Blur vs Oasis battle to be retold in new West End play

nme.com:

Blur and Oasis.Reportedly titled The Battle, the upcoming play is currently in development, and set to be headed to London stages by 2025.The plot will chart out the tense rivalry between the two Britpop icons, which ran throughout the ‘90s as each one rose to prominence and took over the UK music scene.

It’ll also centre on the summer of 1995 – when fans went head to head, debating whether Blur would top the charts with ‘Country House’ or whether Oasis would seal the victory with ‘Roll With It’.Blur went on to win that battle, but the band’s Alex James later said that Oasis won the war.It has been written by humorist and writer John Niven – an A&R executive and former indie rocker – and it is being produced by Simon Friend, who has also worked on productions like Ghost Stories, The Girl On The Train, Life Of Pi and more.The latter spoke to Deadline recently, announcing the news of the upcoming Oasis/Blur production.

In the interview, he described the show as “a comedy with teeth”, and revealed that negotiations are currently underway with a “notable director”.It has also been reported that the search for the cast has commenced, with the team looking to cast the right actors to play Oasis brothers, Liam and Noel Gallagher, and Blur members Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James and Dave Rowntree, as they were in 1995.Information surrounding the venue, dates and tickets have all yet to be announced, and Friend has confirmed that no band members from either band will be involved in the production.The announcement of the theatre production comes on the heels of both bands gaining momentum this year.

Oasis, for instance, have taken over the music world recently by announcing their long-awaited reconciliation and sharing 2025.