TONY! The Tony Blair Rock Opera

Multiple award-winning comedian, presenter and author Harry Hill has been one of the UK's most respected and inventive entertainers for nearly thirty years. Starting with his own ingenious comedy series on BBC2 and Channel 4, he went on to create the hit, multi-award winning ITV series Harry Hill's TV Burp which ran for ten years.

More recently he has created and starred in three series of ITV's Harry Hill's Alien Fun Capsule, and BBC2's Harry Hill's World of TV. He is the longstanding voice of ITV's You've Been Framed, and is the presenter of Channel 4's Junior Bake Off. As an author he has written several best-selling joke books, and amongst others, the popular children's series Matt Millz. He is also an artist and has shown his work at the Royal Academy. This year, he embarked on a brand new live tour, Pedigree Fun. Together with Steve Brown, he created the X Factor musical I Can’t Sing! (London Palladium). He has won the Perrier Best Newcomer Award, eight British Comedy Awards, three BAFTAs, and a Level 4 BAGA Gymnastics Award (forward roll, cartwheel, crab and roundoff).

Steve Brown is a composer, lyricist, arranger and record producer who’s written extensively for TV, including all the music arrangements for Harry Hill’s radio, TV and film work since 1997. He’s worked with some of the biggest names in British TV, radio, theatre, comedy and music including: Steve Coogan, Lenny Henry, Spitting Image, Grayson Perry, Lee Mack, The Goes Wrong Show and Ant & Dec, for whom he wrote the immortal Wonky Donkey theme.

Theatre includes music/lyrics for the musicals Spend Spend Spend (Piccadilly Theatre) which won Evening Standard and Critics’ Circle Award for Best New Musical, the X Factor musical I Can’t Sing! (London Palladium), It’s a Wonderful Life with Francis Matthews (New Wolsey, Ipswich) and Magic Goes Wrong (Vaudeville and Apollo Theatre). He produced triple platinum album Seasons of My Soul by Rumer (Atlantic records), followed by acclaimed MOBO winning artist Laura Mvula debut Sing to the Moon for RCA, having discovered both artistes, and Little Black Book by Sarah Walk (One Little Indian).

Peter Rowe is a director and writer, with a particular interest in music theatre, often working with an ensemble of actor-musicians. He was Artistic Director of the New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich between 2000 and 2022. He has directed Boyband and Return to the Forbidden Planet in the West End and on national tours, together with his own musical, Leader of the Pack. Peter’s work as a writer includes nine record-breaking 'rock n roll pantomimes' which are currently being produced annually at the New Wolsey Theatre, Theatr Clwyd, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, and Leeds City Varieties. He has also written the books for Songs From a Hotel Bedroom, a setting of Kurt Weill songs produced at Watford Palace Theatre and the Linbury Studio at the Royal Opera House, and 20th Century Boy, a musical inspired by the life of Marc Bolan and incorporating the songs of T.Rex, which has played a major national tour.

Libby trained at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and Wimbledon School of Art (1st Class BA Hons in Theatre Design). Libby has designed over 150 shows in the UK in London and regional repertory theatres, collaborating with many directors including Paulette Randall, Simon Callow, Pete Rowe, Jonnie Riordan, Pravesh Kumar, James Dacre, Kate Saxon and Sir Trevor Nunn.

Mark graduated from Croydon Art College and has designed numerous shows throughout the country and abroad.

Credits include: Once (First National Tour), Tony! The Tony Blair Rock Opera (Park Theatre), Ken (Terry Johnson and Hampstead), House and Garden (Watermill Theatre) Clybourne Park (First National Tour), Return to the Forbidden Planet (25th Anniversary Tour), Don't Look Now (nominated for Offie Best Lighting Design - Queen's Theatre); Betty Blue Eyes (First National Tour); Michael Morpurgo's Butterfly Lion (Kenwright); Dell Computers Gala (Buenos Aires); The Full Monty, Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Oliver!, (Bermuda City Hall); working with Willy Russell on Educating Rita, Breezeblock Park(Liverpool Playhouse) and Shirley Valentine (Royal Court Liverpool); Farm Boy, The Hired Man, Kissing Sid James (New York E59).

