Placebo make theatre debut with score for Brecht production by Royal Shakespeare Company

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 2 min read 100% complete by Ben Beaumont-ThomasJanuary 28, 2026 at 06:00 AM

AI Summary

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Alt-rock band Placebo is creating the score for the Royal Shakespeare Company's (RSC) new production of Bertolt Brecht's "The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui," premiering April 11 at the Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon. The play, written in 1941, is an allegory of Adolf Hitler's rise to power, depicting a Chicago mobster's corrupt control of the vegetable trade. Mark Gatiss will star as Ui in his RSC debut. Placebo members Brian Molko and Stefan Olsdal expressed excitement about the collaboration, drawing inspiration from themes of power, alienation, and moral decay. Director Seán Linnen emphasizes the play's relevance to contemporary political issues and describes Placebo's score as "glitteringly expansive, darkly seductive and deeply theatrical."

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Lenny Henry 30% Donmar Warehouse 40% Stratford-upon-Avon 50% Brian Molko 50% Stefan Olsdal 50% Seán Linnen ×260% Chicago 60% Adolf Hitler 60% Bertolt Brecht ×270% Mark Gatiss ×370% Royal Shakespeare Company ×280% Placebo ×590%

Keywords

the resistible rise of arturo ui 100% placebo 90% royal shakespeare company 80% theatre production 80% bertolt brecht 70% political allegory 70% allegory 60% far-right 60% moral decay 50% power 50%

Sentiment Analysis

Positive

Score: 0.30

Source Transparency

Source

The Guardian - World News

Political Lean

Center-Left (-0.40)

Far LeftCenterFar Right

Classification Confidence

90%

Geographic Perspective

Chicago

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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the resistible rise of arturo ui placebo royal shakespeare company theatre production bertolt brecht political allegory allegory far-right moral decay power

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