Comic says the ex-PM's life is 'epic - operatic even'

Harry Hill’s musical about Tony Blair is to have its official premiere in London this summer.

Tony! (A Tony Blair Rock Opera) will feature supporting characters such as Princess Diana, John Prescott, Peter Mandelson, Alastair Campbell, Osama Bin Laden, George W Bush, Saddam Hussein and Gordon Brown as it tells the story of his journey from ‘peace-loving, long-haired hippy and would-be pop star to warmongering multimillionaire’.

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 1990s and early 2000s.’

Hill’s regular musical collaborator Steve Brown wrote the music for the show, and 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 1960s 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.’

This is not Hill’s first musical, as he and Brown previously collaborated on I Can't Sing!, the short-lived West End X Factor spoof. Brown, the father of comic Alfie Brown, was also the fictional bandleader Glen Ponder in Knowing Me Knowing You with Alan Partridge.

Tony! (A Tony Blair Rock Opera) performed at the Park Theatre in Finsbury Park from June 1 to July 9, following a short preview run at the Turbine Theatre in Battersea before the pandemic.

The venue describes the show as ‘Yes, Minister meets The Rocky Horror Show!, a hilarious tragedy of political intrigue, religion, power, and romance that plays fast and loose with the facts.

Songs include Macro Economics and the haunting ballad I Never Did Anything Wrong.

The theatre’s website also carries a legal disclaimer: ‘Neither Tony Blair, the Tony Blair Institute nor any other person featured in this production have endorsed the production or its marketing materials and are in no way affiliated with Park Theatre.’

 Peter Rowe directs the show and the full cast is to be announced. Tickets are on sale now.

Published: 8 Apr 2022