Madness set for West End success

The Nutty Boys of music, Madness, look set to have a new hit on their hands this morning – but this time in the heart of the West End.

Suggs and co, who stormed to success with their unique version of Ska in the 1970s and 80s, have gone one step beyond their 17 top 10 hits and taken them to the theatre stage.

Our House is the latest London musical to be based on the songs of famous bands and centres around the life of two teenagers in north London.

And last night the show premiered at the Cambridge Theatre, in the capital’s theatreland, to the glowing praise of fans.

Celebrities showing their support included David Baddiel, Eddie Izzard, Emma Bunton, Harry Enfield, Chris Tarrant, pregnant actress Sarah Lancashire, Hugh Laurie, Brian May and Anita Dobson.

The king of musicals Lord Lloyd-Webber said: “That is the most impressive debut by a musical director (Matthew Warchus) I have seen in my career.”

Our House tells the two different life stories of Joe, played by newcomer Michael Jibson, and his girlfriend Sarah, played by Julia Gay, depending on the path he takes after committing a petty crime.

Writer Tim Firth, who penned TV’s Preston Front, has woven the many hits of the famous Camden band into the plot.

Songs from Madness’s huge back catalogue feature My Girl, It Must Be Love, Baggy Trousers and, of course, Our House.

Hits such as Embarrassment, Sun and the Rain and Tomorrow’s Just Another Day appeared as if they had been written just for the show.

The cast received a standing ovation before being joined on stage by the group.

Frontman Graham “Suggs” McPherson, who walked on wearing a traffic cone, said after: “I am very proud. This shows you can take the man out of the street but you can not take the street off his head.”

Bassist Mark Bedford added: “It was fantastic. We are just delighted with the way everything worked.”

Co-singer Chas Smash said: “We have been working very hard on this on trying to get it off the ground since 1999.”

Our House follows in the footsteps of Mamma Mia (Abba music) We Will Rock You (Queen) in taking hit chart songs to the West End.

The band have written two new songs for the show and hinted at new releases.

Comedian Hugh Laurie joked: “I am very much a Madness fan. This is a very exciting night for the whole world.”

DJ Jonathan “Jono” Coleman said: “It’s the Sound of Music for north London.”