New comedy about Blur and Oasis rivalry heading to Glasgow
The Battle, presented by Melting Pot and Birmingham Rep, charts the summer of 1995, when Blur and Oasis went head-to-head in a legendary chart race.
It will run at the city's Theatre Royal from May 26 until May 30, 2026.
READ MORE: Glasgow to be hotter than Ibiza in summer burst this week
Written by Sunday Times bestselling novelist and screenwriter John Niven, and directed by acclaimed theatre-maker Matthew Dunster, the play dives into the heart of the Britpop explosion — exploring the friendships, feuds, fame, and fallout that came to define an unforgettable era.
John Niven said: '1995: a time long before music splintered into a billion different TikTok feeds.
"When music was so central to the culture that two pop groups could dominate the entire summer, the evening news and the front page of every newspaper in the country.
"We're going to take you back there. I've never written for the stage before, and it has been an absolute blast to do so for the first time with a producer as supportive as Simon and a director as talented as Matthew.'
READ MORE: Watch this TV star go viral with impromptu Glasgow bar performance
Set in London at the height of Britpop, the play brings to life the chaos of the Brit Awards, the frenzied tabloid wars, and the moment two bands dominated headlines, airwaves, and living rooms across the country.
Matthew Dunster said: 'I remember the Battle of the Bands. I remember the charts that week. Music mattered.
"I remember being in my twenties in 1995. What a wild time. Full of energy, naughtiness and hilarity.
"Just like John Niven's play. I'm so delighted to be working with John on such a punchy, hilarious and revealing comedy about two of the best bands of all time, Blur and Oasis.'
READ MORE: Fresh wine bar and bottle shop announces Glasgow opening date
Simon Friend, the producer, added: 'Throughout my sister's teenage years, she had an enormous poster of Damon Albarn on her wall, and I remember her falling out with friends over which band they loved more.
"Ever since, this story has been in the back of my mind, and I was delighted that John Niven agreed to write it because there is no more qualified or hilarious chronicler of this world, and combined with Matthew Dunster directing, we have a fearless team recreating the sweaty mid-'90s carnage of The Battle of Britpop.'
John Niven, a former music industry insider turned bestselling author, is known for Kill Your Friends, The Trip, and How to Build A Girl.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Wales Online
39 minutes ago
- Wales Online
Woman's mystery condition 'grinds joints together' - one thing distracts from the pain
Woman's mystery condition 'grinds joints together' - one thing distracts from the pain Angharad Brawn first experienced pain at the age of five Angharad describes herself as 'stubbornly independent' (Image: PA Real Life ) A 30-year-old wheelchair-bound since childhood by a mystery degenerative condition which causes her joints to 'grind together' has said she paints to distract herself from her chronic pain. Angharad Brawn, based in the village of Ynysddu in South Wales, said she was born 'perfectly healthy', but from the age of five she started to experience aches in her legs which worsened throughout her childhood. By the end of primary school, she needed a wheelchair and her condition continued to worsen, to the point where she developed scoliosis and needed a hip replacement at 18. Angharad underwent genetic testing where her symptoms were likened to a rare genetic disorder – but as she was not a direct match, she has been left without an official diagnosis. Since her youth, Angharad has been experiencing pains in most of her joints due to her condition, where she can 'literally feel (her) bones grinding together', and she uses a motorised wheelchair to move as she cannot walk or stand. Angharad says she has 'no idea' how her condition will deteriorate in the future, with her latest 'scary' struggles impacting her speech and ability to swallow – but over the last two years, she has 'rediscovered (her) love of painting' to provide a distraction from her pain. Article continues below Determined to remain independent, Angharad has published a children's picture book based on her experience, regularly sells her artwork at craft fairs and on her website, and showcases her creations to thousands of TikTok followers. 'I've never had an official diagnosis, all the geneticists I've seen have basically said they have never seen anything like the symptoms I have,' Angharad said. 'Being in pain is draining but there's nothing that can be done about it, I've just got to get on with it. 'My art really helps as it means I have to focus on something else, my bungalow has normally got different projects I'm working on all over it, so I've always got some sort of distraction at hand.' Born healthy, Angharad started to complain of 'aches' in her legs around the age of five. 'By the time I was seven, it was more obvious I was struggling,' she said. 'I started not being able to do things, like riding a bike.' Angharad said she was referred to an orthopaedic consultant, where it was originally thought she had Myhre syndrome – an extremely rare genetic disorder. Her mother, Deborah Gordon, pressed for a second opinion, however, and Angharad underwent several tests, tried out various pain relief medications and had physiotherapy under a community care team. At the age of nine, Angharad started using crutches, then by the end of primary school she needed a wheelchair – before eventually progressing to a motorised one for her independence at 14 years old. As Angharad's consultants could not identify a specific condition she could be suffering with, she was referred to a geneticist when she was 18. Angharad started to experience aches in her legs from the age of five (Image: PA Real Life ) After many appointments and blood tests, Angharad said her symptoms were likened to a condition called Schwartz-Jampel syndrome (SJS), a rare genetic disorder which affects muscle function and skeletal development. For a confirmed SJS diagnosis, Angharad would need to display eight specific chromosome abnormalities, but she just has two, meaning she has been living without an official diagnosis. Angharad said her condition, which is degenerative and 'slowly getting worse over time', affects her bones but also her muscles and tendons, causing myotonia muscle spasms, meaning they never fully relax. 