Could it be magic for a same-sex couple?
Gay Times can exclusively confirm that Take That and Tim Firth’s upcoming new stage musical The Band will feature a leading gay character.
The show, which begins its debut UK tour in Manchester Opera House this month, stars AJ Bentley, Nick Carsberg, Yazdan Qafouri, Curtis T Johns and Sario Soloman, who, as Five to Five, won BBC’s Let It Shine.
Written by Tim Firth and featuring the music of Take That, the principal gay female character will openly discuss their sexuality in the musical – a hopeful polite nod to the large LGBT+ following of the original band.
For five 16 year-old friends in 1992, The Band is everything. 25 years on, the musical reunites a group of friends, now 40-something women, as they try once more to fulfil their dream of meeting their heroes.
Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Mark Owen joined in the colourful celebrations at Manchester Pride this past weekend – introducing a live stage performance from the entire cast.
Related: Could it be magic? Meet the boys of Take That’s brand new musical The Band
Manchester Pride via Facebook
Five To Five features openly gay singer and performer Curtis T Johns. He previously spoke to Gay Times about why he decided against hiding his sexuality on the BBC talent show.
“I was conscious about how I’d be received or perceived by the public because it was a big decision,” he explained to us after his first audition on the BBC.
“I have the opinion that somewhere out there, there’s a young gay or lesbian kid who is entitled to have that normality on TV now. We’ve got to that age where being LGBT+ should be normalised, and why shouldn’t it be on the BBC?”
Later adding: “As a youngster, I would’ve loved to have seen, on TV and talent shows in general, being LGBT+ as being normalised, rather than it being a story in the papers a few months after. That motivates me to remain open about my sexuality; the normalisation for younger viewers.”
Gay Times exclusive photo
Manchester Pride via Facebook
Gary and his Take That colleagues joined the cast in their final rehearsals in London before moving with the show to Manchester.
He wrote: “Amazing last rehearsal for @TheBandMusical congrats to everyone #Manchesterherewecome”
Amazing last rehearsal for @TheBandMusical congrats to everyone #Manchesterherewecome pic.twitter.com/ouq9hN1ZT1
— Gary Barlow (@GaryBarlow) August 25, 2017
The Band opens officially on 26 September.
More information can be found here.
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