For more than 25 years, Francesca Jaynes has been a professional choreographer and movement director in feature films, television, and theatre. Working with directors such as Tim Burton, Mike Leigh, Robert Zemeckis, and Steven Spielberg, her work has been enjoyed by a broad audience all around the world.

Debbie O'Brien is a freelance casting director working in the commercial and subsidised sectors. Her work has taken her from the West End where she has been involved with many well known musicals and plays, through regional theatres including Ipswich, Stafford, Coventry, Birmingham, Dundee, Plymouth and Clwyd, to international work with companies in France, Germany, Holland and Italy, and children's casting on projects for CBBC, Channel 5 Milkshake, Sky and Nickelodeon. Previously a General Manager, Tour Manager and Building Project Manager, she has worked with companies such as Theatre of Comedy, Maxbox Theatres, Turnstyle, Dance Umbrella, Mark Morris Dance Company, Sadler's Wells and Robert Fox.

Park Theatre was founded by Artistic Director, Jez Bond and Creative Director Emeritus, Melli Marie. The building opened in May 2013 and, with four West End transfers, two National Theatre transfers and 13 national tours in its first nine years, quickly garnered a reputation as a key player in the London theatrical scene. Park Theatre has received six Olivier nominations, won numerous Off West End Offie Awards, and won The Stage’s Fringe Theatre of the Year and Accessible Theatre Award.

Matthew Green created Nicholson Green Productions (NGP) in 2021 to develop several projects for UK touring and West End theatre.

Alongside NGP, Matthew is a General Manager for InTheatre Productions on Grease (Dominion Theatre), The Time Traveller’s Wife (Apollo Theatre) and Back to the Future: The Musical (Adelphi Theatre). He has previously helped manage productions for Mark Rubinstein Ltd including; Company (Gielgud Theatre), TINA - The Tina Turner Musical (Aldwych Theatre), SWEAT (Gielgud Theatre), Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (UK & Ireland Tour) and La Soirée (Aldwych Theatre & International Tour).

Before his time in production, Matthew nearly made the mistake of becoming a lawyer after earning his LLB (Hons) Law Degree from Durham University. He was also a NODA and D’Oscar nominated performer, but thankfully swapped his tap shoes for spreadsheets.

Richard Brooker’s credits include: The Time Traveler’s Wife (Chester) Grease – The Musical – Dominion Theatre London, Dreamgirls – UK Tour & West End, The Addams Family – national tour, West Side Story – Manchester Royal Exchange, Twelfth Night – Young Vic Theatre, Benidorm – national tour, Dusty (The Dusty Springfield Musical, directed by Maria Friedman) – Theatre Royal Bath and national tour, Sunshine on Leith – West Yorkshire Playhouse and national tour, Guys & Dolls – Manchester Royal Exchange Theatre, Tango Moderno – national tour, One Love – Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Funny Girl – West End and national tour, What’s It All About? (Close To You) Bacharach Reimagined – West End and the Menier Chocolate Factory, Sister Act – national tour, The Last Tango – national tour, Bend It Like Beckham – West End, Sweet Charity – Manchester Royal Exchange Theatre, Annie – London and national tour, Love Me Tender – national tour, The Bodyguard – West End, national and international tours (Australia, Germany, Korea & Paris, U.S.), Xanadu – Southwark Playhouse, The Little Shop of Horrors – Manchester Royal Exchange Theatre, Made In Dagenham – West End, Dance Til Dawn – West End and national tour, Sweeney Todd – West Yorkshire Playhouse/Manchester Royal Exchange Theatre, Fiddler On The Roof – national tour, Avenue Q – Korea, Back Beat– Toronto and Los Angeles, I Dreamed A Dream – national tour, Chess – Toronto, The Sound of Music – Moscow, A Cat on Hot Tin Roof – Novello Theatre, London, Never Forget the Musical – Savoy Theatre, London and national tour, Jesus Christ Superstar – national tour and Spain, Daddy Cool (Shaftesbury Theatre, London) and international tour, Cabaret – Teatro Della Luna, Milan, The Snowman – Finland, Peacock Theatre, London, Seoul, South Korea, and national tour.

