The Royal Shakespeare Company announces Placebo will compose the new live soundtrack for Bertolt Brecht’s The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, starring Mark Gatiss, with a new version by Stephen Sharkey, premiering at the Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon from April 11 to May 30, 2026 (press night April 21).

Directed by Seán Linnen, the play is set in Chicago’s criminal underworld and serves as a blistering satire on Hitler’s ascent to power.

This marks Placebo’s first major theatre collaboration, aligning with their 30th anniversary since their debut and underscoring their global influence as a defining alternative rock act with 14 million albums sold.

The artistic team expresses excitement about the soundtrack’s role in enhancing Brecht’s play and the overall audience experience.

The collaboration blends rock spectacle with political interrogation, treating the live score as an essential component performed nightly on stage.

The production highlights music’s role in Brecht’s plays and frames the collaboration as a response to contemporary political moments.

Context notes Placebo’s recent musical achievements and touring history, emphasizing the significance of this cross-disciplinary project between a major theatre and a landmark rock band.

Audiences can expect a live score that interacts directly with the narrative, space, and performances rather than merely accompanying the show.

Seán Linnen praises Placebo’s involvement as essential and exhilarating, noting the live score will be performed nightly in the Swan Theatre.

The RSC’s Linnen stresses Placebo’s contribution as central to the production and its timely, energetic impact on audiences.

The collaboration follows Radiohead’s successful partnership with the RSC for Hamlet in the previous year, signaling a trend in cross-disciplinary partnerships.