Arts Derbyshire

02.09.2025

HIGH PEAK WRITERS TEAM UP FOR POLITICAL LAUGHS

HIGH Peak performer, singer and writer Johnny Dysfunctional has teamed up with playwright Les Oldfield to write a brand new satirical and political play which they bring to the stage for next month’s New Mills Festival.

Johnny has also written and recorded three new songs for the production and one of these is released on Spotify called Broken Country and is appearing on one major playlist alongside Adele, Maroon 5 and Sam Smith.

And pop giant Lewis Capaldi let it be known to Johnny he is a fan of the track too and is now following him!

Benjamin J Spratt, MP, Man for Our Time’ is on September 15 &16 at New Mills Town’s Hall, 7pm, and tells of an idealistic independent candidate who wins a High Peak election and goes to Parliament.

Audiences will see how Spratt’s plans to improve the NHS, solve street crime and feed the starving and bring peace to the world pan out.

Spratt wears an Elvis outfit to the polling station – was it a deliberate gimmick or didn’t he have time to change out of it from his previous night’s gig?

Though a media darling and declared as ‘The Man for Our Time’ can Spratt avoid the pitfalls of Parliament. Both right- and left-wing politicians envious of his popularity are plotting.

Spratt is supported by his wife Daphne but also unknown to her, a sex worker with political ambition herself.

Johnny – real name Alan Charnley from Buxton – said: “When we met Les and I were both of one mind about current politics. As seriously as those in politics try to project themselves, they can come over to the public as hopelessly hapless at time and therefore funny. We depict that on stage. It’s great fun and we hope people of all political persuasions come along and enjoy watching it.”

Les whose show ‘Unknown Hero’ was a huge success at last month’s Buxton Festival Fringe said: “My last show was based in Eyam about 100 years ago.  I’ve time travelled into the future co-writing this. What we have written could happen someday soon,” he quipped.

Tickets for Benjamin J Spratt, MP, Man for Our Time are available by calling email  leslieoldfield362@yahoo.co.uk, or phone 07961 683208.

https://open.spotify.com/track/5W3fMRCvut0bamy5Eq5d0h

Broken Country

 

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