Review: THE BATTLE (UK Tour) @ Birmingham Rep

 

★★★★ (4 of 5)

 Photos by Helen Murray

The mighty re-emergence of Oasis onto the live battlefield last year, gave weight weight to the anniversary of the Britpop battle of the bands,which dominated our culture in 1995. A time when Blur and Oasis fought it out for muscial supremacy.

The opening shots in John Niven's new play come at the 1995 Brit awards when Blur take four trophies to Oasis' paltry one.  The spark is ignited with both bands at the very centre of a new movement, an epic North vs South clash to the music that defined a decade, grass roots rock and roll taking on sophisticated arthouse pop.

 

We are at the heart of the music industry as the narrative takes it from hotel rooms,  video shoots and of course recording studios as the shots are fired via the newspapers and media of the time. Each participant pushed to ever further extremes of controversy.  Oscar Lloyd's Damon Albarn is the cool, confident man of the moment at the opening of the play. The world is at his feet. But the Brothers are snapping at their heels, literally. The driven musical force of Noel Gallagher (Paddy Stafford) trying to counterbalance the excesses of Liam (a swaggering tour de force from George Usher), forces of nature that are about to be fully unleashed.  Will Taylor as Blur's Graham Coxon is drawn into this madness against his will, locking himself in bathrooms and dressing rooms in a bid for some rational calm when all normality is being ripped away. Trying to fathom out how he found himself in this contest of popularity and style in a clash of titantic egos.

On the sidelides trying to keep some control over proceedings Mathew Horne makes a few fleeting appearances as record label head honcho Andy Ross, trying hard to match the Gallaghers pound for pound in record sales.  The ladies don't really fare as well in this piece:  Louise Lytton as Meg Matthews offers some sobering thoughts to the brothers to which they pay little attention,  Harriet Cains offers a bit more spirited advice as Elastica's Justine Frischmann at pains to be seen as more than just Damon's eye candy girlfriend.

The real joy of this piece is the hilarious one liner insults thrown about by both bands at the other,  quite a few had the audience guffawing out loud.  And of course when the Gallagher circus is in town, what Liam lacks in class he makes up for in comedic value.  Every moment is a showdown,  a fight to be fought.  Of course we all know the outcome of the head to head single releases of 'Country House' and 'Roll With It'.   Blur, by the skin of their teeth and thanks in part to a faulty bar code on the sales of the Oasis offering, win the day.  Are the Gallaghers magnamimous in defeat?  You bet they are not, and set out to redress the balance at Blur's swank party to celebrate their No 1.  It here the play takes a leap into the stratosphere, its hilarious and totally unexpected. Suffice to say, you may not think of the bands in the same way ever again!

 

Director Matthew Dunster has crafted a nostalgic comedy,  and in an era where we seemingly can't do without looking at screens we have lots of animation video echoing the media coverage at the time.  Its a fun way to break up the constant barracking between the protagonists and give some context to the events which are bathed in a barrage of swearing, drinking and drug taking.

Overall,  The Battle is an impressive first play from Niven and will appeal to those who remember first hand the sheer intensity of the Blur vs Oasis culture war.  We rolled with it, safe in the knowledge that the battle was won many moons ago.  This afterglow shines bright.

Rob & Ian

 

The Battle can be seen at Birmingham Rep until 7th March then emarks on a UK Tour. Tour dates HERE