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Depeche Mode's 'Playing the Angel' Gets the Musical Treatment

Depeche Mode's David GahanFollowing in the footsteps of Queen, ABBA, Billy Joel and Green Day, Depeche Mode will see their songs turned into a musical theater production. Adrian Buckle, a producer and writer for the Unifaun Theatre in Malta, has acquired the rights to turn the songs from the band's 2005 album, 'Playing the Angel,' into "a new kind of musical."

Buckle started writing the script but felt that without the rights to the music he was plagiarizing and stopped. He soon got in touch with Depeche Mode's manager, J.D. Fenger, who liked the idea and gave him the green light to continue writing. The story follows two boys who experienced abuse and how they discover love.

"Depeche Mode are not Abba or Queen," Buckle told the Times of Malta. "The story can't be a happy one."

The Unifaun Theatre have been known for their controversial productions, and this one will be no different. "Well, I'm not going to invite my grandmother to this musical ... and, yes, it will push boundaries," Buckle said. "But I don't do plays because they are controversial. I do them because they're quality productions, which are relevant to the local scenario."

Casting for the musical will begin on June 27.

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Adrian Buckle

I would like to add to the above, lest the situation causes grief to any one else, that my comments on Mr Fanger's role were misquoted and given a different version to what I explained by the original journalist.

June 19 2010 at 4:29 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Adrian Buckle

I refer to your article referring to my theatre company producing a musical based on songs by Depeche Mode. I would like to set the record straight by saying that this event has been cancelled after it was brought to my attention that we had not acquired permission to use the songs through the correct channels. The mistake was a genuine one and is much regretted.

June 19 2010 at 2:16 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply