New artwork has been released for the European premiere of Private Jones, the acclaimed new musical set to open at Southwark Playhouse Elephant this December.
The production will run from 14 December 2026 until 30 January 2027, with a national press night scheduled for 17 December.
Recently crowned Best Performer in a Musical at the 2026 Stage Debut Awards, James Spence will lead the cast as Gomer Jones, the musical’s central character. He is joined by BAFTA-winning actor, presenter and author Rose Ayling-Ellis MBE, who will play The Storyteller.
Set during the First World War, Private Jones follows Gomer Jones, a young man struggling to find his place in the world after losing his hearing. Joining a company of fellow outsiders, he embarks on a journey that transforms his understanding of friendship, belonging and heroism.
The production combines sign language, live captioning, a Foley-generated soundscape and an original musical score, bringing together hearing, hard-of-hearing and deaf performers in a groundbreaking theatrical experience.
Alongside Spence and Ayling-Ellis, the cast includes Ffion Haf, Nadeem Islam, Bronwyn James, George Karanja, Luke McCall, Lili Mohammad, Thea Munoz-Buirski, Katie Louise Pritchard, Jacob Ethan Tanner and Jacob Young.
Private Jones is written and directed by Marshall Pailet, with choreography by Misha Shields and artistic sign language direction by Alexandria Wailes. The creative team also includes music director MÃ th Roberts, set designer Anna Kelsey, lighting designer Tim Deiling, sound designer Yvonne Gilbert and video designer Ben Glover.
The musical has been in development since 2021 and premiered in the United States in 2024, winning four Helen Hayes Awards including Outstanding New Musical. Following further development in collaboration with the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, the production now makes its European premiere in London.
The newly released artwork features James Spence in the title role and offers audiences a first look at the production ahead of its festive season opening.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
