Great nights out… just like that!

Whether you want to ‘Take That and party’ or would prefer to get all shook up, there’s a theatre show to help you on your way this month. Pulse’s Sammy Jones has the lowdown for you…

Thirty years have passed since Take That enjoyed their first visit to the top of the UK singles chart, with Pray, and to celebrate the anniversary the musical Greatest Days is out on the road.

Based on the book by award-winning playwright Tim Firth (the ace behind Calendar Girls and Kinky Boots) it’s no coincidence that the tour will also be running at the same time as the movie version hits the big screen.

So to the show itself, which is a heart-warming and hilarious story of love, loss and laughter.

It follows five best pals in the 1990s who are obsessed with their favourite boy band.

Fast forward 20 years and the girls reunite to see their heartthrobs one last time in what could be the Greatest Days of their lives…

Some of you will have seen this show when it stopped by Milton Keynes in the past – back then it was called The Band.

This time around, Kym Marsh will star as Rachel, while Kim’s daughter Emilie Cunliffe appears as Young Rachel. 

“I got given the script and it was amazing,” Kym said of her instant attraction to the part, “The story is beautiful and it has a bit of everything really. It’s emotional, it’s inspiring, it’s very funny and I love the characters. Then you add Take That’s amazing music to the mix and what’s not to love, really?

“It’s about a group of friends who fell in love with a boyband back in the day, as we all did,” Kim laughs, “For me, it was New Kids on the Block, that’s how old I am. It’s that thing of having a group of friends who all love the same band. Without giving anything away, there’s a bit of a twist to the story when they’re younger and we get to see what’s happened to them since that time. 

“It’s about how the love of a boyband brings them back together.”

Greatest Days will Relight Your Fire from July 3-8, and the word is it’ll be a show you’ll Never Forget. And there, dear readers, we will leave the puns!

If you are an Elvis fan, you’ll get more than you bargain for (July 15) when The Elvis Tribute Artist World Tour stops off with not one, not two, but three impersonators paying homage to The King with a live band and orchestra. Shawn Klush, Victor Trevino Jr and Ben Thompson will be at the microphone. There’ll be a little less conversation and a lot more music at this bash.

The Greatest Hits of Motown air in the show How Sweet It is (July 23), and then Strictly stars Anton & Giovanni present another session of Him & Me (July 28), back on the road for their third year in a row.

Take your seats and prepare to enjoy their unrivalled rapport, bringing the audience a collaboration of dance, song and light-hearted fun.

“The show has something for everyone – from children to great grandparents, everyone will love it,” Anton promises, “Big show stopping group numbers, big cast, loads of glitz, loads of energy, singing, dancing, lights…that’s right up my street.”

Burretti – The Man Who Sewed The World (July 5) is a musical monologue portraying the story of Bletchley’s own Freddie Burretti; David Bowie’s close friend and early ‘70’s Ziggy Stardust costume designer. Caz Tricks will direct this performance at The Stables.

The Very Best of Tommy Cooper (Just Like That!) focuses on Cooper’s legendary comedy act, recapturing his trademark mayhem and misfiring magic. It visits the Wavendon venue on July 6.

Stokes & Summers: Careering (July 7) is a comedy about the quirks and perks of the modern workplace, and there’s more funnies (July 16) with the return of Andy Hamilton who will recall stories from his career in comedy, sharing memories, anecdotes and opinions, from the political to the personal. A Q&A will feature in the second half of the show.

There are a couple of kids at MK Theatre shows this month too – turn to our Hello Summer feature for more details of Pigs Might Fly and Fireman Sam Saves the Circus.

> Bookings:

Milton Keynes Theatre: atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes

The Stables: stables.org