Madness Takes Over West End in September???

Suggs, lead singer of 1980s ska-pop band Madness, confirmed at the Oliviers on Friday that the group's first stage musical, Our House, is not only on the way but gearing up for a September opening in the West End. Casting is believed to be underway for the production, directed by Matthew Warchus. The band started life as The Invaders back in 1976, but renamed themselves after a Prince Buster song. Fusing ska rhythms and instrumentation with a canny pop sensibility, they enjoyed enormous critical and commercial success. Their breakthrough hit came with the mainly instrumental piece "One Step Beyond". This was followed by a stack of diverse hits including "Michael Caine", "On the Wings of a Dove", "My Girl" and "Night Boat to Cairo". Madness' first Stateside breakthroughs came with the satirical numbers "Our House" and "House of Fun". The musical will feature some of Madness' greatest hits though details of the storyline, and whether it follows the fortunes of the band itself, have not been revealed.

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