Jack graduated from The Guildford School of Acting in 2017 with First Class honours. After graduation, he joined the West End company of Mischief Theatre's The Comedy About A Bank Robbery, playing the leading role of Sam Monaghan.

Upon leaving Bank Robbery in 2019, he joined the first UK Tour of Laura Wade’s Posh, playing Harry Villiers. 

The start of 2020 saw Jack briefly return to The Comedy About A Bank Robbery, this time playing Mitch Ruscitti. 

Jack then reunited with Mischief, performing in their multi-award winning, West End production of The Play That Goes Wrong at The Duchess Theatre.

Jack is thrilled to be given the opportunity to play Tony Blair in this exciting, new comedy written by a comedian he grew up admiring in Harry Hill.

As always, he would like to thank his Mum, Dad and sister for all their love and support.

Other theatre includes: The Stephen Sondheim Student Performer Of The Year (2017 Finalist - Noel Coward Theatre); No Bird (rehearsed reading - Arcola Theatre); Unbelievable (Workshop).

Film includes: Gold (2018).

Training: Arts Educational Schools (ArtsEd).

Recent work includes: Jewish Hollywood (Upstairs at the Gatehouse); The Newsreader in Waving (TankTop Films); Max Detweiler in The Sound of Music (UK Tour); Nigel Bishop in The Cereal Cafe (The Other Palace) and his cabaret Unleashed (The Crazy Coqs).

West End Theatre credits include: Chummy MacGregor in The Glenn Miller Story (London Coliseum); Jorge in Tonight's the Night (Victoria Palace Theatre); Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Show (Duke of York's Theatre); Knucklemouth in Dear Anyone (Cambridge Theatre) and Fyedka in Rebel in Paradise (Young Vic).

Regional Theatre credits include: Cat in Stiles and Drewe's Honk! (original production, Watermill Theatre); The Sunshine Boys (Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh); Chips with Everything (Leeds Playhouse); Design for Living (Harrogate Theatre); Company (Oldham Coliseum); Grease and Jesus Christ Superstar (New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich) and West Side Story (Perth Playhouse).

Other Theatre credits include: On The Twentieth Century (Union Theatre); A Catered Affair (London Theatre Workshop, London Premiere); The Roar of the Greasepaint - The Smell of the Crowd (Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond, London Premiere) and Invade My Privacy (Riverside Studios).

UK Tours include: Can't Smile Without You (Bill Kenwright Productions); One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Nimax Productions) and The Rocky Horror Show (RHS London Productions).

Television credits include: The Nativity and Just Good Friends (BBC); A Tale of Two Cities (PBS); Brighton Belles (LWT) and the award-winning video New Frontier (Warner Bros).

Film credits include: Shane in Nail; Jack the Ripper in Jack and the Cuckoo Clock Heart (Luc Besson Films) and Max Headroom (Jankel and Morton).

Tori trained at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Theatre includes: Pride & Prejudice* (*sort of) (Criterion Theatre, Tron Theatre & UK Tour), Beryl (Oldham Coliseum), Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh), Margaret Saves Scotland (Traverse Theatre, Oran Mor, Lemon Tree).

Film and TV includes: I, Blondey (Renowned Films), Royal History’s Biggest Fibs with Lucy Worsley (BBC4/ PBS America), Tell it to the Bees (Reliance Entertainment), Royal History’s Biggest Fibs (BBC & PBS).

Radio includes: Off Grid (BBC Radio 4), A Tale of Two Giants (Oldham Coliseum), This is Yesterday (Manic Chord Theatre).

Tori was Olivier nominated for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in Pride & Prejudice* (*Sort Of) in 2022. 

Phil’s theatre credits include Robin Hood (Greenwich Theatre); Rehab The Musical (Playground Theatre, London); Elephant’s Graveyard (TPE TV); The Railway Children (Brewhouse Theatre, Taunton) Jack and the Beanstalk (Mercury Theatre, Colchester); Sounds and Sorcery (The Vaults); A Christmas Carol The Musical (Brewhouse Theatre, Taunton); The Illness Should Attend (Bunker Theatre) Fatbusters The Musical (Park Theatre); Alice’s Adventures Underground (Les Enfants Terribles).

