Matthew Horne is to play influential Britpop music executive Andy Ross in The Battle, a new comedy based on the rivalry between Oasis and Blur, which will go on a UK tour after its première at Birmingham Rep.
Horne, best known for appearing in the BBC TV comedy Gavin and Stacey, played Trinculo in Shakespeare’s The Tempest at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in 2024 and took the role of Lenny in Harold Pinter’s The Homecoming, a Theatre Royal Bath production in 2022.
Horne said, “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.”
The play relives the summer of 1995 when Britpop heavyweights Blur and Oasis went head-to-head in “the greatest chart battle of all time”. The Battle is the first stage play by John Niven and will be directed by Matthew Dunster.
The creative team also includes Fly Davis (set and costume designer), Jessica Hung Han Yun (lighting designer), Ian Dickinson (sound designer), Tal Rosner (video designer) and Claire Bleasdale (casting director).
Further casting is to be announced. Horne will appear as Ross at the first 12 venues.
The Battle will open at Birmingham Rep from Wednesday 11 February until Saturday 7 March 2026 and end its tour at Chester’s Storyhouse Theatre from 28 July until Saturday 1 August.