Full casting has been announced today for next year’s UK tour of Tom. A Story of Tom Jones. The Musical, presented by Theatr na nÓg.
Kit Orton stars in the title role of the musical biopic, which will open on Monday 7th March 2016 at the Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff. Also featured in the touring cast are Elin Phillips as Linda, Nicola Reynolds as Vi, Phylip Haries as Jack Lister, Richard Corgan as Gordon Mills, Deborah Thomas as Jo Mills, John McClarnon as Vernon Hopkins, Daniel Lloyd as Mickey Gee, Kieran Bailer as Chris Slade, Tom Connor as Dave Cooper and Nicola Bryan as Freda and Val. Tim Bonser also joins the company to perform the role of Tom Jones at certain performances.
Step back in time to the dance halls, working men’s clubs and recording studios of the ‘60s where the legend of Tom Jones was born: a Valleys boy with a heart-stopping voice who dreamed of making the big time, no matter what it took.
This inspirational story of self-belief and determination is performed live on stage by a phenomenal cast of actors and musicians, celebrating an ordinary man with an extraordinary talent who became a superstar on a world stage.
Tom. A Story of Tom Jones. The Musical chronicles the rise to stardom of singer Tom Jones and includes an array of hits of the era, from ‘Ghost Riders in the Sky’, ‘Spanish Harlem’ and ‘Lucille’ to ‘It’s Not Unusual’, ‘Delilah’, ‘Green, Green Grass of Home’ and ‘What’s New Pussycat’, along with many more.
The TNN production is written by Mike James and directed by Geinor Styles, with musical direction and arrangements Ben Goddard, designs by Sean Crowley and sound design by Mike Beer.
It made its world premiere at the Muni Arts Centre in Pontypridd on 1st March 2014, forty-nine years after Tom Jones gained his first No. 1 single with ‘It’s Not Unusual’. The musical ran there from 1st to 8th March 2014, and then embarked on a small tour that visited venues in Rhyl, Neath, Carmarthen, Dundee, Windsor and Ipswich.
Speaking about Tom, Geinor Styles said: “We are over the moon to welcome back Kit Orton and this great company of talented actors/musicians alongside newcomers John Mclarnon; Deborah Thomas; Richard Corgan, Nicola Bryan and Tim Bonser to take this inspirational story of a true Welsh icon to audiences throughout the UK. This Rock and Roll musical laced with great Welsh humour and charm is guaranteed to have audiences up on their feet in celebration of this living legend’s story.”
Kit Orton is a Welsh actor and composer who played Tom Jones in the workshop of Tom and in the original production, and made his West End debut playing Sir Lancelot in Spamalot (West End/UK Tour). His other stage credits include Oliver!(Watermill Newbury Theatre), Dickens Abridged (Arts Theatre) and The Hired Man (Mercury Theatre Colchester/Leicester Curve). His composing work includes the musical My Land’s Shore, for which he wrote the music and lyrics, with Robert Gould (book and lyrics).
The development of this production has been supported by the Arts Council of Wales, Welsh Government, RCT, NPT Theatres and Wales Millennium Theatre.
The UK tour of Tom. A Story of Tom Jones. The Musical launches at the Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff on Monday 7th March 2016, where performances will continue until Saturday 12th March 2016). The other confirmed tour dates for 2016 are listed below:
www.tomthemusical.co.uk
Tom. A Story of Tom Jones. The Musical
Monday 7th March – Saturday 12th March 2016
www.wmc.org.uk
Tuesday 15th March – Saturday 19th March (Festival Theatre Edinburgh)
www.edtheatres.com
Wednesday 30th March – Saturday 2nd April (Leicester Curve)
www.curveonline.co.uk
Tuesday 5th April – Saturday 9th April (Aylesbury Waterside theatre)
http://www.atgtickets.com/venues/aylesbury-waterside-theatre/
Tuesday 12th April – Saturday 16th April (Sheffield Lyceum)
www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk
Tuesday 19th April – Saturday 23rd April (Alhambra Theatre, Bradford)
www.bradford-theatres.co.uk
Tuesday 26th April – Saturday 30th April (Churchill Theatre, Bromley)
http://www.atgtickets.com/venues/the-churchill-theatre-bromley/
Tuesday 3rd May – Saturday 7th May (Theatre Royal, Newcastle)
www.theatreroyal.co.uk/
Tuesday 10th May – Saturday 14th May (Venue Cymru, Llandudno)
www.venuecymru.co.uk
Tuesday 17th May – Saturday 21st May (Richmond Theatre)
http://www.atgtickets.com/venues/richmond-theatre/
Wednesday 25th May – Saturday 28th May (The Lowry)
www.thelowry.com
Wednesday 1st June – Saturday 4th June (New Alexandra Theatre Birmingham)
http://www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-alexandra-theatre-birmingham/