Ben Elton talks to Katherine MacAlister about his hit musical Tonight's The Night, inspired by the life and songs of Rod Stewart

It’s Ben Elton who’s behind the show Tonight’s The Night, rocking up at Oxford’s New Theatre from Wednesday – not Rod Stewart who it’s about.

Indeed Rod Stewart refused to have anything to do with a musical about his life until Ben Elton got involved and persuaded him otherwise.

Tonight’s The Night is the result and it went on to become a massive hit in the West End, something that Ben Elton is immensely proud of, more so now that it’s being revived.

“Well, let’s face it, it’s difficult to think of anybody more famous in the world of pop music than Rod Stewart. There may be people as famous like Bono and Paul McCartney but there aren’t many out there who can surpass what Rod has achieved.

“And what’s great is that when you listen to Rod’s music and then look at his life, he always seems so fabulously good-humoured as well.

“So I thought what would work might be a story that brought to the stage his grace and good humour and something of his devilish side while also recognising the fact that he sings about heartache as well as anyone ever has.”

Set on the mean streets of Detroit and in the glamorous clubs of uptown LA, the show tells the story of Stu, a shy young man, so tongue tied that he cannot find the courage to declare his love to the girl of his dreams. One night the hero strikes a deal with the devil, trading his soul for his hero Rod Stewart’s. It seems like a good idea at the time but he’s about to find out the hard way that you can’t find true love using another man’s moves and that devil or no devil, there’s only one Rod Stewart!

Oxford Mail:
Ben Elton

So where did Ben, 54, get the inspiration from, apart from Rod’s colourful life obviously? “I spent a week listening to Rod’s music intensively, which of course was no hardship at all, and as I listened and listened and listened, I tried to identify the overriding spirit of the songs, which were all about love and good times and winning and losing girls and all the things that quite frankly make for good stories!

“So I sat down and tried to think of something that would do justice to Rod’s own gift for storytelling and came up with a story that reminds us of that thing we’re always been told over and over again in drama – to thine own self be true.

“But more than that, what I prefer to do is write an original story embodying the spirit of the artist or the band so this show is really about a shy kid who wishes that he could be like Rod and gets his chance only then to discover that only Rod can be like Rod but that what Stuart can be is himself. The point is that you’ll do better in life if you try and build on your own strength and personality rather than being jealous and wishing you were somebody else. It’s a simple story, which I think is perfect for a musical.”

What did Rod make of it all? “He turned to me at the end and said, ‘Well, you’ve made me a legend, haven’t you?’ – which was of course hilarious because he’s been a legend all along!”

Perhaps Rod knew he was in good hands, Ben having having also written musicals for Andrew Lloyd Webber and Queen, as well as countless novels, plays and a feature films, plus managing 30 years as one of the most successful comic writers and performers on the British TV and stand-up circuit.

And yet musicals always came first for Ben: “Absolutely. I played the Artful Dodger in Oliver! twice as a kid and my first real musical theatre experience came when I was about 12 or so and I was taken as the guest of a schoolfriend to see Grease at the Dominion Theatre – where (Ben’s Queen musical) We Will Rock You is playing now!

“I love musical theatre and always have done, whereas it took some time in my own life before I started going to gigs the way that my own children (14-year-old twins and a 12-year-old) do now.”

And yet Tonight’s The Night still holds a special place in Ben’s heart: “I’ve always loved this show for the same reasons that I have always loved the theatre.

“It’s wonderful to be a part of a community of artists who dedicate themselves to their art.

“But more than anything Rod’s songs come with emotions that concern us all: love, pride, hope and the dream that tomorrow will be a better day than today.”

SEE IT
Tonight’s The Night comes to the New Theatre Oxford from July 7-12
(7.30pm, 2.30pm matinees on Wednesday and Saturday). Call the box office on 0844 8713020.