Monstering the Rocketman dramatizes the real-life legal and media battle between Elton John and The Sun newspaper during the 1980s. The play centers on the fallout after the tabloid falsely accuses the singer of engaging in “sordid rent boy sex sessions,” prompting John to file a high-profile libel lawsuit. As the case unfolds, the narrative tracks the escalating confrontation between one of the world’s most famous musicians and a powerful tabloid machine, focusing on the sustained media pressure, personal toll, and public spectacle surrounding the dispute.

The production is written and performed by Henry Naylor, who portrays the key figures involved in the case, including Elton John and The Sun editor Kelvin Mackenzie.