Our House Chas Smash of Madness

Taken From Ticketmaster Website 2003

What did you think when the idea of our House, the musical was first proposed to you? How were you involved in its creation?
The idea for Our House actually came from the band. Suggs and myself were working on an idea in 1999 for a musical and I went home and told my wife the idea whereupon she said why bother writing new songs why not use the hits! After some networking, we were finally introduced to writer Tim Firth. In the very early stages of the musicals creation the band met individually and in pairs with Tim. He then went off and after immersing himself with the music for a few weeks came back to the band with an outline of the proposed story.

After reading his outline to us and receiving rapturous applause from all of the band present it was obvious that we had the right man for the job. An agreed draft of the book (theatrical term for script) was then workshopped with actors reading the parts under the directorial eye of Matthew Warchus. Various band members attended throughout the workshop to stick in their very valuable tuppence worth.

Your songs often tell a story, do you think that helps when using them in a musical format?
The fact that Madness' lyrics tend to take an everyday situation and blow it up to cinematic proportions means that Tim Firth the writer was able to use the songs as stepping stones through a bigger story. If you look at the lyrics closely you will see the story coming to light, if you squint a little bit it helps.

The musical has opened to rave reviews. Would you or the band consider writing a musical yourselves?
I am in fact quite a long way down the road of writing my own musical. I began seriously writing new songs a few years back and have now about 20 written along with the story outline. The plot is quite dark and I am hoping to have something on stage next year. The title of my work is "Welcome To The Darkside"

Was Madness' decision to tour in December influenced by the opening of the musical?
Madness tend to tour when the planets are in alignment, when the country needs cheering up and when the bands milk bill comes in. The fact that Our House is on down the West End is of course beneficial to the public's awareness of all things "nutty" and I hope that it encourages those who have never been to a Madness show to come along and witness The Maddest Show On Earth!!!

The musical has 2 new songs. Will you be performing them on your tour?
We may perform one or both of the new songs live on the tour.