SINGER, songwriter and record producer Gary Barlow brought a night of classic hits to the Yorkshire coast, playing to a vast crowd at Scarborough’s open air theatre.

Barlow who found fame back in the 90s with pop boyband Take That has celebrated numerous successes since, writing fourteen number one singles and twenty four top ten hits.

His current tour ‘Gary Barlow: In concert’ which started in April has visited over 30 venues across the UK and Ireland, selling out numerous shows along the way.

The night opened with support from former Pop Idol and Let It Shine contestant Jason Brock, who wowed Barlow with his cover of Whitney Houston’s ‘Run to you’. Brock who is currently supporting Gary on tour has played an incredible 19 dates alongside the Take That frontman, building up a dedicated fanbase along the way. Brock even took time to talk to the crowd about the significance of music and how it helped with his personal struggle to fit in while finding his sexuality.

The band took to the stage before Barlow was introduced and took centre stage, owning every inch of it with spirit and charisma, which sent the fans into a whirl of excitement.

From classic Take That hits ‘Shine’, ‘Pray’, ‘Greatest Day’ and ‘Back For Good’ to his solo material ‘Let Me Go’, ‘Since I Last Saw You’ and ‘Something About This Night’, fans were served a perfect balance of the old and new.

The highlight of the night however, came during ‘A Million Love Songs’ where a fan was picked from the crowd to be personally serenaded. Barlow’s choice wore a personalised tshirt which read ‘I sat on Gary Barlow’s knee and he sang to me’ and she looked overjoyed to have her wish come true with the fans down below cheering her on as he more than happily obliged.

The whole show from start to finish was a well-orchestrated, visually pleasing, story through time, visiting chapters in Barlow’s life, from his early days in Take That to his current solo work and tour. I’ve never seen a show with such direction and passion and tonight was something spectacular.

Sarah Smith