Comedian and singer Charlie Baker will play Tony Blair alongside West End star Gary Trainor as Gordon Brown when Harry Hill and Steve Brown’s Tony (The Tony Blair Rock Opera) receives its world premiere at London’s Park Theatre this summer.
Baker, whose comedy credits include appearing on hit TV shows including Harry Hill’s Teatime, The Last Leg and Nevermind The Buzzcocks and Trainor, the West End’s first Dewey Finn in School of Rock and a member of the original London cast of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, will re-create the stormy relationship between the controversial last Labour prime minister and his chancellor.
They will be joined by Howard Samuels (The Sound of Music UK tour, The Cereal Café, The Other Palace) as Peter Mandelson, Rosie Strobel (Mimma, Cadogan Hall, Sister Act, Kilworth House) as John Prescott, Madison Swan (The Book of Mormon, West End, Heathers The Musical, West End) as Princess Diana, Holly Sumpton (Groan Ups, UK tour/West End) as Cherie Blair, Kaye Brown (A Monster Calls, Old Vic, Follies, National Theatre) as Robin Cook, Adam Price (Hairspray, Shaftesbury Theatre, Kinky Boots UK tour) as Neil Kinnock with recent London School of Musical Theatre graduate Marisa Harris (Aladdin, Mercury Theatre) as ensemble cast and understudy.
Featuring a book by superstar comedian Hill and music and lyrics by composer Brown, the show which takes a comic look at the controversial former PM and his journey from student wannabe rock star to politician and multi-millionaire, will debut at Park200 from 1 June until 9 July 2022.
Presented by Park Theatre, the production is directed by Peter Rowe, with choreography by Francesca Jaynes, set and costume design by Libby Watson and sound design by Andre T.
Commenting on the inspiration behind the show, Hill said: “Ask yourself this – if you bumped into Tony Blair in the street would you ask for a selfie? Gordon maybe – but Tony… Don’t think so! Think of the insta-hate!
“Yet 25 years ago there he was – the master of all he surveyed surfing his Britpop wave with Cherie at his side. Ah, Remember Britpop? The future all looked so rosy back then didn’t it?
“It’s struck me for a while that Tony Blair’s life is epic – operatic even, in its story arc. I know it doesn’t sound like obvious material for a comedy musical but we’re not laughing at Tony so much as laughing at the choices WE made back in the 1090s and early 2000s.”
Brown added: “Memories of the first Pop Prime Minister; the one who rode the wave of Cool Britannia; Noel Gallagher necking champagne at Downing Street; it was like the 60s again. Optimism and groovy gear. Er, and a few wars.
“We could only convey this story in the most overblown of all possible theatrical forms: The Rock Opera… or Poperetta if you will. Fun, catchy but ultimately, a tragedy in the making.”
Described as ‘Yes, Minister meets The Rocky Horror Show’, Tony (The Tony Blair Rock Opera) is the second musical from Hill and Brown, following on from I Can’t Sing! The X Factor Musical which premiered at the London Palladium in 2013.
One of the UK’s best-loved comedians, multi-award-winning comedian, presenter and author Hill has been entertaining audiences for nearly 30 years. Composer, lyricist, arranger and record producer Brown has provided all the music arrangements for Hill’s radio, television and film work since 1997. Brown’s theatre credits include the Evening Standard and Critics Circle award-winning musical Spend Spend Spend.
Angela Thomas
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