Terry Johnson, Tony Award winner of Best Director of a Musical for La Cage Aux Folles, is to direct the new production of outrageous Edinburgh Fringe and London sell-out cabaret MUSIK, starring Frances Barber, when it comes to London’s Wilton’s Music Hall later this year, it has been announced.
Six years after its sold out critically acclaimed World Premiere in Edinburgh Fringe and subsequent London transfer, MUSIK, by writer Jonathan Harvey and Pet Shop Boys Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, the new production of the 60-minute, one-woman cabaret, again sees multi-award-winning actress Frances Barber reprising the role of Billie Trix, a role she first created in the 2001 West End musical, Closer to Heaven.
Johnson says, “I am delighted to be joining the sterling team of creatives on this funny, tuneful, eccentric and startling joy-ride of a show in which Ms Barber, armed with the wit of Mr Harvey and the tune-smithery of Messrs Tennant and Lowe, will step onto the stage of the most prestigious Music Hall still standing, and stir its ghosts into a frenzy of alarm and admiration.”
MUSIK, which finds icon, rock star, screen goddess and hedonist, Billie Trix, regaling her audience with memories from her life of excess, sharing her journey from post-war Berlin to the rock arenas of the world, via the Vietnam war, Andy Warhol’s Factory, and 10 years living in a Soho Square phone box will run at Wilton’s Music Hall from 14 to 25 October.
Barber reflects, “Of all the characters I’ve ever played, Billie Trix is the closest to my heart. A woman of a certain age (even she doesn’t know) who has lived a life that may or may not be entirely accurate, but what a ride. And she’s still here. Billie was born from the brilliant imagination of Jonathan Harvey and Pet Shop Boys in Closer To Heaven more than 20 years ago. When we embarked on her solo adventures Pet Shop Boys wrote six new songs for each chapter of her extraordinary experiences, woven into the magical narrative of Jonathan. She’s delusional, outrageous, accidentally hilarious and beyond loveable. I’m thrilled my journey with her is coming back.”
Harvey agrees, “It was such a treat reconnecting and working with Chris and Neil on this, more than 20 years after our first foray into musical theatre writing. In MUSIK Billie, dried up, drug addled icon and rock star performs her self-penned self-directed one person art house extravaganza about her life, loves, and – amazingly – how she was present at every important moment in recent – and not so recent – world history. Is she telling the truth? Can she still nail a number after 10 lines of cocaine? Come and decide for yourselves.”
Pet Shop Boys Tennat and Lowe, add, “When we wrote Closer to Heaven we loved the compelling outrageousness of the character Billie Trix as written by Jonathan and performed by Frances. We 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. It was thrilling when this show became a sold-out reality in Edinburgh a few years ago and we are delighted that it is returning to London in such a beautiful and historic venue. Frances Barber’s astonishing performance is not to be missed.”
AT A GLANCE
Frances Barber is an award-winning star of stage, screen and TV. Her extensive credits include the films Prick Up Your Ears, Silk, Doctor Who as Madame Kovarian, Chelsea Detective and three seasons of Whitstable Pearl. She won WhatsonStage Best Actress in a Musical for Closer to Heaven and An Offie Award for Best Actress for MUSIK.
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 called 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 includes Beautiful Thing, Gimme Gimme Gimme, Beautiful People and Coronation Street.
Terry Johnson is a playwright/director whose West End directing credits include The Libertine, with John Malkovitch, The Prisoner of Second Avenue, starring Jeff Goldblum, La Cage Aux Folles, starring Kelsey Grammer and Harvey Fierstein, Rain Man, starring Josh Hartnett, One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, starring Christian Slater, The Graduate, starring Kathleen Turner and Hysteria, starring Antony Sher).
Tickets for MUSIK at Wilton’s Music Hall here.
