Big Interview: Benjamin Yates, star of Tommy & Cats

Benjamin Yates is currently playing a Pinball Wizard in The Who's Tommy at the Blackpool Opera House. 

Based on the iconic 1969 double-album rock opera, Tommy is an exhilarating musical about hope, healing, and the human spirit. The cast also includes X Factor winner Joe McElderry, Blue's Antony Costa, Ashley J Russell, Will Barratt and Melanie Bright.

Benjamin most recently recreated the role of Mungojerrie in the first West End revival of Cats at the London Palladium, working alongside the original creative team including Trevor Nunn, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Gillian Lynne. He previously played the role in the musical’s UK and European tours. 

Benjamin’s theatre credits also include: title role in Aladdin (Loughborough), ensemble in Jesus Christ Superstar (UK and Australian Arena Tour), Sonny in Grease (Ljubljana Festival) and title role in Jack and the Beanstalk (Loughborough). He is also currently supporting West End Bares, having posed for this year’s ‘Take Off’ promotional images.

I recently spoke to Benjamin about why he’s thrilled to be belting out a rock score in Tommy, what it was like to meet his idol whilst starring in Cats and what his nana thought of his West End Bares photoshoot, plus much more…

Had you seen Tommy before?

I had never even seen the film! I didn’t know much about the music although obviously I knew the classics like ‘Pinball Wizard’. I didn’t really know anything so when this came up I thought, ‘This will be interesting!’ I listened to the soundtrack and it’s the complete opposite to Cats, which I’ve just finished, and it’s quite nice to do something the complete opposite. Also, I didn’t sing a lot in Cats, so it’s great to go into a rock musical! Obviously now I know what’s going on, but at the beginning I had no idea what it was about!

Joe McElderry & Antony Costa to star in The Who's Tommy

Full casting has been announced for The Who's Tommy which runs at the Blackpool Opera House between 12th and 26th September 2015.

The production is directed by Paul Nicholas who starred alongside Elton John, Roger Daltrey and Tina Turner in the 1975 film version.  

The cast is led by  X Factor winner Joe McElderry as Tommy and Blue's Antony Costa as Cousin Kevin.

Ashely J Russell plays Mrs Walker alongside Will Barratt as Captain Walker, Tony Ballis as Uncle Ernie, Jon Addison as Lover, Melanie Bright as The Acid Queen, Benjamin Yates & Patrick George as Pinball Wizards and Sarah Kasey as Sally Simpson.

Review: The Who's Tommy at the Greenwich Theatre

The Who's Tommy
Greenwich Theatre
Reviewed on Friday 31st July 2015
★★

Adapted from The Who's 1969 rock opera double-album, this was my first time seeing Tommy which many know as the 1975 film directed by Ken Russell. The title character is "traumatized into catatonia" after witnessing his father murdering his mother's partner and embarks on a journey to rediscover his spirit. 

Sneak peek at... Ashley Birchall & Carly Burns in The Who’s Tommy

First images of Ashley Birchall as pinball wizard ‘Tommy’ and Carly Burns as ‘Acid Queen’ in The Who’s Tommy have been released. Check out the images below (click picture to enlarge)

The Who’s Tommy opens at the Greenwich Theatre on 31st July (previews from 29th July) and runs until 23rd August 2015. Based on the iconic 1969 double-album rock opera, which later became a film of the same title, The Who's Tommy is described as an "exhilarating musical about hope, healing, and the human spirit". 

The cast also includes: John Barr as Uncle Ernie, James Sinclair as Captain Walker, Giovanni Spanó as Cousin Kevin, Carrie Sutton as Sally Simpson and Miranda Wilford as Mrs Walker. Danny Becker, Scott Sutcliffe and Alice Mogg complete the cast.

Casting announced for The Who’s Tommy at the Greenwich Theatre

WhatsOnStage have announced casting for The Who’s Tommy which will play a limited season at the Greenwich Theatre this summer, marking the 40th Anniversary of the original film and the 50th Anniversary of The Who.

Ashley Birchall will take on the title role, starring alongside: John Barr as Uncle Ernie, Carly Burns as Acid Queen, James Sinclair as Captain Walker, Giovanni Spanó as Cousin Kevin, Carrie Sutton as Sally Simpson and Miranda Wilford as Mrs Walker. Danny Becker, Scott Sutcliffe and Alice Mogg complete the cast.

The production opens on 31st July (previews from 29th July) and runs until 23rd August 2015. Based on the iconic 1969 double-album rock opera, which later became a film of the same title, The Who's Tommy is described as an "exhilarating musical about hope, healing, and the human spirit". 

The Who’s Tommy to be revived at the Greenwich Theatre

It has been announced that The Who’s Tommy will play a limited season at the Greenwich Theatre this summer, marking the 40th Anniversary of the original film and the 50th Anniversary of The Who.

The production opens on 31st July (previews from 29th July) and runs until 23rd August 2015. Casting will be announced shortly.

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

The Who’s Tommy 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.