Welsh X Factor singing sensation Rhydian is set to star in his first ever major musical alongside Jason Donovan and Atomic Kitten’s Liz McClarnon in the forthcoming Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War of The Worlds - Alive on Stage!. The award-winning multimedia extravaganza starts touring UK arenas at the end of November and throughout December 2010.
Rhydian will play the challenging and emotional role of Parson Nathaniel. This role in the original 15 million selling double album was sung by Thin Lizzy front man Phil Lynott, and in the live show has previously been played by Russell Watson. Parson Nathaniel loses his faith in the face of apocalyptic Martian destruction. In a highly charged duet with his on-stage wife, played this year by Liz, she is the counterpoint to his madness assuring him ‘There must be something worth living for.’ The acclaimed all-star line up includes Jason Donovan, Atomic Kitten’s Liz McClarnon, Moody Blues’ Justin Hayward and Manfred Mann’s Chris Thompson.
Rhydian Roberts first burst into the limelight as the rich baritone voice that could sing everything from show tunes to opera on The X Factor in 2007. All white hair and flamboyant style, he quickly became the people’s favourite selling over 600,000 copies of his debut album. Classically trained at Birmingham City University’s Conservatoire and continuing to studying singing, Rhydian’s powerful and deep textured voice is immediately evident on his second album O Fortuna.
Rhydian said: "My dream has always been to appear in a musical which tours large arenas, and I’m very excited to be joining such an incredible cast for The War of The Worlds 2010 Tour. I am a big fan of Jeff Wayne and I grew up listening to the classic album, so it’s very special to be performing one of the main roles of Parson Nathaniel - and even more so given that I will share the stage with an 11-foot floating 3D Hologram of my fellow countryman, Richard Burton, 26 years after his death!”
Following the musical’s sell-out arena tours in 2006, 2007 and 2009, Rhydian will also be joining the composer and producer Jeff Wayne – who will again be conducting the 10-piece Black Smoke Band and 36-piece ULLAdubULLA Strings.
Jeff Wayne says: “Rhydian is an incredibly talented singer whose range and depth of voice will suit this role perfectly. I am delighted to welcome him into this year’s production of The War of The Worlds – Alive on Stage.”
For anyone of any age, this show is a thrilling and unique extravaganza. With tickets selling fast, the musical tour will return to major arena’s around the UK and Europe from November 2010 to January 2011.
Click here to get your tickets now!
News & Features
18 Mar, 2010