Punk Hits To Become West End Musical For The First Time

London West End Calling! A new feel-good musical is set to open in the capital’s West End in 2018 featuring some of punk’s biggest hits by The Clash, The Sex Pistols, The Damned and more. The show is funded by the world’s biggest record label, Universal Music, who have also invested in stage classics such as Mamma Mia.

The unusual combination of opera singers performing punk sparked an idea and writing began. The story follows a beleaguered amateur operatic society whose dwindling audiences mean the cast may be forced to take their final bow on the night of their 150^th anniversary. In a last-ditch effort to save the society that brought the tight-knit group together, they ditch the Mozart and Wagner in favour of punk classics such as Oh Bondage Up Yours! by X Ray Spex and Pretty Vacant by The Sex Pistols.

Ted Cockle, Snr. Executive at Universal Music, explains: “I was listening to founding member of the Sex Pistols Glen Matlock talk on Radio 4, and the New Statesman arts editor Kate Mossman suggested Glen’s project ‘The Anarchy Arias’ sounded like it could be a musical. It just seemed like such a natural fit. We’d just announced the album and the reaction to the music was incredible. To make these powerful, dramatic arrangements come to life on stage will be astonishing.”

Open auditions will be taking place across the UK shortly to find the best amateur operatic talent waiting to be discovered. Email anarchyariasmusical@gmail.com before September 1 for more information.

“The Anarchy Arias is a very exciting project which puts Universal Music at the forefront of punk musical curation. The timing seems perfect to create a new original show in this light, and hosting open auditions will be a fantastic opportunity to find and develop new home grown talent.”

The show will feature tracks included on the Glen Matlock inspired album, ‘The Anarchy Arias’ released on 9 June 2017.