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An Iconic British Pop Legacy

Take That are an iconic British pop group, renowned for their cinematic performances and instantly recognisable songs. Formed in Manchester in 1990, the group have achieved 28 Top 40 singles, 20 Top 10 singles, and 17 Top 5 singles on the UK charts, including 12 number-one singles, cementing their position as one of Britain’s most successful boy bands.

The Circus Returns

In 2009, we had the pleasure of lighting their seventh concert tour, The Circus, which sold all 650,000 tickets in less than five hours.  This year, we were delighted to once again supply the lighting package for The Circus Live – a bigger and more ambitious production, designed to revive the magic of the original while exceeding expectations.

A Fully Immersive Spectacle

Blending live music, theatrical performance, and circus artistry, the production was designed as a fully immersive visual experience. Staying true to the spirit of the circus, the tour also featured a giant elephant puppet, twice the size of an African elephant, which sprayed water over the audience, alongside 500 balloons released during every show.

Reimagining the Original

To showcase the capabilities of our equipment while preserving the essence of the original production, Lighting Designers Tim Routledge and Patrick Woodroffe studied footage from the 2009 tour. Their aim was to retain the spirit and visual identity of the original show while modernising the rig and evolving the colour palette to create a fresh, contemporary experience. The 2009 rig delivered an extensive package including Coemar Infinity Wash XLs, Martin MAC 250 Washes, Martin MAC 700 Profiles, Clay Paky Alpha Beam 1500s and 300s, Martin Atomic 3000 Strobes, Zap Technology Big Lite, Super Trouper Gladiator III and I-Pix Satellite. Together, the design and equipment helped honour the legacy of the 2009 tour  while delivering a refreshed look for today’s audiences.

A New Generation of Lighting Technology

Between 2009 and 2026, the lighting rig changed dramatically, with the 2026 setup featuring an entirely new fixture package of fixtures including ROBE GigaPointe, ROXX NEO, ROBE iFORTE LTX, GLP JDC Burst 1, ACME Lighting Blinder Line 10, Ayrton Domino LT, EagleStrike, Mamba and Nando 502 Wash, ROBE iFORTE HP and LTX,  ROXX Cluster Blinder B4 FC, Cluster S2 and NEO, and SGM P-3 Vision solutions. Rather than simply recreating the original rig, the team took advantage of the latest lighting technologies to evolve the design, delivering the same iconic aesthetic while enhancing its scale and visual impact.

Lighting on a Grand Scale

Together, the equipment gave Tim & Patrick the flexibility to create a dynamic lighting environment that could match the scale and theatricality of the production. A key part of the project was the close collaboration between the production team and our team. By understanding the history of Take That’s productions and the way the touring camp operates, we were able to provide the support and expertise required throughout the tour.

The Perfect Collaborator 

As Lighting Designer Tim Routledge explains:

“Neg Earth go the extra mile when it comes to the integration of metalwork and scenic integration. They understand and support the Take That history and how the camp operates, which makes them the perfect collaborator.”

The Link Between Nutrition and Wellbeing 

The 10th of October marked World Mental Health Day, a global initiative dedicated to raising awareness of mental health and encouraging support for those who may be struggling. To mark the occasion, we welcomed nutritional therapist Nicola Moore to Neg Earth to deliver an engaging workshop exploring the connection between nutrition and wellbeing. What we eat can have a significant impact on our physical health and overall mental wellbeing, making nutrition an important part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

With a large proportion of our workforce based in the warehouse and carrying out physically demanding roles, we felt it was important to provide practical guidance on how to properly fuel both body and mind. Nicola shared valuable insights on topics including overcoming the mid-afternoon slump and making sustainable dietary choices that support long-term wellbeing. Staff also had the opportunity to speak with Nicola one-to-one, receiving personalised advice tailored to their individual needs.

Interested in learning more about Nicola’s services or booking a workshop for your organisation? You can find out more and get in touch via her website here: https://www.nicola-moore.com/about

Putting It into Practice 

To complement the workshop, we also invited Pink Cactus to Neg Earth to serve authentic Mexican cuisine. Staff were able to choose from a selection of tacos and burritos, bringing everyone together to enjoy a hearty lunch while putting some of Nicola’s advice on balanced meals into practice. It was a great opportunity to continue the conversation around wellbeing in a relaxed and social setting.

Supporting Mental Health All Year Round 

At Neg Earth, supporting mental health isn’t limited to a single day of awareness. The health and wellbeing of our people is embedded into the foundations of our business, and we are committed to fostering a culture where everyone feels supported.

Earlier this year, we also marked Mental Health Awareness Week with a range of activities designed to support holistic wellbeing and encourage colleagues to take time for themselves. These included: an onsite Pilates class, massages, and a mindful calligraphy workshop. By investing in initiatives that support both mind and body throughout the year.

Our Wider Wellbeing Initiatives 

Putting our people at the centre of everything we do is fundamental to our culture. We support our employees through a range of ongoing initiatives, including trained Mental Health First Aiders who are available to provide guidance and support, a partnership with Music Support to help those working within the music industry, and facilities such as an on-site gym and complimentary breakfast bar to encourage healthy daily habits. Throughout the year, we also take part in activities that strengthen connections across the business, from our monthly ‘Tea and Talk’ sessions, where colleagues can come together for open and meaningful conversations over tea and cake, to a variety of events that celebrate and give back to the wider community, including International Women’s Day initiatives, company-wide social events and local environmental projects, such as litter-picking. Together, these initiatives reflect our commitment to creating a supportive and people-focused workplace where wellbeing is embedded in the fabric of the business and remains a key consideration in everything we do.

If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, please visit Music Support at: helpline@musicsupport.org for advice and support.

Interested in seeing what else we got up to during Mental Health Awareness Week? Read our blog: https://negearth.co.uk/taking-action-for-mental-health-awareness-week/

If you’d like to learn more about life at Neg Earth and explore current opportunities, visit our careers page: https://negearth.co.uk/negearthcareers/