{"id":1040945,"date":"2026-06-21T13:56:32","date_gmt":"2026-06-21T13:56:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1040945\/"},"modified":"2026-06-21T13:56:32","modified_gmt":"2026-06-21T13:56:32","slug":"meet-the-liverpool-trampolinist-whos-a-high-flying-part-of-take-thats-spectacular-circus-tour","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1040945\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet the Liverpool trampolinist who’s a high-flying part of Take That’s spectacular Circus Tour"},"content":{"rendered":"

Max, from South Liverpool, and his mixed synchro partner Millie Harvey were chosen to perform on the huge Take That UK and Ireland tour after representing Great Britain in the world championships last November.<\/p>\n

As a world trampoline gold medallist, Max Middleton knows all about success at the top level in sport.<\/p>\n

But now the 19-year-old\u2019s incredible aerial skills have taken him to new heights, as part of the spectacular Take That Circus Tour.<\/p>\n

Max and Millie have been on the road with Take That since May with the phenomenal show, which also features 22 dancers,\u00a018 circus performers, and a 30ft mechanical elephant.<\/p>\n

Following sold out stadium concerts including Glasgow and Cardiff, this weekend will bring him closest to home, with three dates at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester on Friday, Saturday and Sunday June 19-21.<\/p>\n

And with his proud family and friends in the crowd, Max \u2013 who trains at the renowned Liverpool Trampoline Gymnastics Academy in Speke \u2013 is looking forward to putting on a high-flying display.<\/p>\n

Max and Millie have helped choreograph their routines with the tour\u2019s creative director, with the biggest reserved for Shine where they perform in multi-coloured costumes covered in giant pompoms alongside the band.<\/p>\n

\"Credit:Credit: Max Middleton
\n\"Credit:Credit: Max Middleton<\/p>\n

Max explains:<\/p>\n

\u201cBefore the first rehearsals we got an email with some ideas of what they wanted, then we came up with the skills and connections and just made it as fun as possible,\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s very different to a competition routine, because it\u2019s less about technique and more about how artistically aesthetic it looks.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith a competition routine, we\u2019re on the trampoline for about 30 seconds to a minute, but in this show we\u2019re on for 3-5 minutes consistently several nights in a row, so it\u2019s more frequency but less load on the body because we\u2019re not including as many difficult skills.\u201d<\/p>\n

After winning the individual senior title at the British championships last year, being on one of the most talked-about tours of 2026 has been an unforgettable experience for Max.<\/p>\n

\"Credit:Credit: Max Middleton
\nHe says:<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is the first thing I\u2019ve done outside competitions and it\u2019s been unbelievable,\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you\u2019re on stage in a stadium seeing that many heads and arms waving in the air, it\u2019s hard to comprehend.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe first song is Greatest Day and the first time I heard everyone singing that it was the loudest thing I\u2019ve ever experienced.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd it\u2019s the little moments like Never Forget when people clap or Shine when everyone waves their arms that make you just go \u2018wow, this is crazy\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

The two friends, who met when they were both training with the GB squad, got the opportunity to join the tour after submitting video reels of their routines.<\/p>\n

Max explains:<\/p>\n

\u201cMillie got a message from her old club in London who knew they were looking for trampolinists for the show.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cShe got in contact with one of the casting people from Cirque Bijou and they needed two people so Millie asked me because she knew it would suit me and I\u2019d be good for it.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had to send video reels to Cirque Bijou, they sent them to Take That who said yes and within a few weeks we were in Birmingham starting rehearsals.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Credit:Credit: Max Middleton<\/p>\n

The scale of the show means they have six costume changes, including one for a more unusual role.<\/p>\n

Max says:<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen the enormous elephant is on stage for Hold Up a Light, we have to work its ears, moving them back and forward \u2013 I\u2019m on the left ear and Millie is on the right!<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the highlights of being with the tour has been getting to know Take That, as well as some of the team who were on the original Circus Tour.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe first one was in 2009, when I was two, and there are a couple of people on this tour who did the first one so being able to speak to them and find out what it was like has been really interesting.<\/p>\n

\u201cGary, Mark and Howard are just so normal, you forget who they are because they\u2019re that nice. It\u2019s crazy to think I\u2019ve watched Gary Barlow on telly for so long and now I\u2019ve played bingo with him on our day off!\u201d<\/p>\n

Max says the Circus Tour has given him a taste of performing that he\u2019d like more of:<\/p>\n

\u201cYou get little jitters before you go on stage but I\u2019m not nervous when I\u2019m doing it and when I compare it to competition level adrenalin it\u2019s completely different. You\u2019re not being judged, you\u2019re just being appreciated.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe excitement and joy I feel when I walk onto the stage is genuinely insane.\u201d<\/p>\n

Follow Max\u2019s Take That Circus Tour posts on his Instagram<\/a>.
\nRead more Liverpool stories like this here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Find out what\u2019s good up North on our new platform, The Northern Guide.\u00a0
\nFrom the best hotels, beauty spots, days out, food and more up North \u2013 visit\u00a0thenorthernguide.com<\/a>\u00a0and follow The Northern Guide on Instagram\u00a0HERE.<\/a><\/p>\n