Premiere of musical Berlusconi comes to Southwark Playhouse in March

The world premiere of the musical Berlusconi will be coming to Southwark Playhouse’s new theatre in Elephant and Castle from March to 25 April 29.

The musical tells an almost true story of the three-time former Italy Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, the self-proclaimed “Jesus Christ of politics” who has been at the centre of many controversies.

In the play, as Berlusconi sits on the precipice of facing trial for tax fraud, he attempts to glorify his legacy by writing an opera of his life, a story which gets transformed into a feminist jibe when told by three women.

This satirical musical sheds light on an all-too familiar style of leadership and is particularly apt as Italy has recently welcomed a new far-right leader, Georgia Meloni.

Producer Francesca Moody said: “I am thrilled to be presenting this extraordinary and incredibly funny new musical with an award-winning team of the most exciting roll-call of creatives. Berlusconi is an all too familiar story of outrageous corruption and grotesque male privilege allowed to run riot, indeed seemingly run a country.

“It’s a musical which places a fierce feminist lens on a political leader who was known for his charming misogyny and spotlights the human cost of his time in office. Berlusconi upended Italian politics and it could not feel timelier, or more appropriate to be exploring this outrageous and almost true story with riotous comedy and sensational songs.”

The musical has been produced by Fleabag’s Francesca Moody and Wishful Thinking Musicals, written by actors Ricky Simmonds and Simon Vaughan and directed by James Grieve.

Mr Grieve said: “Ricky and Simon have written an incandescent, uproarious, strikingly apposite show that melds sabre sharp lyrics with a technicolour head rush of a score.

It is a witty, incisive, affecting, hug.

Picture: Berlusconi Picture: Francesca Moody Productions