A Different Stage is a one-man show with music and lyrics by Gary Barlow and a book by Tim Firth. The show received its world premiere, close to Barlow's home town of Frodsham, in Runcorn at The Brindley in February 2022 before embarking on a tour around the UK.
The show tells the story of Barlow's life in his own words reflecting on his career, friendships and personal life.
Barlow worked on his first theatrical project in 2013 where he signed up to work on a new musical version of Finding Neverland which ran on Broadway for 17 months in 2015. Barlow then went on to co-write The Girls (later retitled in 2017 as Calendar Girls The Musical) which opened in London's West End in January 2017 before producing a UK & Ireland tour of the second Take That musical Greatest Days in 2017 which visited London and Germany.
Productions
UK & Ireland Tour (2022) On 20 January 2022, it was announced the show would premiere at The Brindley, Runcorn before embarking on a UK Tour. Further dates in Salford, Liverpool and Edinburgh were announced on 14 February. Additional dates were announced in York, Newcastle, Dublin, Southend, Portsmouth, Nottingham and a return to The Lowry in Salford. Further dates were added in Wolverhampton, Fordsham, Truro, Aylesbury & Cambridge.
+ Tour dates for 2022 Date City Country Venue10 February 2022RuncornEnglandThe Brindley11 February 202212 February 202213 February 202214 February 202215 February 202222 February 2022SalfordThe Lowry23 February 202224 February 202225 February 202226 February 202227 February 202215 March 2022LiverpoolPlayhouse Theatre16 March 202217 March 202218 March 202219 March 202221 March 2022EdinburghScotlandRoyal Lyceum Theatre22 March 202223 March 202224 March 202225 March 202226 March 202227 March 20222 June 2022FrodshamEnglandFrodsham Community Centre3 June 20224 June 202210 June 2022YorkGrand Opera House11 June 202212 June 202227 August 2022CambridgeArts Theatre28 August 202227 September 2022TruroHall for Cornwall28 September 202229 September 20221 October 20224 October 2022SalfordThe Lowry5 October 20226 October 20227 October 20228 October 202210 October 2022NewcastleTyne Theatre11 October 202212 October 202219 October 2022AylesburyWaterside Theatre20 October 202221 October 202222 October 202226 October 2022DublinIrelandGaiety Theatre27 October 202228 October 202229 October 20221 November 2022Southend-on-SeaEnglandCliffs Pavilion2 November 20223 November 20224 November 20228 November 2022PortsmouthNew Theatre Royal9 November 202210 November 202211 November 202213 November 2022NottinghamPlayhouse Theatre14 November 202215 November 202216 November 2022WolverhamptonWolverhampton Grand Theatre17 November 202218 November 202219 November 202220 November 2022
West End (2022) On 18 March 2022, it was announced the show would run in London's West End at the Duke of York's Theatre from 30 August 2022 for a limited run until 18 September 2022 which was then extended until 25 September 2022. It was later announced the show would run for two encore performances on 21 & 28 November 2022 at London's Savoy Theatre to close the tour for 2022.
A Different Stage: The Book In February 2022, Barlow announced a new book titled 'A Different Stage' to be released on 1 September 2022. The book will contain photography from Barlow's one-man show.
Awards and nominations
Original London production Year Award Ceremony Category Nominee Result 2023 WhatsOnStage Awards Best New Play
References