Mathew Horne to star in Oasis vs Blur Britpop comedy The Battle on tour

Exclusive: Initial casting has been revealed for The Battle, a new stage comedy by screenwriter and novelist John Niven, co-presented by Melting Pot and Birmingham Rep.

Mathew Horne will portray Britpop music executive Andy Ross in this production, exploring the infamous 1990s chart rivalry between Blur and Oasis.

The production opens at Birmingham Rep on 11 February 2026 ahead of a UK tour and a planned West End run. Horne is scheduled to appear until 30 May 2026. Speaking about the role, Horne said the play “is right in the sweet spot of my teenage cultural experience”, adding: “I’m thrilled to be exploring this iconic era in music on stage with such a talented creative team involved.”

Directed by Matthew Dunster, whose previous credits include 2:22 A Ghost Story and The Pillowman, The Battle is Niven’s first stage play. It revisits the high-profile Britpop rivalry of summer 1995, when Blur and Oasis released singles on the same day. The production draws on Niven’s background in the music industry and his novels Kill Your Friends and The Second Coming.

The creative team features Fly Davis (set and costume), Jessica Hung Han Yun (lighting), Ian Dickinson (sound), Tal Rosner (video) and Claire Bleasdale (casting).

Following its Birmingham run (11 February to 7 March), the tour will visit Leicester, Manchester, Bromley, Woking, Cheltenham, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Sheffield, Ipswich, Richmond, Glasgow, York, Norwich, Nottingham, Milton Keynes, Newcastle, Brighton and Chester. The Battle is produced by Melting Pot, Birmingham Rep and Gavin Kalin.