Take That have revived their 2009 Circus tour for a stadium run, bringing back the Big Top concept with elephants, clowns, and aerialists. The show, which opened at St Mary's Stadium in Southampton, sees Gary Barlow, Mark Owen, and Howard Donald reprising their greatest hits in a spectacle-heavy production.
The original Circus tour was the fastest-selling in UK history, earning over £40 million. This reboot, without a clear anniversary, might seem like a cash grab, but the live experience quickly dispels cynicism. The setlist remains largely unchanged, with Owen's Babe replacing Jason Orange's Wooden Boat, and recent single You're a Superstar offering a brief lull.
The first act alone includes Pray, A Million Love Songs, and Back for Good, performed on a B-stage with water fountains before a giant mechanical elephant emerges. The main stage features fire-breathers, tightrope walkers, trapeze artists, and a hair-hanging aerialist. During Relight My Fire, performers wield naked flames in front of a devilish inflatable ringmaster.
The trio attempt unicycling, with Barlow on a kid's bike with stabilisers. A 90s medley includes It Only Takes a Minute choreography, and Never Forget features a marching band and tap dancers. The encore brings back the elephant, but the closing Rule the World strips it back to just the band and a sea of phone lights, reminding fans of their enduring anthems.
