Take That's Circus Live Tour kicks off at St Mary's Stadium in a spectacular style
Take That’s Circus Live Tour kicked off on the South Coast
The circus truly came to town as Take That kicked off their highly anticipated Circus Live Tour under the summer sun in a packed St Mary’s Stadium.
The first of two sell-out nights in Hampshire last night (Friday, May 29) saw one of Britain's most successful bands deliver a masterclass in showmanship, wowing fans for over two hours with a huge live production and epic show packed full of some of their biggest hits in a reimagination of their original Circus tour from 2009.
The gloriously colourful and flamboyant show saw Gary, Howard and Mark take to the huge stage alongside a cast of 40 dancers, acrobats, firebreathers, stiltwalkers and the famous 30ft tall mechanical elephant, which transports the band through the crowd to the main stage in a joyful moment of pure magic for fans.
Staying true to the original production, the band played songs from the original set list with a few surprises along the way including their new single You're A Superstar. With the crowd on their feet for mass singalongs, Gary, Mark and Howard belted out some of their biggest hits, continuing to prove why they remain one of best live acts in British music history.
Kicking off the show in the heart of the packed stadium, the band arrived on the b stage surrounded by a kaleidoscope of colourful balloons for an electrifying performance of Greatest Day. Under the watchful eye of the Circus ringmaster, suspended high above the crowd in a hot air balloon, the trio thrilled fans with a medley of hits, signature dance moves and a spectacular journey through the audience aboard a giant mechanical elephant.
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The Circus truly came alive as the band took to the main stage, with curtains lifting to reveal a colossal big top complete with trapeze artists, aerialists, fire breathers and clowns. A riot of feathers, sequins, balloons and pyrotechnics followed as the group powered through a hit-packed set bursting with energy and theatricality. Northern powerhouse vocalist Zoe Birkett joined Gary, Mark and Howard for a fiery rendition of Relight My Fire, featuring a towering 50 ft inflatable ringmaster presiding over the stage.
Bringing the night to a triumphant close with Rule The World, a sea of lights illuminated the stadium in a breathtaking finale celebrating human creativity, spectacle and the power of live performance.
Alongside the huge set and live production, the show also includes a striking wardrobe which showcases the best of British fashion craftsmanship. The band’s silver jackets were created by British designer James Long, and were intricately constructed using trinkets, antique coins, lace and vintage paraphernalia sourced from antique markets. Adding to the show’s playful circus aesthetic, the tartan worn by the clowns was designed by Henry Holland for his former label House of Holland, while the clowns’ iconic bowler hats were crafted by renowned milliner Stephen Jones.
Completing the dramatic costume design, the ringmaster jackets were hand embroidered by Hand & Lock, Britain’s oldest embroidery atelier, which has supplied royalty and military embroidery since 1767.
Originally staged in 2009, The Circus Live broke UK records as the fastest-selling tour in history, with over 600,000 tickets sold in under 5 hours, and over one million fans attending the sell-out shows across the UK and Ireland.
Following the shows in Southampton, Take That hit the road for the summer, playing dates across the UK and Ireland in Coventry, Sunderland, Glasgow, Cardiff, Manchester, plus three epic nights at the London Stadium - where the band famously performed at the closing ceremony of the London Olympics - on 25th, 26th and 27th June, before heading to Dublin’s Aviva Stadium for the final show on 4th July.
The Script, who supported Take That on the original Circus Live Tour in 2009, return as very special guests on all UK shows, alongside pop royalty, Belinda Carlisle, who will also perform at all the UK shows. OneRepublic will support in Dublin.
Last remaining tickets for the rest of the tour available from:
- Thursday 4th June - Coventry Building Society Arena - EXTRA DATE ADDED
- Friday 5th June - Coventry Building Society Arena
- Saturday 6th June - Coventry Building Society Arena (SOLD OUT)
- Tuesday 9th June - Sunderland Stadium of Light
- Friday 12th June - Glasgow Hampden Park
- Saturday 13th June - Glasgow Hampden Park
- Tuesday 16th June - Cardiff Principality Stadium
- Friday 19th June - Manchester Etihad Stadium (SOLD OUT)
- Saturday 20th June - Manchester Etihad Stadium (SOLD OUT)
- Sunday 21st June- Manchester Etihad Stadium - EXTRA DATE ADDED
- Thursday 25th June - London Stadium - EXTRA DATE ADDED
- Friday 26th June - London Stadium
- Saturday 27th June - London Stadium (SOLD OUT)
- Wednesday 1st July - Manchester Etihad Stadium - EXTRA DATE ADDED
- Saturday 4th July - Dublin Aviva Stadium