Wednesday 11 February – Saturday 7 March 2026
Alongside co-producers Melting Pot, Birmingham Rep are today thrilled to announce initial casting for The Battle as actor and comedian, 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) to play influential Britpop music executive, Andy Ross, caught in the crossfire of one of the most notorious rivalries in British music history.
The Battle opens at Birmingham Rep on Wednesday 11th February 2026, ahead of a major UK tour, prior to the West End. The Battle is a blistering and darkly funny exploration of fame, ego, and the cultural clashes of 1990s Britain and offers an electrifying window into a moment that defined a generation – and changed the face of British music forever.
Mathew Horne will appear as Andy Ross until Saturday 30th May 2026.
Mathew says of joining the cast of the play: “This play is right in the sweet spot of my teenage cultural experience. I’m thrilled to be exploring this iconic era in music on stage with such a talented creative team involved.”
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 (O’Brother, Kill Your Friends, and The Second Coming).Directed by Matthew Dunster (2:22 A Ghost Story, The Pillowman), 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 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.
Further cast and creatives to be announced.
LISTINGS
THE BATTLE
Melting Pot and Birmingham Rep presents
Wednesday 11 February – Saturday 7 March 2026
Age Guidance: 14+
Audio Described: Sat 28 Feb 2.30pm
A Free Touch Tour is available to book at 1.30pm before the Audio Described performance.
BSL Interpreted: Thu 26 Feb 7.30pm
Captioned: Thu 5 Mar 2.30pm & 7.30pm
Chilled: Thu 26 Feb 2.30pm