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BrumHour saw The Battle at the invite of Birmingham Rep.
By Dave Massey
This production contains very strong language.
The Battle at Birmingham Rep: Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐”A cheeky, fun look back on Britpop”
Directed by Matthew Dunster, written by John Niven
Set across most of 1995, this comedy delves into the rivalry of Oasis and Blur using fictional and imagined conversations from the time when they went head-to-head in the UK Singles Chart.
George Usher plays Oasis’ Liam, of his time, mouthy and unfiltered. Paddy Stafford is the more laidback Noel, taking more measured approaches to the world. Confident and strong, Louisa Lytton plays Noel’s partner Meg.
For Blur, Oscar Lloyd is the middle-class Damon, Will Taylor is the slightly crumbling Graham, and their manager Andy is played by the excellent Mathew Horne.
Those expecting a musical or a gig will be in for a shock. The pure focus of this is on the battle itself. The script is light and full of slightly dated (90s) humour, which sometimes relies on how far we’ve come since 1995.
The set is constantly moving between scenes, and the music at the same time is timed rather than choreographed. The excellent animation by John O’Connor on the large screen takes the edge off.
The Battle is certainly fun and explores its subject through a very 2026 lens, but ultimately it is a snapshot of the mid 1990s. A cheeky, fun look back on Britpop, The Battle is at Birmingham Rep until 7th March 2026. Book tickets here: birmingham-rep.co.uk/whats-on/the-battle.
