HomeArts & LifestyleFirst look at The Who's Tommy

First look at The Who’s Tommy

First images have been released of Ashley Birchall as pinball wizard Tommy in The Who’s Tommy, which will play a limited run at Greenwich Theatre from Wednesday 29th July to Sunday 23rd August. The production comes 20 years after Tommy was last seen in London, marking the 40th Anniversary of the original film and the 50th Anniversary of The Who.

Ashley Birchall (Starlight Express, Germany) and Carly Burns are joined in the cast by John Barr (Sweeney Todd at ENO, Les Misérables) as Uncle Ernie, James Sinclair (Duncton Wood, Union Theatre) as Captain Walker, Giovanni Spanó (Dance ‘til Dawn, Mamma Mia!) as Cousin Kevin, Carrie Sutton (The Wizard of Oz, Sister Act) as Sally Simpson and Miranda Wilford (Thriller Live) as Mrs Walker. The cast also includes Danny Becker (Follies at Royal Albert Hall) Scott Sutcliffe (Mamma Mia!) Alice Mogg (We Will Rock You, Grease).

Based on the iconic 1969 double-album rock opera, which later became a film of the same title, The Who’s Tommy is an exhilarating musical about hope, healing, and the human spirit.

After witnessing the accidental murder of his mother’s lover by his father, Tommy is traumatized into catatonia, and as the boy grows, he suffers abuse at the hands of his sadistic relatives and neighbours. But as an adolescent, he is discovered to have an uncanny knack for playing pinball, a talent that breaks through his catatonia and puts him on the path to international superstardom. The story of the pinball-playing, deaf, dumb and blind boy who triumphs over his adversities has inspired and amazed audiences for more than 40 years.

The Who’s Tommy is staged and directed by award-winning director Michael Strassen with choreography by Mark Smith. It has Music and Lyrics by Pete Townshend and Book by Pete Townshend and Des McAnuff, with Additional Music and Lyrics by John Entwistle and Keith Moon.

See Greenwich Theatre for details and to book.

Greg Jameson
Greg Jameson
Book editor, with an interest in cult TV.

Must Read

Advertisement