John Niven's first comedy play THE BATTLE to tour ahead of West End
Melting Pot and Birmingham Rep will co-present The Battle, a new comedy play based (mostly) on real events, reliving when heavyweights of Britpop, Blur and Oasis went head-to-head in the greatest chart battle of all time, and will open at Birmingham Rep on 11 February 2026 ahead of a major UK tour, prior to the West End.
The Battle is the first stage play by screenwriter and Sunday Times best-selling novelist John Niven, and will be directed by Matthew Dunster.
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.
Writer John Niven said: “1995: a time long before music splintered into a billion different Tik Tok feeds. When music was so central to the culture that two pop groups could dominate the entire summer, the evening news and the front page of every newspaper in the country. We're going to take you back there. I've never written for the stage before, and it has been an absolute blast to do so for the first time with a producer as supportive as Simon and a director as talented as Matthew.”
Director Matthew Dunster added: “I remember the Battle of the Bands. I remember the charts that week. Music mattered. I remember being in my twenties in 1995. What a wild time. Full of energy, naughtiness and hilarity. Just like John Niven’s play. I’m so delighted to be working with John on such a punchy, hilarious and revealing comedy about two of the best bands of all time, Blur and Oasis.”
The creative team also includes set and costume designer Fly Davis, lighting designer Jessica Hung Han Yun, sound designer Ian Dickinson, video designer Tal Rosner, and casting director Claire Bleasdale.
After its world premiere in Birmingham, the tour will visit Leicester, Manchester, Bromley, Woking, Cheltenham, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Sheffield, Ipswich, Richmond, Glasgow, York, Norwich, Nottingham, Milton Keynes, Newcastle, Brighton, and Chester.