Take That’s Progress Live 2011 tour will reportedly cost “close to £50 million” to stage.
The ‘Love Love’ group are planning a spectacular event to beat even their 2009 The Circus Live dates – which saw them perform atop a huge elephant stage prop – this summer, reportedly ploughing millions into the production, which is rumoured to have a futuristic or sci-fi theme.
A source told the Daily Mirror newspaper: “If you think flying machines, robots, space and futuristic landscapes, you won’t be too far off the mark. It will be a massive no-expense-spared production – with the costs of staging it likely to run close to £50 million.”
The source added the band – made up of Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Jason Orange, Mark Owen, Robbie Williams – have also foregone some of their own earning s to ensure the stage shows are something special.
The source added: “Sure, the band will be making good money. But it could be a hell of a lot more. You wouldn’t believe the amount of cash they are pouring back into the stage sets and visual aspect of the show.”
The show will see the group perform whole concerts as a five piece for the first time since the 90s, after Robbie Williams rejoined the group last year, and insiders say he will get his own portion of the show to perform solo tracks such as ‘Angels’ and ‘Rock DJ’.
The insider added: “Robbie has been given a large slot in the middle of the show where he’ll sing lots of his solo stuff – with the rest of the band nowhere to be seen.”
Take That’s Progress Live 2011 European tour stars in the UK on Friday May 27 and ends in Germany on July 29.