Barlow is wryly amusing as he recounts the chaotic formation of Take That. Sporting a terrible Simon Le Bon-inspired mullet, he was aware that the other members of the group were much cooler and better-looking than him. Their early years together don’t get much air time here, but we do get Barlow’s version of that fateful moment when Robbie Williams quit the band. His internal response? Cheerily waving Robbie off into obscurity.

Of course, it didn’t turn out that way, and his former bandmate’s global stardom only makes his own failure – following a disastrous attempt at conquering America – even more miserable. That leads into the starkly confessional section of the show, where Barlow lays out his grim path into an eating disorder. His straightforward delivery is a good choice: not tear-jerking or melodramatic, but quietly devastating.

So, too, are his big moments of grief as he loses two loved ones, although there’s the odd spot of overwriting here; we don’t really need terms like “tsunami of sympathy”, and Barlow trips up occasionally when the language gets florid. But just as he comes to realise that vulnerability is key to songwriting, so he understands its effectiveness here when sharing his story. Even his tax scandal gets a mention, albeit brief, and he’s frank about how much more he appreciated his Take That success the second time around.

Barlow cuts an unassuming figure on stage, dressed casually in a red Adidas jacket, like a dad playing football in the park with his kids. He’s clearly long since made peace with his reputation as the nice guy, the slightly dull one of the group, the diligent student who does his homework – and yet the one with an incredible superpower.

When he launches into one of his songs (and I do wish we’d had a few more of them), it’s not just the whooping Take That fanatics in the crowd who are wowed. He truly is one of the great popular composers of our time, and, as his nostalgic, funny and ultimately triumphant show proves, a strong storyteller too. This is Barlow’s well-earned moment to shine.

A Different Stage is at the Duke of York's Theatre to 25 September.

Photo credit: Gary Barlow in A Different Stage (Photo by Claire Kramer MacKinnon)

Originally published on Sep 2, 2022 09:15

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Gary Barlow’s autobiographical show is engaging enough but sadly lacking in songs

Although he is still best known as the lead singer-songwriter of Take That, Gary Barlow has come a long way since the band’s first No 1 hit Pray, in 1993. Six Ivor Novello awards later, he is an established icon of the British music scene, with record sales of more than 50 million worldwide. 

He is also a musical theatre composer, having created the scores to Finding Neverland on Broadway and The Band and The Girls in the UK – the latter two productions written in collaboration with his dramatist friend Tim Firth. 

A Different Stage has him teaming up with Firth once more, this time on a far more introspective project, which coincides with the publication of his autobiography of the same name. 

On a stage piled high with flight cases, Barlow tells the story of his life. Not just the highlights of cheering crowds and arena tours but the lows too – the destructive self-doubt that fuelled his binge eating and subsequent bulimia, and the loss of loved ones too soon. 

While not quite a rags-to-riches story, Barlow’s success coming up through working men’s clubs and talent competitions offers an interesting perspective on the artist’s subsequent career. The conversational style adopted for this show is reminiscent of an old-school club act, and there are even a few corny props and a joke wig to enhance this effect. 

While Barlow is a natural entertainer, it would take a far greater acting talent than his to make this script seem fresh and spontaneous. It wallows awkwardly in nostalgia for much of the first half and the self-deprecating humour wears thin at times. The show succeeds when Barlow speaks honestly about his relationship with fellow band members and describes how he and Take That evolved – from touring schools  to enormous gigs, such as  closing the 2012 Olympic Games and the Diamond Jubilee concert. There’s also the clear pain of his disastrous US solo debut under producer Clive Davis, which sent him spiralling into a depression.

The main issue with the show isn’t so much the script as the notable lack of songs. There are snatches of the big hits thrown in here and there, including Back for Good and A Million Love Songs, but the only fully fledged number is the title song, penned with Firth, that succinctly addresses the story arc of Barlow’s career. This is a bit of a shame because, when Barlow does sing, his spontaneity and star quality shines through. He instinctively knows how to construct and deliver a song, and A Different Stage explores the impact of music on his life. It seems almost counter-intuitive that he doesn’t play to these very obvious strengths.