TV credits include Con Passionate (Apollo TV).

Feature Film: Shadow (Kulture Vulture).

Short Film: Disconnected; Dirty Rotten Liars (Wilder Films); Holy F**ck (Wilder Films); Theatreland (Arcadian Field Pictures); The Box (Lamb Shank Productions).

Martin is delighted to be returning to TONY! The Tony Blair Rock Opera having been in the original cast at The Park Theatre, Finsbury Park.

Prior to this he made his National Theatre debut in Lindsay Turner’s acclaimed production of The Crucible (Olivier Theatre and NT Live).

In 2021 his lead performance as Mike Richards in the feature film ‘Room 7’ won him the Best Actor in a Feature Film Award at the BSI Film Festival.

Theatre includes playing the roles of King Duncan, Old Man and Doctor in Macbeth, at The Queens Theatre, Hornchurch and on tour.

He is an original cast member of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts I & II, (Palace Theatre, London) where he played the Station Master and regularly played the roles of Professor Dumbledore and Amos Diggory, as well as various Wizards and a Muggle!

A seasonal regular in Greenwich Theatres award winning pantomimes; Robin Hood; Sleeping Beauty; Red Riding Hood and Jack and the Beanstalk.

Original West End cast of Footloose - The Musical (Novello Theatre),The Postman Always Rings Twice (Playhouse Theatre, West End) opposite Val Kilmer.

Martin originated lead roles in the new British musicals; The Queen and I; 24/7 (TwentyFour Seven) Passport To Pimlico!; and the industry workshop staging of The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole.

On tour he has played Herbert Parchester, the Family Solicitor in; Me and My Girl (Original UK National Tour). The Secret Garden (UK Concert Tour). Eugene Krabs in the SpongeBob SquarePants - The Musical (UK Tour); It's A Wonderful Life (UK Tour); Footloose - The Musical (UK and Ireland Tour). Annie - The Musical (Aberystwyth Arts Centre). The leading role of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, in Jekyll & Hyde (Tour); On A Clear Day You Can See Forever (Bridewell Theatre, London); Sweethearts (Finborough Theatre); The Most Humane Way to Kill a Lobster (Theatre503); Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Millfield Theatre, London and Towngate Theatre, Basildon). TV and Film work includes; Cradle To Grave playing Mr. Launchberry opposite Peter Kay. Two episodes of The Tudors IV playing the Sergeant at Arms. Other TV includes; Criminal Justice 2 (BBC) and The Queen (Channel Four). Film; Best Geezer (Bert); Love Tales (Douglas), and the short films; Broke, One Last Laugh, Scum, Ten Tiny Plays and Born Yesterday.

Early in his career, Martin worked extensively in drama, theatre-in-education and community theatre with companies such as; Leicestershire Schools Theatre Company; Rent-a-Role Drama Service, Plymouth; Roundabout Theatre Company, Nottingham; Action Transport Theatre, Cheshire and Theatre Van, Harlow.

In his youth he appeared for several seasons with the Royal Opera Company at Covent Garden in productions of; ‘Turandot’, ‘Boris Godunof’, ‘Tosca’, ‘Rigoletto’ and ‘Peter Grimes’, in which he had a role specifically created for him, Hobson's Apprentice, and one which he repeated at La Scala Opera House, Milan.

Training: Trinity College of Music

Most recently, Rosie played John Prescott in the original production of Tony! The Tony Blair Rock Opera at the Park theatre, London

Performed in the gala concert of MIMMA at Cadogan Hall with the BBC Concert Orchestra alongside Sir David Suchet and Louise Dearman.

