Apples

Synopsis

A London theatre stage, late 1980s. The gritty underbelly of politics and journalism collides with the idiosyncratic wordplay of a punk rock legend.

Ian Dury, the iconic frontman of the Blockheads, steps into the world of theatre with Apples, a satirical play that blends his distinctive lyrical style with political intrigue. Byline Brown, a tenacious journalist played by Dury himself, delves into an investigation of the corrupt minister Hugo Sinister, unraveling a web of deceit and power.

The play, commissioned by Max Stafford-Clark for the Royal Court Theatre, represents Dury’s ambitious foray into scriptwriting, with music co-written by Blockheads member Mick Gallagher. Despite its pedigree, “Apples” struggles to find its footing, with critics and audiences alike grappling with Dury’s unconventional approach to theatrical storytelling.

Through its characters – including a fruit stall owner and a Soho dancer whose names echo those of Dury’s own children – the play attempts to capture the seedy glamour and political corruption of 1980s London. Although it was panned by critics at the time, it stands as a fascinating artifact of Dury’s creative range and his desire to push boundaries beyond the world of rock music.