Blunkett's tale reaches pub stage

FRIDAYS AT the Grey Horse Inn near York tend to centre on Black Sheep ale and a plateful of home-made beef lasagne. But they were seasoned last night with a story of one man's experience of intrigue, infidelity, tragedy and power which is soon to grace a West End stage.

It was told in David Blunkett: The Musical, dramatising the former Home Secretary's tangled love life with married publisher Kimberly Quinn and his tearful resignation over the "Nannygate" visa scandal. Its arrival at the country pub, for a sneak preview of some of its songs, came courtesy of a friendship between co-producer Martin Witts, who is based in York, and Grey Horse licensee David Forster.

The full, musical depiction of Blunkett's journey from humble roots as a Yorkshire gas worker's son to the corridors of power and his dramatic downfall at the hands of his amour is being reserved for the Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh, in August, after an invitation-only preview at a West End theatre in London in April.

But the Grey Inn pub got a flavour of the jazz, rap, opera and R&B created for the one-hour show by its American composer MJ.