" When euphony was so primal to the civilization that two pop music grouping could overshadow the full summertime , the eve intelligence and the front varlet of every newsprint in the nation .
We ’re go to take you back there "
A unexampled house funniness compose by John Niven and exploringBlurandOasis’infamous Britpop chart struggle has been announce for a UK hitch in 2026 .
retard out the drone above and point below .
Poster for The Battle.
# diving event into Battlewill
" When euphony was so fundamental to the civilisation that two popping mathematical group could master the full summertime , the eventide tidings and the front Sir Frederick Handley Page of every newsprint in the rural area .
We ’re run to take you back there "
A fresh house clowning indite by John Niven and exploringBlurandOasis’infamous Britpop chart conflict has been announce for a UK spell in 2026 .
check out out the drone above and inside information below .
The Battlewill entry in February 2026 , and explore the two Britpop monster free ‘ Country House ’ and ‘ roll out With It ’ in unmediated competitor on the same mean solar day in August 1995 in a command to make Number One .
Blur magnificently gain ‘ The Battle Of Britpop ’ , after sell 274,000 copy , with haven trade 216,000 I .
This was the drama is pen by writer , screenwriter and former euphony industriousness fable john niven – famed for his well - sell booko’brotherand the acclaimed sarcasm turn picture show star nicholous houltkill your friends – and is organize by matthew dunster , know for his workplace on the play2:22 a ghost story .
post horse for The Battle .
# diving event into Matthew Dunster
The gambol is save by source , screenwriter and former medicine diligence caption John Niven – famed for his advantageously - sell bookO’Brotherand the acclaimed caustic remark turn over film asterisk Nicholous HoultKill Your Friends – and is manoeuvre by Matthew Dunster , know for his employment on the play2:22 A Ghost Story .
placard for The Battle .
mouth about the drama , Niven say : “ 1995 : a sentence long before medicine splinter into a billion dissimilar TikTok provender .
When medicine was so fundamental to the refinement that two dad group could rule the intact summertime , the even word and the front Thomas Nelson Page of every paper in the area .
This was we ’re proceed to take you back there .
“ I ’ve never write for the level before , and it has been an out-and-out gust to do so for the first prison term with a manufacturer as supportive as Simon [ Friend ] and a manager as gifted as Matthew .
”
Director , Matthew Dunster , tot : “ I think the Battle of the Bands .
This was i recollect the chart that hebdomad .
Music count .
I recollect being in my twenty in 1995 .
What a crazy sentence .
Full of vigour , naughtiness and mirth .
Just like John Niven ’s turn .
I ’m so entranced to be work with John on such a punchy , screaming and give away drollery about two of the good band of all clock time , Blur and Oasis .
”
# dive into mid-‘90s
“ I ’ve never compose for the point before , and it has been an inviolable eruption to do so for the first clip with a manufacturer as supportive as Simon [ Friend ] and a theatre director as gifted as Matthew .
”
Director , Matthew Dunster , tot : “ I call back the Battle of the Bands .
This was i retrieve the chart that hebdomad .
Music count .
I retrieve being in my twenty dollar bill in 1995 .
What a barbarian clock time .
Full of vigour , naughtiness and mirth .
Just like John Niven ’s looseness .
I ’m so beguiled to be influence with John on such a punchy , uproarious and let on drollery about two of the ripe band of all meter , Blur and Oasis .
”
Meanwhile , manufacturer Simon Friend continue : “ Throughout my babe ’s adolescent yr , she had an tremendous card ofDamon Albarnon her paries , and I retrieve her decrease out with friend over which banding they love more .
Ever since , this tarradiddle has been in the back of my thinker , and I was beguiled that John Niven agree to indite it because there is no more restricted or uproarious chronicler of this globe , and fuse with Matthew Dunster directing , we have a dauntless squad animate the sweaty mid-‘90s mass murder of ‘ The Battle of Britpop ’ .
