AS one third of Britain’s biggest man band, Gary Barlow is usually to be found selling out stadiums and huge arenas.

So it’s a real treat to be able to see him perform in smaller, more intimate venues – which is exactly the aim of The Theatre Tour.

The last time the Take That frontman played a string of concerts this size, demand was so high he could have sold certain venues out six times over – which is no doubt why a second date was added to his BIC show.

He may be known for his ballads – and a fair few snuck in throughout the evening, including old favourites A Million Love Songs and Love Ain’t Here Anymore, as well as more recent Take That tracks Patience and Said It All – but it was largely an upbeat concert.

Fans were treated to songs from throughout the ages – right back to the early 1990s, and the very first days of Take That, through the band’s biggest classics including Pray and Relight My Fire, solo tracks Since I Saw You Last and Let Me Go, plus more recent hits such as Rule The World, These Days, Shine and Cry.

There was even a very clever ditty re-capping Barlow’s early career, his years out of the spotlight and Take That’s spectacular comeback, as well as a taste of the tracks he has written for the musicals Finding Neverland and Calendar Girls.

The trio are known for their lavish live shows, but this was a much more stripped back night – focusing purely on the music and Barlow’s obvious love of entertaining.

There were moments when it felt like there were two people missing, but the born showman is more than capable of owning the stage, with the audience in the palm of his hand.

A night I, for one, will Never Forget.