STAR CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR GREATEST DAYS – THE OFFICIAL TAKE THAT MUSICAL
Popular TV actress and presenter Kym Marsh and her daughter Emilie Cunliffe are set to star in Greatest Days, the official Take That musical, coming to Newcastle Theatre Royal Mon 29 May – Sat 3 Jun 2023.
Previously titled The Band, the heart-warming musical broke box offices records during its 2017-2019 tour, and returns to the North East as part of a major UK tour to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the chart-topping boyband’s first ever number one hit single, ‘Pray’.
Greatest Days features more than 15 record-breaking Take That songs alongside a touching and hilarious story of love, loss and laughter from the award-winning writer Tim Firth (Calendar Girls, Kinky Boots). The musical follows a group of five best friends in the 1990’s who are obsessed with their favourite boy band. The girls then reunite more than 20 years later with a plan to see their heartthrobs one last time in what could be the Greatest Days of their lives.
Actress, presenter and singer Kym Marsh arrived on our screens back in 2000 while appearing on the hit reality TV show, Popstars. She went on to win a place in the band Hear’Say. During her time in the band, Kym achieved two UK number one singles and a number one album before leaving in 2002 to pursue a successful career as a solo artist.
On TV, Kym appeared in BBC One’s Doctors and Channel 4’s Hollyoaks: In The City before joining the cast of ITV’s Coronation Street in the role of Michelle Connor in 2006, a part she would play for almost 14 years, Since then she has appeared in The Syndicate and can currently be seen on Waterloo Road. In 2022 Kym made it to the quarter final of Strictly Come Dancing with professional partner Graziano Di Prima and delighted Newcastle Theatre Royal audiences in the iconic role of Alex Forest in Fatal Attraction.
Emilie Cunliffe trained with Carol Godby’s Theatre Workshop from a young age and she has appeared on The Voice and Britain’s Got Talent. Emilie has recently finished recording her debut album which will be released later this year.
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.”
The full cast includes Taylor Alman (The Legend of White Bear Lake), Charlotte Anne Steen (Bat Out of Hell), Holly Ashton (Footloose), Hannah Brown (Hansel & Gretel), Kalifa Burton (Matilda), Benjamin Cameron (Grease Royal Caribbean) Jamie Corner (The Band), Archie Durrant (Matilda), Regan Gascoigne (winner of Dancing on Ice 2022, Cinderella), Kitty Harris (David Walliams’ Gangsta Granny), Bayley Hart (Heathers), Keith Henderson (Shrek the Musical), Karen Holmes (Grease), Christopher D. Hunt (Waitress), Evangeline Jarvis-Jones (The Sound of Music), Rachel Marwood (The Possibility of Colour), Mari McGinlay (Hairspray), Jamie-Rose Monk (A Midsummer Night’s Dream), Mary Moore (Grease West End), Alexandra O’Reilly (Mamma Mia!) and Alan Stocks (Calendar Girls).
Greatest Days plays Newcastle Theatre Royal Mon 29 May – Sat 3 Jun 2023. Tickets can be purchased at www.theatreroyal.co.uk or from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 0191 232 7010.