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”Gary Barlow: A Different Stage” review – Take That songmaker never forgets where he’s coming from

• Entertainment

Our review of Gary Barlow's latest show at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre A Different Stage

Take That legend and all-round musical superstar Gary Barlow is wowing audiences at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre between now and Saturday, with his latest venture, A Different Stage.

Not only is Gary Barlow a singing sensation, but an outstanding record producer and composer, adored by fans the world over, so it was a delight to hear from “a little bird in the know” that our wonderful city centre theatre is Mr B’s favourite venue on his UK tour so far.

And who can argue? The Wolverhampton Grand has the perfect ambience, atmosphere and aura for this intimate look at the star’s life story, including his rise to fame and personal experiences, all set to the music of his incredible career.

The look of the show is pure simplicity; just Gary, his instruments and some cases, but superb lighting effects draw you into his space, creating a welcoming feel. It’s as if you are in his recording studio at home.

A Different Stage is a collaboration with his writing partner, Tim Firth, with whom he has penned musicals including Calendar Girls and The Band, and they are clearly a successful duo. This new, one-man show is very different however, and the perfect vehicle to set Mr Barlow on a new phase of his journey - as an actor, if that’s what he wants to do next.

Welcoming the audience into the show with a completely open heart, nothing is off limits which makes his fans feel included, trusted and appreciated.

Now, you might be forgiven for thinking that the life of a pop star is a bed of roses, and compared to most it is, but like all of us, there are ups and downs which Gary is not afraid to share. Alluding to his early, struggling years, to body image issues and bulimia, from the death of his darling daughter little Poppy Barlow, to the famous fall out with Robbie, and the constant voices in his head telling him he is simply not good enough, Gary pours his heart out.

The tears certainly flow in parts, but in the main, laughter and hilarity dominate the show.

His infectious northern charm, self-deprivation and subtle wit are to be applauded, as is his ability to hold an audience in the palm of his hand, and not just because he is “the” Gary Barlow; it is his natural ability to entertain.

The music spans decades and has been the backdrop to so events in so many people’s lives. In A Different Stage, the audience were treated to A Million Love Songs, Patience, For Good, These Days and a stunning version of Rule the World complete with ethereal lighting, creating a heavenly, emotional atmosphere which clearly touched everyone watching.

Would I have liked more music? Yes of course, but the songs that were included were delivered completely from the heart, and of course a perfect display of his incredible talent.

So, if you are a fan of Mr Barlow or not, this is a must see, as it is simply a man sharing his life experiences, some of which we know for ourselves. It is honest and raw.

Is it a little over sentimental? Yes, definitely, but then in this day and age we all need a little romance and joy in our lives and Gary Barlow A Different Stage provides just that in bucket loads.

There is very limited availability, but grab a ticket if you can on 01902 429212 or visit grandtheatre.co.uk

Runs until November 20.

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Take That in Dublin review: ‘Whose idea was it to have stairs?’ puffs Gary Barlow as the band roll back the years with dazzling show

Elaborate stage set-ups are par for course with take that but bells and whistles would mean nothing if songs were not up to scratch.

Take That's Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen on stage at 3Arena, Dublin. Photograph: Tom Honan

3Arena, Dublin

They once sang “We’ve come a long way, but we’re not too sure where we’ve been”. More than three decades into a career that could well have seen them rendered has-beens before their 2006 reunion, Take That ’s latest tour serves as a reminder of exactly how far they’ve come. Still capable of filling arenas 31 years after they first played Dublin’s Point Depot – and now comfortably settled into middle age – tonight is the first of two sold out nights on their This Life tour. In the audience are diehard fans who undoubtedly copied the dance moves from the band’s Top of the Pops performances, alongside a new generation of second-wave devotees far too young to remember their 1992 debut Take That and Party.

