European premiere of new musical PRIVATE JONES to run at Southwark Playhouse
It has been announced that the European premiere production of new musical PRIVATE JONES will run at Southwark Playhouse Elephant from 14 December 2026 – 30 January 2027.
PRIVATE JONES is a thrillingly theatrical, completely original new musical set in WW1 about the journeys that transform us and the friendships that remind us we're not meant to go it alone.
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.
A coming-of-age story told with grit, heart, and a touch of irreverence, PRIVATE JONES is written and directed by acclaimed creative, Marshall Pailet, with choreography by Misha Shields, artistic sign language direction by Alexandria Wailes, music direction by Máth Roberts, set design by Anna Kelsey, lighting by Tim Deiling, sound by Yvonne Gilbert, video design by Ben Glover, casting by Rob Kelly, BSL direction by Daryl Jackson, Welsh language consultancy by Lowri Morgan, music consultancy by Myrna Conn, and dramaturgy by Jac Moore.
The production, which weaves together sign language, live captioning, a Foley soundscape, and a sweeping original score, will feature a cast of hearing, hard-of-hearing, and deaf performers - to be announced
Marshall Pailet said: “Private Jones is a full-hearted, heart-pounding, and hopefully pretty funny story about valuing life inside a world where lives are stripped for value. It has been the joy of my life to collaborate with so many talented and passionate artists in its creation, especially Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Welsh-speaking artists, in the attempt to create a storytelling that feels authentic in its use of language and representation of culture, and one that is fully accessible to all audiences. Every time I spend time with it, it fills my heart, breaks it a little bit, then puts it back together stronger. I hope you love it as much as I do. And if you don't, please tell my bubby you loved it, I'm still trying to convince her I can do this for a living.”
