Damon "Blur / Gorrillaz / "I've worked with musicians in Africa" Albarn is to use his musical genius in creating a new stage musical. Londonist loves musicals (when they're not by Mick Hucknall) so we welcome this new venture from Albarn who can be relied upon to take this opportunity to not simply re-issue old hits with new dance routines, but instead actually come up with interesting and exciting new work. It helps that the musical is part of the National Theatre’s programme, as announced by director Nicholas Hytner, and not part of the tourist fodder in the West End.
The musical won’t be appearing until next year but with nine months worth of meetings with playwright Roy Williams already completed, hopes are high for the as yet unnamed show. So far, the piece is said to focus on two families in Ladbroke Grove, home of the Notting Hill Carnival, and their lives over four decades. Albarn is said to be passionate about the many musical styles that came from this part of London from the 1960s onwards and will use the changing sounds and styles of West London over forty years to tell the story.
This collaboration (which was initiated four years ago when Albarn contacted the National Theatre about possibly working for the institution – this won’t be a hastily put-together tribute show, no sir) is hoped to be the first of many similar pairings between theatre and non-theatre artists. Imagine: architects, fashion designers, campaigners, even bloggers could one day have a place on the National’s stage. Watch this space…
