One of the most ground-breaking arena tours of all time, Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War of the Worlds – Alive on Stage is to make its return to arenas throughout the UK in 2018. Tickets for the final dates of the tour which take place at the Brighton Centre on Sunday 16th and Monday 17th December 2018, are on sale from 9am on Friday 24th November 2017.
Nearly 40 years on, based on HG Wells’ dark Victorian tale, Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War of The Worlds remains a firm favourite to millions around the world and, to start the year off, Sony Music are proudly reissuing the original 1978 double 12” vinyl album, on 26th January 2018.
Commanding the stage, Jeff Wayne returns to the podium to conduct the 9-piece Black Smoke Band and 36 piece ULLAdubULLA strings, while Liam Neeson retains his role in 3D holography as The Journalist, with an exciting full cast to be announced soon.
In 2018 TWOTW will “break through the fourth wall”.
Built around a huge arched bridge running through the centre of the arena brings the action closer to the audience for a most captivating and immersive experience. The production, mixed live in Surround Sound, will once again feature: The iconic 3-tonne, 35-foot tall Martian Fighting Machine firing real flame Heat Rays at the audience, a 100-foot wide ‘Animation Wall’ with 2 hours of cutting edge CGI, a ground-breaking levitation effect, the incineration of a cast member in full view of the audience, leaf drops over the audience… and much, much more!
Jeff Wayne’s double album was originally released by CBS Records in 1978. It has enjoyed huge success and critical acclaim across the globe with over 15 million records sold and spending over 330 weeks in the UK Album Charts (to date) plus achieving two International hit singles – Forever Autumn and The Eve of The War’ It has been Top 10 in 22 countries and Number 1 in 11 of them.
The War of The Worlds has also won two prestigious UK Ivor Novello Awards, the US Best Recording in Science Fiction and Fantasy (the judges included Alfred Hitchcock, George Lucas and Steven Spielberg), as well as winning for Jeff, Classic Rock’s ‘Showman of The Year’ Award.
Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War of The Worlds has grown into a true classic, acquiring new generations of devoted followers since its original release.
Jeff Wayne said: “In June 1978 my original double album was released. I had no idea if it would vanish as quickly as one can say… “ULLAdubULLA!” But here I am today, soon to be celebrating its 40th Anniversary throughout 2018, culminating in what I believe will be the most exciting arena tour we’ve ever performed. No one would have believed…
To book tickets call the Brighton Centre Box office on 0844 847 1515 or visit www.brightoncentre.co.uk (booking fees apply to online and telephone bookings)