Placebo have never been afraid to push into unexpected territory, and this is their boldest move yet. The alternative rock icons announce a landmark collaboration with the Royal Shakespeare Company, composing the music for the 2026 production of Bertolt Brecht’s The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, running at the Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon from April 11 through May 30. It marks the first time the RSC has ever staged the play in its history, and the first major theatre collaboration of Placebo’s 30-year career.
Double Olivier Award-winning actor Mark Gatiss takes the title role of Arturo Ui, the small-time crook with towering ambitions, in a new version by Stephen Sharkey directed by Sean Linnen. Brecht’s blistering satire on Hitler’s ascent to power carries a urgency that feels anything but historical right now, and Placebo’s darkly seductive sonic world is a natural fit for the material.
“Thematically, this cautionary tale from history feels more urgent and prescient than ever,” say Brian Molko and Stefan Olsdal. “We tried to connect with the psychology of the outsider, as well as taking inspiration from themes of power, alienation and moral decay, which are at the core of this play.” Director Sean Linnen calls them “one of the most daring, original and imaginative rock bands in history,” and having their score performed live nightly at the Swan Theatre is, by any measure, a remarkable thing.
The collaboration arrives in the year Placebo celebrate the 30th anniversary of their self-titled debut album, a record that helped define an alternative to Britpop and inspired a generation. Fourteen million albums sold, six UK top ten records, and collaborations with David Bowie, Robert Smith, and Michael Stipe form the backdrop to a band still operating with genuine creative ambition.