THE ROCK musical Tommy is coming to West Yorkshire Playhouse with two new songs specially written by Pete Townshend.
The lead songwriter with The Who – whose famous songs dominate the show – has contributed a new version of Amazing Journey as the opening number.
Then after her iconic Act One song the Acid Queen, played by original cast member Peter Straker, will make a return in Act Two with a new torch song.
Tommy is part of Ramps On The Moon, a ground-breaking project which signals a change in the UK’s disability arts provision.
Pete Townshend said: “When I heard they planned to do a production featuring actors with disabilities of various kinds, that will actually throw new light on the original story, I became very excited.
“This is a totally new adventure, and really does refer back to my original story in which a young man, disabled by extreme trauma, finds his way to some kind of spiritual place because he can feel music.”
Young Tommy witnesses the murder of his father by his mother’s lover, and is so traumatised that he chooses to stop communicating with the outside world. As an adolescent, Tommy’s life begins to change when he finds salvation in playing pinball.
Tommy is at the Leeds theatre from May 4 to 11. There will be a relaxed performance on May 11 at 1.30pm. Visit wyp.org.uk or call 0113 2137700.
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