Theatre includes: Sister Mary Patrick in Sister Act, My Fair Lady and Me And My Girl (Kilworth House Theatre); Do I Hear A Waltz (Park Theatre); Dolly in One Man,Two Guvnors (Derby Theatre); Grimms' Fairy Tales (Guildford Shakespeare Company) ; Nurse in Romeo And Juliet (International Tour); Candide (Maida Vale Singers/Royal Festival Hall) ; Brave New World (European Tour); Katisha in The Mikado, Iolanthe, HMS Pinafore, Trial By Jury (Charles Court Opera) ; Mrs Otis in The Canterville Ghost (South East Asia Tour) ; Florinda in Into The Woods (Greenwich Theatre); Brunch (Tete a Tete Opera Festival).

Radio performances include: In Tune With Sean Rafferty (BBC Radio 3); Annie Nightingale Presents (BBC Radio 1)

Awards: Merseyside Voice of the Year

For 8 years, Rosie was the lead vocalist with the London Breakbeat Orchestra, the UK’s first EDM 32 piece orchestra, performing at major UK festivals, recording two Live at Maida Vale sessions for BBC Radio 1 and collaborating with superstar DJs, Swedish House Mafia and Goldie.

Rosie regularly collaborates with composer/producer Dan Samsa, most recently as a vocalist on his album ‘Contours' released by Apollo Records featuring on Gilles Peterson’s BBC Radio 6 Music show. Joining forces with The London Contemporary Orchestra, Alison D’Souza and choreographer Ukweli Roach, the work SPECTRUM premiered at the Albany Theatre in 2021.

THEATRE INCLUDES: Richard II (GSC) A Christmas Carol (RSC) The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 and 3/4 The Musical (Queen’s, Hornchurch); The Play that Goes Wrong (West End); A Christmas Carol, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Scoot Theatre); The Wind in the Willows (Jermyn Street/GSC); The Last of the Pelican Daughters (The Wardrobe Ensemble/ Complicite/Bristol Old Vic); A Christmas Carol, The Emperor and the Nightingale (Theatre by the Lake); For Services Rendered (Jermyn Street); Shadowlands (Chichester Festival Theatre); A Christmas Carol (RSC),Macbeth (Watermill Theatre); Twelfth Night (RSC)Love’s Labour’s Lost, Robin Hood (Guildford Shakespeare Company); Footprints on the Moon (Finborough Theatre); Singin’ in the Rain (Bolton Octagon/ Salisbury Playhouse/New Vic Theatre.

Emma Jay trained at University College London and Mountview Theatre School. Credits include: Mrs. Darling/Ethel Mermaid in Peter Pan (Fairfield Halls),  Prince of Spades/Fairy in The Queen of Hearts (Greenwich Theatre), Cleo/Stuzzi/Emily Greenleaf in The Talented Mr. Ripley (Faction Theatre Company: Wilton's Music Hall, Vaults Festival and tour); Demon Queen in Mother Goose (Millfield Theatre); Goddess u/s Miranda in The Tempest and Iras u/s Octavia/Charmian for The Royal Shakespeare Company. Original company of Mamma Mia! (Prince Edward Theatre); Mimi and Gigi u/s Ellen in Miss Saigon (Drury Lane and Tour); Godspell (Tour); King Cotton (The Lowry);  Charlene in Ain't Misbehavin' (Harrogate Theatre); The Girl on Blues in the Night (Birmingham Rep); Meg in Merrily We Roll Along (Donmar Warehouse and Queens Theatre); Sarah in Ragtime (Picadilly Theatre); Alexi Darling u/s Mimi in Rent (Olympia Theatre Dublin); Maid Marion in Robin Hood and Suzie Dean in The Good Companions (Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich); Princess Jasmine in Sinbad (Warwick Arts Centre); Beauty in Beauty and The Beast, Hebe in HMS Pinafore and Kate in The Pirates of Penzance (New Victoria Theatre, Stoke); Virtue in Mother Goose (Oxford Playhouse); Ronnette in Little Shop of Horrors (English Theatre, Frankfurt) and Princess So-Shy in Aladdin  (Greenwich Theatre). TV, Film and radio credits include The Obstetrician in Holby City for the BBC, short film The Fantastical Millepede, Isabel in Josh Howie's Losing it for BBC Radio 4 and Dr. Stephanie Thrower in Star Cops for Big Finish Audio.

Emma Jay is delighted to be appearing as Lady Di in Tony! (The Tony Blair Rock Opera).