Musik - coming to Leicester Square Theatre


London theatre news: Monday 29 July 2019


London West End - Shows - Transfers

'MUSIK' by writer Jonathan Harvey and Pet Shop Boys, Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, is to transfer to London following its world premiere at the 2019 Edinburgh Fringe.
Musik at Leicester Square Theatre

Image courtesy Cahoots Theatre Company


Frances Barber will reprise her role as Billie Trix from the 2001 musical, 'Closer to Heaven', in a one-woman show entitled MUSIK due to run at London's Leicester Square Theatre from 3 to 7 September.


Before that, MUSIK gets its world premiere at Assembly Rooms (Bijou venue) during the upcoming Edinburgh Fringe, from 5 to 24 August.


MUSIK is written by Jonathan Harvey and includes four new Pet Shop Boys' songs.


Jonathan Harvey said ...


"It has been such a treat reconnecting and working with Chris and Neil on this, 20 years after our first foray into musical theatre writing.


In 'MUSIK' Billie, dried up, drug-addled icon and rock star, tells us about her life and sings her biggest hits.


I can't wait to see Frances Barber inhabit her again as she did so hilariously and so touchingly all those years ago."


Pet Shop Boys said ...


"When we wrote 'Closer to Heaven' almost 20 years ago, we loved the compelling outrageousness of the character Bille Trix as written by Jonathan and performed by Frances Barber.


We have all discussed for many years the idea of creating her own one-woman show which would give us the chance to write more songs for her as she looks back on her incredible career.


We're thrilled that this show is finally happening."  


Frances Barber is an award-winning star of stage, screen and TV.


Her extensive credits include the films 'Prick Up Your Ears', 'We Think the World of You', 'Dead Fish' and 'Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool'.


Her numerous TV credits include 'The Street', multiple guest starring episodes of 'Doctor Who' as Madame Kovaria and 'Silk'.


In the West End she recently played Mrs. Cheveley in 'An Ideal Husband'.


Pet Shop Boys have sold more than 50 million records worldwide and are listed as the most successful duo in UK music history by The Guinness Book of Records.


Since 1985 they have achieved 42 Top 30 singles, 22 of them Top 10 hits in the UK Singles Chart, including four UK number ones and at the 2009 Brit Awards, they received an award for Outstanding Contribution to Music.


They have also written a score for the classic silent film, 'Battleship Potemkin', a ballet, 'The Most Incredible Thing', and performed at the BBC Proms their musical work inspired by Alan Turing, 'A Man From The Future'.


Jonathan Harvey is an acclaimed playwright, novelist and TV writer whose work has earned many awards.


His plays include 'Beautiful Thing', for which he won the prestigious 'John Whiting Award' and 'Babies' (National Theatre Studio/Royal Court Theatre), winner George Devine Award and Evening Standard's Most Promising Playwright Award.


On TV he wrote the cult comedy series 'Gimme Gimme Gimme', starring Kathy Burke and James Dreyfus, 'Murder Most Horrid' and is a regular script writer on 'Coronation Street'.


Show listing information


Synopsis


Billie Trix. Icon. Rock star. Screen goddess. Drug addict.


Billie has lived a life of excess and shares it all in her new one-woman show.


Her journey takes us from post-war Berlin to the rock arenas of the world, via the Vietnam war, Andy Warhol's Factory, and a year in a Soho Square phone box.


A stunning performance by Frances Barber as Billie Trix with an outrageous script by Jonathan Harvey (Beautiful Thing, Coronation Street) and six original songs by Pet Shop Boys.


Cast


Frances Barber as Billie Trix

Creatives


Author: Script by Jonathan Harvey
Composer: Songs by Pet Shop Boys
Production: Cahoots Theatre Company

Venue


Leicester Square Theatre - Main House
6 Leicester Place
London
WC2H 7BX


Dates


From: Tuesday 3 September 2019

Closed: Saturday 7 September 2019

Tickets


Standard:

£26.25

Booking fees apply


Links


Show website
ActDrop full listing for Musik

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