The Cast of Never Forget: L to R Dean Chisnall, Eaton James, Tim Driesen, Stephane Anelli, Craige Els

Casting has been announced for Never Forget, the new musical based on the songs of boy band Take That, which goes on tour from 20 July. The show follows the fortunes of a Take That tribute band, to be played by Dean Chisnall, Craige Els, Stephane Anelli, Tim Driesen and Eaton James.

Set in Manchester, Never Forget tells the tale of Ash Sherwood (Chisnall) and his friends in the band, whose collective journey teaches them that sometimes, pretending to be someone else can help you find out who you really are. The show features a raft of Take That’s greatest hits, including “Relight My Fire," “Pray,” “Back For Good,” “Babe” and “Never Forget.”

Chisnall left Drama School to star in Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Woman In White. He was seen most recently in Michael Grandage's West End production of Evita. Els, who plays Jake Fairbrother in the show, grew up in Liverpool and studied drama at University in Aberystwyth. He is currently in Spamalot in the West End and has also appeared in Mamma Mia. Anelli, who portrays Jose Reize, landed his first major role playing Tony Manero in Saturday Night Fever both on tour and in London. Belgian actor Driesden plays Adrian Banks. He was a child star in Belgian’s equivalent of S Club 7, a pop band called The Bubbles. Having made the semi-finals of the Belgian version of Pop Idol, he has since featured in London productions of Bat Boy, Mamma Mia, and Starlight Express. James plays Harry in Never Forget. Previous London stage appearances include Miss Saigon and Joseph And The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. He is currently appearing in London in Les Miserables.

[AD]Never Forget is written by Danny Brocklehurst, who has written extensively in TV comedy and whose previous stage work includes My Eight Times Table, Nobody and winner of the North West Playwrights Best Play Award, Loaded. The director is Ed Curtis, whose production of Conspiracy at the Edinburgh Festival and on tour earned him a Perrier Award nomination in 2006. Choregraphy is by Karen Bruce, who received an Olivier Award for her work on Pacific Overtures and also directed the West End musicals Footloose and Fame, the latter of which is currently running at the Shaftesbury Theatre. Musical Supervisor is Mike Dixon, whose previous credits include Grease and We Will Rock You.

Producer Tristan Baker said, “We are creating a spectacle which will appeal to both Take That fans and musical theatregoers alike. We hope that the band will be delighted with the production when they see the show themselves.”

The show premieres at Cardiff’s Wales Millennium Centre on 20 July, and runs there until 4 August. From there, it goes to Glasgow’s King’s Theatre (8–18 August), Manchester Opera House (21 August–1 September), Stoke Regent Theatre (4–8 September) and Edinburgh Playhouse (18–22 September).