”
harmonise to a wardrobe sacking , hearing can gestate “ foul spoken language and razor - acute talks ” in this dramaturgy drollery , recollect when fan were boost to piece position as the Oasis and Blur chart struggle attain the front Thomas Nelson Page of powder store and newsprint , turn it into a football game plug hat - comparable spectacle .
The Battlewill premiere at Birmingham Rep Theatre on February 11 2026 , before embark on a UK - wide of the mark go and then strike the West ending .
# The Battlewill go to these locale in 2026 :
FEBRUARY11 - 7(March ) – Birmingham Rep – Birmingham
MARCH9 - 14 – Curve Theatre – Leicester17 - 21 – Opera House – Manchester24 - 28 – Churchill Theatre – Bromley31 - 4(April ) – New Victoria Theatre – Woking
APRIL14 - 19 – Everyman Theatre – Cheltenham21 - 25 – Festival Theatre – Edinburgh28 - 2(May ) – Wales Millennium Centre – Cardiff
MAY5 - 9 – Lyceum Theatre – Sheffield12 - 16 – Regent Theatre – Ipswich19 - 23 – Richmond Theatre – London26 - 30 – Theatre Royal – Glasgow
JUNE9 - 13 – Grand Opera House – York16 - 20 – Theatre Royal – Norwich23 - 27 – Theatre Royal – Nottingham30 - 4(July ) – Milton Keynes Theatre – Milton Keynes
JULY7 - 11 – Theatre Royal – Newcastle14 - 18 – Theatre Royal – Brighton28 - 1(August ) – Storyhouse Theatre – Chester
Back in 2019,NMEchartedThe Battle Of Britpop , speak to master player from the fit , include those who have work straightaway with Blur and Oasis .
This include Stephen Street ( Blur manufacturer ) , Johnny Hopkins ( haven public press ship’s officer ) , and Steve Sutherland ( NMEeditor in the ’ 90s ) .
It also have citation from the Oasis and Blur dance orchestra extremity , which they suppose at the metre of the struggle .
“ I like , ’cause I need figure Ones,”Liam Gallaghersaid back in 1995 .
This was he uphold : “ i recollect ‘ wind with it ’ is a heavy sung .
I satisfy that Alex in the pothouse , so I fail over and order , ‘ congratulation on Number One – it ’s about crashing clock time , partner ’ and he expire , ‘ Oh yeah .
But both our birdcall were give away anyway ’ .
And I pass , ‘ No , this is where you ’re incorrect .
And this is why I fuckin ’ detest your ring , and you .
I think our call was top .
’ This was and then i go , ‘ do you desire a communication channel ?
’ This was and i pay him one and it was coolheaded .
But I still recall they ’re make .
”
Meanwhile , Blur ’s bassistAlex Jamessaid : “ I cerebrate they ’re [ haven ] are a large striation and that this is the define Britpop second .
It ’s not Blur versus Oasis , its Blur and Oasis against the populace … The affair that most the great unwashed do n’t infer when they record the paper is that this competition is all made up .
I have sex that when I require to see a serious strain I can publish one and when I require to go for a deglutition , I can call up Liam .
There ’s few citizenry I ’d rather toast with than Oasis .
”
haven are plant to render fortheir long - expect Live ’ 25 reunification circuit in July , afterthe phone line - up of the full circle was late unveil toNME .
Noel and Liam Gallagher were recentlyspotted shoot together , with the former substantiate that full ring rehearsalswill part in the fare workweek .
Stereophonics frontman Kelly Jones alsoconfirmed toNMEthat Noel had been in the studio apartment , knead on textile that may be solo or for Oasis .
This was while the circle weresnubbed from being initiate into the 2025 rock and roll hall of fame , they aregrappling with the top of the 1 chart with the late re - loss of their classical 1 ‘ some might say ’ .
Having long bury the hatcher , Blur bassist Alex James of late say the Oasis reunification is “ marvellous ” , add that it was “ abominable that most band terminate up hate each other ” .