Emerging from a giant retro television set amid a blizzard of ticker tape, the trio launch into a glut of tracks from their recently-released ninth studio album. Elaborate stage set-ups are now par for the course for Take That; this is the pop band, after all, who once brought a giant mechanical elephant to Croke Park. The staging is undoubtedly hugely impressive, adopting a 1970s theme that incorporates glitzy Las Vegas cabaret sets (water fountains et al), a recording studio and a fake TV show that effectively sees them narrate their own story. There’s wry humour, too; at one point, they collapse halfway up one of the two huge staircases that form the centrepiece of the stage with a theatrical exhaustion. “Whose idea was it to have stairs?!” puffs a disgruntled Barlow, before his bandmates dourly remind him: “It was yours, Gary.”

Take That's Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen pictured on stage at 3Arena ,Dublin. Photograph: Tom Honan/The Irish Times.

Take That. Photograph: Tom Honan

Yet the bells and whistles would mean nothing if the songs weren’t up to scratch. After breezing through songs like Everything Changes (now less “frivolous pop” and more “MOR canter”) and the sleazy funk cabaret of Sure, the second half of the show acts as a potted history of-sorts that showcases their highlights and a few of their lowlights. Gary Barlow, who seems more comfortable in his “reassuringly avuncular” era rather than his “sex symbol” one, reminds the crowd what an exceptional songwriter he is with a tender A Million Love Songs, while all three members have their chance to shine with solo cuts – although Howard Donald and Mark Owen’s efforts are dramatically less potent than their bandmate’s ballad Forever Love. The solo segment leads to one of several lulls in a set list punctuated by new material, but the crowd are brought back onside with Pray, a soaring Patience and emotive ballad The Flood with gusto, anthems coming thick and fast once the nostalgia has been dispensed with.

[  Take That Music Quiz special: In a Derry Girls episode, which song did the group perform?  ]

Another costume change sees them emerge as space age warlords in metallic capes and eye masks for Greatest Day, as 3D-graphics whizz past as if we’re in a collective fever dream. Relight My Fire has the wow factor in every respect, the staircase bursting into flames before the trio launch into Back for Good, rain pouring from the ceiling. It is such a fantastically entertaining and well-constructed pop show that even the dads and grudging partners find themselves on their feet for a rousing Never Forget. A line in that song, about the fleeting fickleness of fame and the importance of staying grounded, sees them warn their audience: “Someday soon, this will all be someone else’s dream.” With shows as dazzling as this, it seems like that day is still quite a way off.

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Take That play the 3Arena on Tuesday night. The band have further gigs in Cork’s Virgin Media Park as well as Malahide Castle in Dublin in June and Belfast’s Ormeau Park in June.

[  Take That: This Life review – The strengths of the songs lay in the pooling of resources  ]

Take That's Gary Barlow. Photograph: Tom Honan

Mark Owen. Photograph: Tom Honan

Take That's Howard Donald. Photograph: Tom Honan

Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen. Photograph: Tom Honan

Lauren Murphy

Lauren Murphy is a freelance journalist and broadcaster. She writes about music and the arts for The Irish Times

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Take That: This Life review – more left turns than you’d expect

(EMI) Gary Barlow and co ditch the synth-pop and roam from swirling strings to ska on their laudable if patchy latest outing

O n the curious Days I Hate Myself, the sixth track on enduring manband Take That ’s ninth album, Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen dip their toes into ska. Ska! It’s a surprising, not entirely satisfying move on an album that takes more left turns than you’d expect from a band who could easily ignore new music altogether and rely on a discography woven tightly into UK pop’s DNA.

Recorded mainly in Nashville and New York, This Life eschews the anonymous synth-pop stylings of recent albums III and Wonderland to focus mainly on dusky 70s MOR and rustic pop-rock a la Elton John. So we get rich harmonies and barroom piano flurries on the title track, while single Windows marries a classic, richly melodic Barlow chorus to plucked acoustic guitar and big swirling strings.

Unfortunately, it’s an album that continues the frontman’s more recent songwriting democratisation, with Owen’s despondent The Champion and Donald’s limp One More Word both meandering around in search of memorable tunes. Barlow-led closer Where We Are ends things on a high, but while the band’s urge to evolve is admirable, the results are undeniably patchy.

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Gary Barlow 'A Different Stage' New Shows Announced: A brand new one man stage show performing at The Lowry

Mon 14 February 2022

Acclaimed singer, songwriter, composer and producer, Gary Barlow today announces a host of new dates for A Different Stage , his theatrical one man stage show telling his story, in his words.