'What's particularly scary is that I am now having problems with my speech and my swallowing,' she said. Angharad said her condition also results in a 'distortion' of her skeleton and she has scoliosis, a curvature of the spine, which had to be corrected by metal rods implanted in her spine aged 16. She had her hip replaced at 18 years old to relieve some of her pain. Describing her chronic pain, Angharad said she has 'good days and bad days'. 'I get pain in most of my joints, but especially in my right hip, back and shoulders,' she said. 'It is really tiring and, in most of my joints, I can literally feel my bones grinding together.' Angharad needed a wheelchair by the end of primary school (Image: PA Real Life ) In August 2019, Angharad was offered a bungalow through Caerphilly Council, where she now lives on her own and a team of carers visit her in the mornings and evenings. As she cannot walk or stand, Angharad uses a hoist in the ceiling to help her get out of bed and into her wheelchair or shower chair. 'I normally describe myself as stubbornly independent, I will always try and do something myself before asking for help,' she said. 'We've managed to set up my care in a way that is really flexible, so some days I may need less help.' Angharad said she always wanted to be a jewellery designer and attended the School of Jewellery at Birmingham City University, but her deteriorating hand function saw her change direction and pursue art instead. She now focuses on painting animals, with birds being her favourite, and she is currently working to fill a sketchbook with various types of birds. 'I'm right-handed, but my right hand has always been my worse hand, so I've had to learn to paint and write with my left,' she said. 'My hands can also be shaky and I get a lot of muscle spasms. I think that's why I prefer painting animals, they normally don't have smooth edges, so it doesn't really matter if my hands shake a bit.' Angharad is currently working on filling a sketchbook with various types of birds (Image: TikTok/PA Real Life ) Angharad said she has to work around her disability in order to produce her artwork – which she sells at local craft fairs and on her website, Angharad has also showcased her artwork on her TikTok page, where she has found a 'really supportive' community with more than 12,000 followers. She has also written, illustrated and self-published a children's picture book, titled The Wobbly Penguin, which is based on her experience growing up with a degenerative condition. While Angharad said she does not know what the future holds for her condition, estimating she will need more support and potentially a speaking device if her speech continues to be impacted, she remains positive. Article continues below 'I just want to show that even though someone may have a very obvious physically disabling condition, they're still fighting to be as independent as they can be,' she said.
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Jess and Norma: TikTok gran who amassed millions of fans with her granddaughter dies aged 91 leaving family ‘devastated'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A GRANDMA who rose to fame on TikTok posting funny videos with her granddaughter has died aged 91. Norma, who amassed more than 2.7 million followers on the social media app with her granddaughter Jess, 32, died on June 5, her family announced yesterday. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 4 TikTok star Norma has died at the age of 91 Credit: Instagram 4 The gran was famed for her funny videos alongside granddaughter Jess, 32 Credit: Instagram 4 Norma's family announced her death on social media yesterday alongside a moving tribute Credit: TikTOk The pair created countless heartwarming funny videos on TikTok, including one where Norma says "we're related" in a series of funny voices - mimicking a cow and a vampire - with both collapsing into fits of giggles. Announcing her death on social media, Norma's family wrote: "05/06/2025, the day our family lost our rock, our everything, our beautiful, precious, perfect lady. "We are all truly devastated and our lives will never be the same. "We want you all to know that Nan fell to sleep peacefully, surrounded by all her family, she was full of love and had the most beautiful care. "If anyone deserves a place in heaven, it's you Nanny Norma." The moving tribute also highlighted how social media and the online community around her TikTok had "made Nan's last years so incredibly special". Norma's family added: "Her cup was full and in her own words she 'lived such a wonderful life'. "91 years was never going to be enough and she has left the biggest hole in all of our hearts. "Reunited with her husband and family, until we meet again, our queen." More to follow... For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun.
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Jess and Norma: TikTok gran who amassed millions of fans with her granddaughter dies aged 91 leaving family ‘devastated'
A GRANDMA who rose to fame on TikTok posting funny videos with her granddaughter has died aged 91. Norma, who amassed more than 2.7 million followers on the social media app with her granddaughter Jess, 32, died on June 5, her family announced yesterday. 4 4 4 The pair created countless heartwarming funny videos on TikTok, including one where Norma says "we're related" in a series of funny voices - mimicking a cow and a vampire - with both collapsing into fits of giggles. Announcing her death on social media, Norma's family wrote: "05/06/2025, the day our family lost our rock, our everything, our beautiful, precious, perfect lady. "We are all truly devastated and our lives will never be the same. "We want you all to know that Nan fell to sleep peacefully, surrounded by all her family, she was full of love and had the most beautiful care. "If anyone deserves a place in heaven, it's you Nanny Norma." The moving tribute also highlighted how social media and the online community around her TikTok had "made Nan's last years so incredibly special". Norma's family added: "Her cup was full and in her own words she 'lived such a wonderful life'. "91 years was never going to be enough and she has left the biggest hole in all of our hearts. "Reunited with her husband and family, until we meet again, our queen." is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun. 4
