Music Theatre International Acquires Licensing Rights To THE BAND By Tim Firth and The Music Of TAKE THAT

Theatrical licensor Music Theatre International (MTI) has secured licensing rights to the West End, UK and European stage musical sensation, The Band, by Tim Firth and featuring the songs of Take That.

The rights, which are for the world excluding US/Canada, will be released for licensing in early 2022 via MTI's London office.

The Band burst onto the musical theatre scene with a record-breaking tour of the UK and Ireland in 2017-18, culminating in a West End season at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket, over Christmas 2018. A post-West End UK tour, and German production, followed.

A film version, entitled 'Greatest Days' (Elysian Film Group), is due to begin shooting next summer.

With an original book by Tim Firth, The Band tells the story of four women who reunite to see their favourite band play again, a quarter century after it first captured their teenage hearts. The score, made up of songs immortalised by Take That, includes such hits as 'Never Forget', 'Back for Good', and 'Rule the World'.

"We are absolutely delighted to acquire the secondary performance rights to Tim Firth's and Take That's sensational and heart-warming musical The Band, and look forward to releasing it very soon," says Seán Gray, Managing Director of MTI's London office. "The show brilliantly weaves our favourite Take That songs into a story to which we can all relate, and we are confident that amateurs, school groups and professionals alike, and their audiences, will embrace The Band. My thanks to the authors, agent Alan Brodie, and original producer David Pugh for entrusting MTI with the show."

Tim Firth, whose Olivier Award winning Best Musical 'Our House' is also represented by MTI, said: "I couldn't be happier to see The Band find a home with MTI, and I look forward to working with the team there to get our musical out to as many groups - both amateur and professional - as possible. This is a story we hope everyone can relate to - it's about music crossing generations, sparking memories, making time travellers of us all."

Gary Barlow, speaking on behalf of his fellow members of Take That, said: "There have been many musicals that use existing music, but we were astonished the first time we heard the way The Band uses our songs. It's like nothing that's ever been done before, and shines a whole new light -- not only on the songs themselves, but on their relationship to the people who listen to them."

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