A Different Stage premiered at The Brindley, the award winning theatre in Runcorn, Cheshire, last week and received a rapturous reception from audiences.

Gary will perform 17 dates in 3 cities throughout February and March:

A Different Stage performance dates

The Lowry Quays Theatre, Salford – Tuesday 22 – Sunday 27 February

Liverpool Playhouse, Liverpool – 15th – 19th March

Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh – 22nd – 27th March

Tickets are on sale Wednesday 16 February at 10am . Tickets for The Lowry are only available at thelowry.com.

Created by Gary and his long-time friend and collaborator Tim Firth, A Different Stage sees Gary narrate the journey of his life alongside the music from his incredible discography. In a project unlike anything he’s ever done before, Gary will take the audience behind the curtain, with nothing off limits in this special performance.

Gary said: “Now I’ve done shows where it has just been me and a keyboard. I’ve done shows where I sit and talk to people. I’ve done shows where I’ve performed as part of a group. But this one, well, it’s like all of those, but none of them. When I walk out this time, it’s going to be a very different stage altogether.”

Gary Barlow is one of Britain’s most successful songwriters and record producers. As part of the group Take That, he has won eight BRIT Awards and sold over 45 million records. Aside from his achievements with Take That, he has also co-written and produced music for other renowned artists including Dame Shirley Bassey, Sir Elton John and Robbie Williams.

In more recent years, Gary has also turned his attention to the world of theatre, composing the score for the hugely successful production of ‘Finding Neverland’; working alongside Tim Firth on ‘Calendar Girls The Musical’; and collaborating with Tim and his Take That bandmates on ‘The Band’, a record-breaking stage musical currently being adapted into a feature film.

PRESS NIGHT REMINDER The Lowry do not have access to press tickets for Gary Barlow ‘ A Different Stage’

For all other press nights please visit thelowry.com/media-centre

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Musician, record producer, pianist, composer AND singer/songwriter; it really is no surprise that in 2012 Gary Barlow was appointed an Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his musical contributions.

The epitome of class, Gary takes to the stage, suit and tie with the crowd going absolutely mental with applause and cheer. The band has already started playing and is playing up the crowd as well, trying to get them to pump their arms up as Gary takes his place on stage. Even Gary plays up the crowd and starts to get them rhythmically clapping along. He takes his place at the piano and starts his first song. His vocals are even better live; in fact, it seems more epic than if you were to just listen to his studio albums. He also does a really great job of making it seem like he is singing specifically to you. Literally everyone in the massive crowd sings along, so there are certain points where you can hear the crowd sing more than you can actually hear Gary sing. Despite the amazing popularity that he has attained, he seems very humble, based on how he speaks in between songs. The epicness of his shows cannot be truly expressed in words, they need to be experienced.

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I went with two friends and we had a fantastic evening despite the weather! Gary Barlow did not disappoint. The only thing I would say is the support acts were ok but didn't really get the crowd going, I would have thought it would have been better to have one act and he/she more well known and the set they played more lively.

Gary Barlow was amazing and it was brilliant it’s the best tour I’ve seen at the London palladium the show was really good and when he sang forever love it was beautiful Gary is a genius himself and it got busy and there was live music before the concert and the band was awesome as well

Gary always likes to give you ashow that you wont forget! A girl who was celebrating her BIRTHDAY was taken up on stage .. the show was brilliant well done gary barlow another brilliant show in Aberdeen dont forget to come bk soon ❤❤ x

Seen him in the hydro in Glasgow he was outstanding a true artist and great human being let people hug and kiss him walked through all the crowd truly amazing he is take that without him there is no take that love him

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Find out more about Gary Barlow tour dates & tickets 2024-2025

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What is Gary Barlow's net worth? Take That singer's $7.5M country house in England raided by burglars

R enowned British singer-songwriter Gary Barlow, best known as one of the lead vocalists of the iconic band Take That, faced a distressing incident recently as burglars raided his picturesque country estate in England.

