As a key music exec in the Oasis vs Blur battle

Mathew Horne is to play a Britpop music executive in the midst of the Blur vs Oasis feud of the 1990s.

The Gavin and Stacey star will take the pivotal role of Andy Ross in The Battle, which opens at the Birmingham Rep in February ahead of a UK tour and West End run.

Ross signed an unknown Blur to his label Food Records, later bought by EMI, and he and frontman Damon Albarn decided to  bring forward the release of their single Country House to the same 1995 day that Oasis put out Roll With It, fuelling the rivalry between the bands.

Horne said: ‘This play is right in the sweet spot of my teenage cultural experience. I’m thrilled to be exploring this iconic era in music on stage with such a talented creative team involved.’

He will play the role in 11 cities on tour until May 30, in Glasgow, when another actor will take over.

The Battle is the first stage play by screenwriter and novelist John Niven – who wrote the music industry satire  Kill Your Friends  –  and is directed by 2:22 A Ghost Story’s Matthew Dunster.

The play, which opens in Birmingham on February 11, is described as ‘a blistering and darkly funny exploration of fame, ego, and the cultural clashes of 1990s Britain… shining a satirical light on the chaos behind the cool Britannia façade’.

Tour dates are here – and below is a trailer: 

Published: 25 Jun 2025