New musical Private Jones is set to premiere at the Southwark Playhouse

The musical will run from 14th December to 30th January

The musical is inspired by the story of Gomer Jones, a deaf Welsh sniper in World War One. 

Gomer Jones is restless to find where he belongs, but the recent loss of his hearing has left him feeling shut out of the world he longs to join. 

Amid a company of misfit young men, he becomes an unlikely hero, only to discover that the prize he’s been chasing may not be the one that matters. 

With grit, heart, and a touch of irreverence, Private Jones is a thrillingly theatrical, completely original new musical about the journeys that transform us and the friendships that remind us we’re not meant to go it alone. 

Company members are Rose Ayling- Ellis as The Storyteller, James Spence as Gomer Jones, joined by Bronwyn James as King and Others. Further casting is yet to be announced.

Writer and director of the show is Marshall Pailet, choreographer Misha Shields, director of artistic sign language is Alexandria Wailes, music director Math Roberts, set designer Anna Kelsey, lighting designer Tim Deiling, sound designer Yvonne Gilbert, video and captioning designer Ben Glover, associate director Alice Eklund, casting director Rob Kelly, BSL consultant Daryl Jackson, Welsh language consultant Lowri Morgan, music consultant Myrna Conn, dramaturg Jac Moore, production manager Sam Kelly. 

This production weaves together integrated British Sign Language (BSL), live creative captioning, a Foley soundscape, and a sweeping original score, featuring a cast of hearing, hard-of-hearing, and deaf performers.