Take That Sunderland

Take That Sunderland - everything you need to know

Take That ’The Circus Live’ show at St Mary’s Stadium. <i>(Image: Stuart Martin)</i>
Take That ’The Circus Live’ show at St Mary’s Stadium. (Image: Stuart Martin)
This article is brought to you by our exclusive subscriber partnership with our sister title USA Today, and has been written by our American colleagues. It does not necessarily reflect the view of The Herald.

Roll up, roll up - Take That's Circus has almost come to town.

There are just days to go until Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, and Mark Owen take to the stage at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland for the first time in 15 years.

The band will be arriving with their trapeze artists, balloons, and giant elephant in tow on the revival of their hit 2009 tour, which has already been branded the "greatest show in town".

The trio are expected to perform all their best known hits, from Back for Good to Patience, as well as sprinkling in a couple of new surprises to the setlist.

If you're heading to the event, you will undoubtedly have many questions.

How do I get there? What are the opening acts? What can I bring?

Well, here's a handy guide of everything you need to know to have a night you'll Never Forget.

How do I get to the Stadium of Light?

If travelling from the north or west, from the A19 follow signs for A1231 Sunderland, then yellow signs for ‘Park and Walk’ - Sunderland Enterprise Park (SR5 2TA).

Please note that the parking facilities will be restricted until the Sunderland Enterprise Park workforce has left the site.

If travelling from the south, from the A19 follow signs for A1018 Sunderland, then use city centre car parks. 

Take That ’The Circus Live’ show at St Mary’s Stadium. (Image: Stuart Martin)


What about public transport? 

The stadium is served by two Metro stations - Stadium of Light and St Peter’s - and extra services will be running.

You can buy a paper ticket in advance for £7, which is valid all day for all zones. 

If you're travelling with children, up to three children aged 11 and under can travel for free on Metro and the Shields Ferry with a fare paying adult. 

There are multiple different coloured gates at the grounds for fans with different tickets.

This includes yellow (pitch standing), red (seated), purple (seated), platinum (premium), orange (seated), blue (seated), peach and baby blue (front field pitch standing), and green (standing).

Concert goers with purple, red or yellow entry tickets should travel to Stadium of Light Metro station.

Concert goers with blue, green, orange, platinum or pink accessible entry tickets are best travelling to St Peter's Metro station.

After the concert, fans travelling via the Metro should join the queue at St Peter's or at Stadium of Light station immediately.

Access to Sunderland station and Park Lane will change after 10pm to assist with crowd control. Park Lane Metro station and Sunderland station will be closed from 10pm 

Take That ’The Circus Live’ show at St Mary’s Stadium. (Image: Stuart Martin)

Is there a park and ride? 

Yes. ‘Park and Ride’ will be available from East Boldon and Heworth

After the event, concert goers must board trains at Stadium of Light or St Peter’s. 

Is there parking at the stadium?

The Stadium of Light will not be able to offer any parking facilities (except for participants who have wheelchair platform tickets booked). 

Residential streets in the vicinity of the Stadium are subject to parking permit restrictions and parking enforcement officials will be checking this.

Roads immediately surrounding the stadium will be closed to all traffic on the day. 

What about taxis? 

The pre-concert suggested drop-off points include Wearmouth Street and Monk Street, or the city centre, which are all around a seven minute walk from the ground. 

Post-concert pick-up points are suggested in the city centre only - the shortest way from the Stadium is via Keel Bridge.

Take That ’The Circus Live’ show at St Mary’s Stadium. (Image: Stuart Martin)

What time does the fan village and stadium open?

The green courtyard (near the green gate for fans with standing tickets) will open from 2pm.

The stadium will open its doors at 5pm on Tuesday, including hospitality areas and all courtyards.

Hospitality areas will stay open for one hour after the show finishes.

Car parking access via Millenium Way for wheelchair accessible ticket holders only will first open at 3.30pm and will remain open until 4.30pm. 

Car parking will open one hour after the show finishes.

Take That ’The Circus Live’ show at St Mary’s Stadium. (Image: Stuart Martin)

Who are the opening acts?

American singer and songwriter Belinda Carlisle will open for Take That.

Belinda was the lead vocalist of the Go-Go's, known for hits such as Our Lips are Sealed and We Got the Beat, but saw worldwide success with solo hit Heaven Is a Place on Earth. 

She will be followed by The Script, who supported Take That on their original Circus tour.

The Irish band , led by Danny O'Donoghue, is known for tracks including The Man Who Can’t Be Moved, Breakeven, Hall of Fame, and For the First Time.

What are the key timings for the event? 

  • 5:00pm - Doors open
  • 6.25pm - Belinda Carlisle
  • 7:20pm - The Script
  • 8:30pm - Take That
  • 10.30pm - Concert expected to end

What is the setlist?

Take That ’The Circus Live’ show at St Mary’s Stadium. (Image: Stuart Martin)

While the setlist is never confirmed until the event itself, here is what the band have played on previous dates on the tour: 

Intro - The Adventures of a Lonely Balloon

  1. Greatest Day 
  2. Hello (first performance since 2009) 
  3. Could It Be Magic
  4. Pray
  5. A Million Love Songs 
  6. Back for Good 
  7. The Garden 
  8. Shine 
  9. Up All Night
  10. Babe 
  11. You're a Superstar 
  12. Love Ain't Here Anymore / Nobody Else
  13. The Circus (first performance since 2009) 
  14. What Is Love
  15. Do What U Like / Promises / It Only Takes a Minute / Take That and Party (first performance since 2009) 
  16. Said It All 
  17. Never Forget 
  18. Patience 
  19. Relight My Fire
  20. Hold Up a Light 
  21. Rule the World

Can I bring a bag?

Yes. However, bags must be no larger than A4 in size - or no more than 210mm by 297mm - and will be searched on entry. There are no bag facilities available at the stadium.

What items are banned?

  • Alcohol
  • Canned drinks
  • Laptops and tablets
  • Large cameras and video recording equipment
  • Air horns
  • Drinking glasses
  • Glass bottles
  • Sports bottles and flasks
  • Buggies and prams
  • Large umbrellas
  • Knives or weapons
  • Large bags (more than A4 in size) 
  • Fireworks or flares
  • Tools, poles, or sticks
  • Smoke gas canisters 
  • Flags or banners larger than 2m x 1m or of an offensive nature
  • Musical instruments
  • Plastic bottles

What food and drink is on offer?

There will be an extensive range of food and drink available to buy both in the courtyard and stadium itself. 

Concert goers are not permitted to bring their own food and drink in the stadium. Water points will be available at each catering unit. 

Can I pay using cash? 

No. The stadium is cashless. 


Take That key timings including when band will arrive on stage for Sunderland concert
Take That fans issued important bag and glass information for Sunderland gig
Take That Circus tour setlist 'confirmed' for Sunderland as band hit the road


Can I still buy tickets?

Yes, there are currently many tickets still up for sale, from general admission and front standing sections to the stands of the Stadium of Light. 

Official websites like Ticketmaster are the safest way to buy tickets for Take That this year although you can also buy resale tickets from the band's official resale partner Tixel.

Where are the toilets and first aid areas?

There are toilets at both the blue gate and green gate fan village areas.

First aid areas are in the green gate area and the north stand. 

Get involved
with the news

Send your news & photos