Pet Shop Boys have announced they’ll be creating a new cabaret musical MUSIK that will see them reunite with writer Jonathan Harvey and actor Frances Barber.

In 2001 the musical duo teamed up with Harvey to create the musical Closer to Heaven which was set in a nightclub. Barber played retired rock icon and actress Billie Trix.

The new cabaret musical will be a one woman show for Barber who will return to playing the character almost two decades later. The show will open on 4th August at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and will play until 24th August.

Announcing the new work Pet SHop Boys said they’d often thought of creating a piece for the memorable character.

“When we wrote ‘Closer to Heaven’ almost 20 years ago, we loved the compelling outrageousness of the character Bille Trix as written by Jonathan and performed by Frances Barber.

“We have all discussed for many years the idea of creating her own one-woman show which would give us the chance to write more songs for her as she looks back on her incredible career.

“We’re thrilled that this show is finally happening,” they said.

Jonathan Harvey, who wrote the movie Beautiful Thing, and the camp TV series Gimme, Gimme, Gimme and Beautiful People, said he was excited to be working once again with Pet Shop Boys Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe.

“It has been such a treat reconnecting and working with Chris and Neil on this, 20 years after our first foray into musical theatre writing.

“In MUSIK, Billie, dried up, drug-addled icon and rock star, tells us about her life and sings her biggest hits. I can’t wait to see Frances Barber inhabit her again as she did so hilariously and so touchingly all those years ago.”

The show will contain six Pet Shop Boys hits and four new songs they’ve written for the production.

Take a listen to one of Billie Trix’s big numbers from Closer to Heaven.

OIP Staff