In a groundbreaking artistic collaboration, the iconic alt-rock band Placebo are set to make their theatrical debut by scoring a major new production for the Royal Shakespeare Company. The band will provide the musical backdrop for Bertolt Brecht's powerful political allegory, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, marking a significant departure from their traditional rock output.
A Timely Political Allegory
Written in 1941 during the height of the Second World War, Brecht's play presents a chilling narrative about a Chicago mobster who uses corruption, intimidation, and violence to dominate the city's vegetable trade. This storyline serves as a direct parallel to Adolf Hitler's rise to power in 1930s Germany, creating what many consider to be one of the most potent political allegories in modern theatre.
The production's director, Seán Linnen, emphasised the play's contemporary relevance, stating: "As the threat from the far-right grows daily at home and abroad, it is our job as artists to speak up and out. There is no other play that interrogates the political moment we are living through more than this one."
Star-Studded Cast and Creative Team
The title role of Arturo Ui will be played by acclaimed actor Mark Gatiss, best known for his work in The League of Gentlemen, Sherlock, and numerous other television and stage productions. This marks Gatiss's debut performance with the Royal Shakespeare Company, adding another layer of significance to the production.
Placebo's core members, Brian Molko and Stefan Olsdal, expressed their enthusiasm for the project, saying: "We are very honoured and excited by this collaboration. Thematically, this cautionary tale from history feels more urgent and prescient than ever, and its relevance to today's world is very chilling."
A New Creative Challenge
The band members described their creative process for this theatrical venture as fundamentally different from their usual songwriting approach. "The creative process for this project was very different for us, sometimes akin to shooting arrows in the dark," they revealed. "So we tried to connect with the psychology of the outsider, as well as taking inspiration from themes of power, alienation and moral decay – which are at the core of this play."
Director Seán Linnen praised Placebo's contribution, describing their score as "glitteringly expansive, darkly seductive and deeply theatrical," suggesting the music will perfectly complement the production's dark themes.
Placebo's Musical Legacy
Placebo emerged as one of the most distinctive voices in British rock during the late 1990s, known for their muscular gothic rock sound and sometimes sexually provocative lyrics. The band achieved mainstream success with a series of major hits including the Top 5 singles Nancy Boy, Pure Morning, and You Don't Care About Us.
Over their career spanning more than two decades, Placebo have steadily released eight studio albums, with their most recent offering, Never Let Me Go, achieving their highest ever album chart position at number three in the UK charts.
Production Details and Historical Context
The production will premiere on 11 April at the Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon, the Royal Shakespeare Company's home venue. Despite being written in 1941, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui wasn't premiered until 1958, after Brecht's death.
Recent notable productions include a 2017 staging at London's Donmar Warehouse featuring comedian and actor Lenny Henry in the title role, demonstrating the play's enduring appeal and capacity for reinterpretation across different eras and artistic visions.
This collaboration between Placebo and the Royal Shakespeare Company represents a fascinating convergence of contemporary rock music and classical theatre, bringing Brecht's powerful political warning to a new generation of audiences through a fresh artistic lens.
