Gary Barlow is bringing his one-man show to the West End in late August.
A Different Stage recounts the ups and downs of the Take That singer’s life to the backdrop of his hits.
And he tells me the show, which he first began developing more than a year ago with writer Tim Firth, is touchingly ‘actually a celebration of my dad’, who died in 2009, aged 71.
Gary Barlow is bringing his one-man show to the West End in late August
Barlow’s mum, Marjorie, caught A Different Stage when it played her local theatre, The Brindley in Cheshire, on six consecutive nights. She was moved by her son’s tribute to his father, Colin (‘much better than a bench for your dad,’ his mum told him).
I saw a private performance late last year and was struck by how Gary brought his hometown of Frodsham to life. His dad was born there, he and his brother were raised there and his mum lives there still.
Colin Barlow had two jobs. He worked as a product manager at a chemical factory and as a farm labourer.
And he tells me the show, which he first began developing more than a year ago with writer Tim Firth, is touchingly ‘actually a celebration of my dad’, who died in 2009, aged 71
‘Always red-faced from being outside, working,’ recalled Barlow, of the man from whom he inherited his work ethic.
The songwriting star admitted he was ‘terrified’ when he first embarked on the project. ‘That’s what drew me,’ he confessed, when we spoke in a music room at his studio in West London’s Westbourne Grove. ‘It’s thrilling to be terrified!’ he said, adding: ‘It’s easy to just stay in a safe place. I’ve always been playing with fire, I guess.’
He stressed that although he appears in the show, ‘I’m not an actor in this’. Instead, he is simply ‘authentically’ recounting some of the situations he has found himself in over the years — such as when his career collapsed and he found himself, at 29, without a record deal.
The songwriting star admitted he was ‘terrified’ when he first embarked on the project. ‘That’s what drew me,’ he confessed, when we spoke in a music room at his studio in West London’s Westbourne Grove. Pictured: Take That in 1993
‘I was disappointed in myself,’ he said — and it manifested in him binge-eating anything sweet, followed by chips.
The only good news was that ‘drugs weren’t involved’. Perhaps because ‘Robbie’s (Williams) drug thing scared me’, or ‘maybe because of the upbringing in Frodsham, they weren’t around’.
In the end, he knew he alone could save himself. ‘I turned my mind into gear and went: that’s it.’
Barlow’s mum, Marjorie, caught A Different Stage when it played her local theatre, The Brindley in Cheshire, on six consecutive nights
The show also looks at the death of Poppy, his fourth child with wife Dawn, who was stillborn in 2012
The show also looks at the death of Poppy, his fourth child with wife Dawn, who was stillborn in 2012.
His 2013 track Let Me Go is devoted to their girl. It’s a healing song, he said. During concerts, when he performs it, he looks out at the audience, and they’re celebrating. ‘I think: that’s the song I wanted for our daughter. Not the one that makes people cry. The one that makes people jump up and down.’
Barlow has a loyal audience who have followed him, and Take That, for decades. But I first became interested when he started writing songs for musicals — such as Finding Neverland (which is being revived); and the two shows he did with producer David Pugh, and Firth: Calendar Girls and The Band.
Barlow has a loyal audience who have followed him, and Take That, for decades. But I first became interested when he started writing songs for musicals — such as Finding Neverland (which is being revived); and the two shows he did with producer David Pugh, and Firth: Calendar Girls and The Band
For this production, designer Es Devlin has created a simple set consisting of boxes, which are also a nod to ‘unpacking my life’, Barlow said.
A Different Stage is at the Playhouse in Liverpool this week; and at the Royal Lyceum in Edinburgh from Tuesday.
After its three-week run from August 30 at the Duke of York’s in London’s West End (tickets go on sale at 10am on March 23 at adifferentstage.show), there are plans for a further 12 weeks on the road.
Gary is also embarking on a UK tour next year with Take That (without Robbie Williams and Jason Orange), plus a world tour in 2024.
Gary is also embarking on a UK tour next year with Take That (without Robbie Williams and Jason Orange), plus a world tour in 2024
