Full cast announced for THE BATTLE
Melting Pot and Birmingham Rep co-present The Battle - a new comedy based (mostly) on real events - and today announce full casting for its upcoming Birmingham Rep and Manchester Opera House dates, as rehearsals begin.
Mathew Horne (star of the beloved BBC comedy Gavin and Stacey, The Catherine Tate Show and in the West End, productions of The Tempest and Noises Off) was previously confirmed to play influential Britpop music executive, Andy Ross, caught in the crossfire of one of the most notorious rivalries in British music history.
He is joined by an exciting cast of emergent and established talent including Brandon Bendell (The Lord of The Rings: The Rings of Power, Amazon Prime) as ‘Alex’, Iona Champain (Falling, Falling Falling Falling and Earthquakes in London, Richard Burton Theatre Company ) as ‘Jo’, Harriet Cains (‘Philippa Featherington’ in Netflix’s Bridgerton) as ‘Justine’, Billy Dunmore (Surface, Apple TV) as ‘Guigsy’, Tommy Garside (Sexy Beast, Paramount+; Bodies, Netflix) as ‘Bonehead’, George Greenland (Generation Z, Channel 4, Empire of Light Neal Street) as ‘Alan White’, Oscar Lloyd (Stranger Things: The First Shadow, West End ) as ‘Damon’, Louisa Lytton (‘Ruby Allen’ in BBC 1’s Eastenders; The Girl on the Train, UK Tour) as ‘Meg’, James Oates (Waterloo Road; The Other One, BBC) as ‘Alan McGee’,
Paddy Stafford (Mojo, Redbrick) as ‘Noel’, Will Taylor (The Play That Goes Wrong, UK Tour) as ‘Graham’ and George Usher (a recent Bristol Old Vic Theatre School graduate who makes his professional debut in The Battle) as ‘Liam’,
Opening at The Rep, The Battle is a blistering and darkly funny exploration of fame, ego, and the cultural clashes of 1990s Britain. The Battle offers an electrifying window into a moment that defined a generation - and changed the face of British music forever. After its World Premiere at The Rep, The Battle then plays Manchester’s Opera House.
Reliving the heady summer of 1995 when heavyweights of Britpop, Blur and Oasis, went head-to-head in the greatest chart battle of all time, The Battle is the first stage play by screenwriter and Sunday Times best-selling novelist John Niven Best known for his razor-sharp novels including Kill Your Friends and The Second Coming, John Niven brings his uncompromising voice to the stage for the first time. The Battle draws on his deep insider knowledge of the music industry, shining a satirical light on the chaos behind the cool Britannia façade. The Battle is directed by Matthew Dunster (2:22 A Ghost Story, The Pillowman).
London, 1995. Two of the country’s biggest bands release singles on the same day, commencing the battle of Britpop. On one side, clean-cut, art-school intellectuals from the South. On the other: raw and unapologetic lads from the North. Rivalries flare, friendships fracture and at the centre of it all a mania that would define an era – were you Blur or Oasis?
From the chaos of the Brit Awards to the infamous chart war, The Battle is a wickedly funny dive into one of the greatest rivalries in rock history. Featuring legendary personalities and unforgettable clashes, it was never just about the music, but power, pride, and uncontrollable competitiveness. Expect filthy language and razor-sharp dialogue in this cut-throat new comedy that puts you right at the heart of the feuding, the fame, and the fallout. Get ready to roll with it.
The creative team also includes Fly Davis as Set and Costume Designer, Jessica Hung Han Yun as Lighting Designer, Ian Dickinson as Sound Designer, Tal Rosner as Video Designer and Casting Director, Claire Bleasdale.
John Niven worked in the music industry for ten years before becoming a novelist and screenwriter. His last book, O Brother, was a Sunday Times bestseller. It was shortlisted for The Gordon Burn prize and Scotland's National Book Award. His screen credits include Kill Your Friends, The Trip and How To Build A Girl. He grew up in Ayrshire and now lives in Buckinghamshire. The Battle is his first stage play.
Matthew Dunster is a theatre and film director and writer. He was born and raised in Oldham and now lives in South East London. Previously an actor, he has directed or written over sixty theatre shows, often with major national companies (including RSC, NT, Royal Court, Young Vic, Royal Exchange, Shakespeare’s Globe, The Bridge), as well as directing on the West End, Broadway and internationally. He has been the Associate Director of The Young Vic and Shakespeare's Globe.
His most recent productions include: 2:22 A Ghost Story, which ran in the West End for 694 performances; Shirley Valentine and The Pillowman, both at The Duke Of Yorks; The Homecoming at the Young Vic and Dealer's Choice at The Donmar and Conor McPherson’s stage adaptation of The Hunger Games, currently playing at the Troubadour Canary Wharf Theatre. Matthew has been nominated for four Olivier Awards and his Broadway production of Hangmen was nominated for five Tonys.
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