On April 8, 2024, The Sun reported that local police alerted the Back For Good singer that his property was forced last night in the dark while Barlow was away filming the penultimate episode of Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway . However, local police confirmed the break-in on May 5, 2024.

According to Celebrity Net Worth, the record producer's net worth is $125 million as of 2023.

Gary Barlow's $7.5M country home raided by burglars

Gary Barlow, one of the United Kingdom's most successful songwriters and singers, is renowned for his illustrious career as a solo artist and a member of the iconic band Take That.

Barlow's house in Cotswolds, UK, was intruded by raiders. As The Sun reports, the thieves , yet to be identified, waited until dark and then forced the main gate, leaving it swinging open. The bystanders suggested they saw local police taking pictures of the broken gate and knocking at many neighbors' doors to inquire about the burglary.

"When I drove past, I saw officers taking photos of the gates, which had been damaged. They were left half open. A few days later, the gates had been fixed," one said.

The incident occurred on Thursday, April 7, 2024, when the singer was away shooting second to last in a series episode of a game show, Saturday Night Takeaway . As per The Sun, whether Barlow's wife and their three children were at home or away is unknown. Also, the damage and what was stolen are still unknown, and no arrests have been made yet.

A local police spokeswoman confirmed the raid on May 5, 2024, suggesting that officers are investigating the reported crime.

"We received reports of a burglary in between 5.50 pm on April 7 and 9 am on April 8. Officers are investigating the incident."

As per The Sun, one neighbor, speaking about the incident, suggested that he saw gates "flapping open," and during the last year, he has heard many burglary news in his area.

"The police have been round to ask me about what happened, but I wasn't aware of anything. I noticed the gates were flapping open. It's a rather secluded place. It's a warning to us all. There have been other burglaries we've heard about in the area within the last year or so."

Another person suggested that more extensive police can bring a sense of security to the community.

"Police always need to do more. It would make everybody feel more reassured here if there were a larger presence, but like everything else in life, it is all funding-related. I wouldn't mind paying an extra penny in tax if the NHS and police were better funded. It would make us all feel safer."

According to The Sun, Gary Barlow bought his country house in 2007 for £2.3 million ($2.8 million), now estimated to be worth £6 million ($7.5 million).

Gary Barlow married Dawn Andrews, a dancer he met on Take That's 1995 Nobody Else Tour. The couple married in 2000 and share three children: Daniel, 24, Emily, 22, and Daisy, 15.

Saturday Night Takeaway is a light entertainment and game show that first aired on ITV in 2002. Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly (Ant & Dec), a British television duo, presented it.

The long-running game show produced over 130 episodes and 20 series, culminating on Saturday, April 13, 2024. Gary Barlow and his bandmates, Mark Owen, 52, and Howard Donald, 56, performed their 2007 track, Shine , for the finale.

Video: Gary Barlow Reveals FINDING NEVERLAND Will Open in the West End in 2025

He did not go into detail as to to location or exact dates for the production at this time.

Gary Barlow has revealed that Finding Neverland is headed to the West End next year! When asked about when fans can expect the musical in London, Barlow exclusively told Amy Hart, host of P&O Cruises Official Podcast, Hart to Heart, that it's coming in "summer 2025."

He did not go into detail as to to location or exact dates for the production at this time, but he did share a bit about how much the musical means to him.

"It was five years of my life, writing that musical," Barlow shared. "It was a lot of blood, sweat, and tears. It was worth it because I've never experience that before. To sit and watch actors and actresses do your work on stage and to watch audiences be emotional, it was absolutely wonderful."

Watch the full episode below!

About Finding Neverland

Finding Neverland is a musical with music and lyrics by  Gary Barlow  and  Eliot Kennedy  and a book by  James Graham  adapted from the 1998 play The Man Who Was Peter Pan by  Allan Knee  and its 2004 film version Finding Neverland.

The musical made its world premiere in 2014 at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Following completion of its Cambridge run, the production transferred to Broadway in March 2015. After a 17-month Broadway run, Finding Neverland closed on 21 August 2016, and began a U.S. national tour the following month.

Photo Credit:  Carol Rosegg

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