It’s out of this world
Jeff Wayne’s music version of The War of the Worlds celebrates its 40th anniversary this year with an arena tour that’s coming to Cardiff. We take a look at what you can expect
WITH a 35-foot tall Martian Fighting Machine firing real flames, a 100ft wide “animation wall” and some brilliant music, Jeff Wayne’s The War of the Worlds has become a huge sell-out arena tour.
And now it’s returning to Cardiff as part of its 40th anniversary celebration.
Wayne said: “In June 1978 when my original double album was released. I had no idea if it would vanish as quickly as one can say… “ULLAdubULLA!
“But here we are today, celebrating its 40th anniversary and seeing the newly re-mastered original double album.”
He described the new tour as “the most exciting arena tour to date, with a most exciting cast, all of us getting ready to do battle with the Martians”.
The show will again feature a stellar cast with Wayne returning to the podium to conduct the nine-piece Black Smoke Band and 36-piece ULLAdubULLA Strings, while Liam Neeson retains his role in 3D holography as The Journalist.
Star of stage and screen Jason Donovan returns to the role of Parson Nathaniel alongside West End actress Carrie Hope Fletcher as Beth, his wife.
Actor and theatre star Adam Garcia will debut as The Artilleryman, British singer-songwriter Newton Faulkner will perform The Sung Thoughts of The Journalist, Inglorious front man Nathan James will play The Voice of Humanity, with Anna-Marie Wayne reprising her role as Carrie, The Journalist’s Fiancée.
Before the tour opened, Donovan said: “I am delighted to be re-joining the cast for this very special 40th anniversary tour.
“The War of The Worlds has such enduring appeal and its fan base seems to grow and grow.
“With each tour, the scale, the drama and the special effects get more and more exciting, so I can’t wait to see what Jeff has planned for this spectacular celebration.”
Fletcher added: “I’m absolutely delighted and honoured to be reprising my role as Beth, Parson Nathaniel’s wife, alongside Jason Donovan, especially for this momentous 40th anniversary year.
“Having grown up listening to the album, The War of The Worlds holds a personal significance, and with the new ingredients, I can’t wait to see how this new production has evolved.”
Faulkner also grew up listening to the album.
“I’m playing The Sung Thoughts
of The Journalist, alongside Liam Neeson and, as if that wasn’t enough, Jeff Wayne asked me really nicely,” he joked of his part.
Jeff Wayne grew up in awe of a father who graced the stage with the best of the bunch in a Golden Era of Hollywood and headlined the cover of Billboard magazine.
After composing more than 3,000 advertising jingles for the world’s most famous products, plus numerous TV and radio themes and film scores, he also signed, produced and toured with one of Britain’s most successful male artists, David Essex.
He went on to compose, orchestrate, conduct and produce a musical adaptation of HG Well’s classic science fiction story, The War of The Worlds.
It became one of the best-selling UK albums of all time, now approaching four million copies and 15 million worldwide.
He’s won awards and spawned multiple arena tours, video games and more, and it remains deeply embedded in the nation’s consciousness.
But what of the man who created it? What of the man who hung out with Richard Burton while he was going through a divorce with Liz Taylor, who signed and recorded Catherine Zeta Jones and who will in 2018 celebrate the 40th anniversary of his great creation?
Wayne has remarkable tales to tell of his own family upbringing: including Jewish Mafiosi connections, of watching his father have his own coast-to-coast radio series – The Jerry Wayne Show performing with guests of the ilk of Judy Garland, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, and many others.
There are captivating stories of moving to London’s Knightsbridge when a nation was still largely on stamp rations but selling his mother’s US cigarettes on a corner opposite Harrods, then leafy St John’s Wood years before lining up Richard Burton, Justin Hayward, David Essex, Phil Lynott and Julie Covington in The War of The Worlds.
And how his production com-pany found and recorded a song for the UK launch of Toys R Us that went on to become the No 1 haunting classic – Walking In The Air performed by Aled Jones.
Since 2006 he’s entertained hundreds of thousands of fans conducting arena tours, from the UK to Australia and New Zealand, first bringing Richard Burton back to life in 3D, then from 2012 with Liam Neeson in 3D holography.
There have been live performances from numerous international artists including Russell Watson, Justin Hayward, Ricky Wilson, Shayne Ward and Jason Donovan.
The musical enjoyed renewed success with a re-imagined double album featuring Liam, Joss Stone and Take That’s Gary Barlow amongs others.
■ The War of the Worlds is at Cardiff Motorpoint Arena on December 9 & 10. Call 029 2022 4488