Take That's The Circus tour at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester was a euphoric celebration of pop music. The band, now a trio of Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, and Mark Owen, delivered their biggest show to date, filled with high camp, high energy, and even higher joy.
A Grand Homecoming
Formed in Manchester in 1990, Take That produced some of the biggest pop bangers of a generation. Thirty-six years later, they are Back For Good, filling out stadiums once again. The first of three sold-out shows at the Etihad saw the relaunch of their The Circus tour, a visual feast of acrobats, fire eaters, clowns, and tightrope walkers, first performed in 2009.
Livestream Opportunity
Fans who missed out on tickets can watch the second night live on Saturday, June 20, via Amazon Music's exclusive livestream on Prime Video, the Amazon Music channel on Twitch, and the Amazon Music app.
A Multi-Generational Delight
The show was even better the second time around. With bejewelled costumes and dance moves from 1993, the performance was a sweet shop of special effects, confetti, fireworks, gargantuan balloons, and pillars of flames. The setlist included hits like Greatest Day, Hello, Could It Be Magic, Pray, A Million Love Songs, Back For Good, Shine, Babe, Never Forget, Patience, Hold Up A Light, and Rule The World.
Mark Owen, glistening with sweat, exclaimed, "Goodness I'm hot." The trio also performed stunts like painting their faces with clown make-up and riding a unicycle down the walkway for It Only Takes A Minute. Gary Barlow chose a trike for the job, and all remained unscathed.
A Glittering Celebration
The Circus is a multi-generational show that delights all ages. Gary, Howard, and Mark work hard, and their fans love them as much in 2026 as in the 90s. After 36 years, Take That remain at the top of the game.
