Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds – The New Generation


Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds – The New Generation is a 2012 concept album by Jeff Wayne and is a re-imagining of his 1978 concept album, retelling the story of the 1898 novel The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells. As previously, the music format is predominantly progressive rock and string orchestra, but with synthesizers playing a more prominent role. The music is intermixed with re-voiced narration and leitmotifs to carry the story forward via rhyming melodic lyrics that express the feelings of the various characters. Due to the consistent popularity of the original album, Wayne decided to return to his score and re-create it for a new generation of audiences, as well as re-launch a live tour throughout the United Kingdom and Europe.

Background

Album

On 18 November 2011, Jeff Wayne announced at a press conference in London that there was to be a new release of his musical version of H. G. Wells 1898 novel, titled Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds – The New Generation. As the original musical version has remained one of the biggest selling albums of all time, Wayne explained that the idea was to return to it and explore H. G. Wells' characters in more detail, as well as develop the love story between the story's main character, George Herbert, and his fiancée Carrie. Wayne also explained that it would allow him to re-interpret his compositions with the new production techniques of today. The album was released on 26 November 2012 on both CD and Vinyl.
The New Generation features Academy Award nominated actor Liam Neeson as the Narrator, formerly played by Richard Burton. Neeson revealed he was impressed and intimidated by the prospect of narrating and starring in Wayne's project. Gary Barlow is the Sung Thoughts of the Journalist, formerly voiced by Justin Hayward. British singer-songwriter Alex Clare is the Voice of Humanity. Maverick Sabre, Irish-English singer-songwriter and rapper, appears on the album as Parson Nathaniel, and English soul singer, songwriter, and actress Joss Stone is his wife Beth. Kaiser Chiefs front man Ricky Wilson took on the role of the Artilleryman. The Black Smoke Band once again includes Bassist Herbie Flowers and Guitarist Chris Spedding, both from the original 1978 album.
Throughout mid to late 2012, tracks from The New Generation were released through various radio shows, which included all the guest artists tracks and a premier of "The Eve of the War". The new Liam Neeson hologram planned for the tour was demonstrated at the press conference with Neeson and Wayne and was also shown on The Alan Titchmarsh Show, on which an "Eve of the War" and "Forever Autumn" medley was performed with Wayne conducting. In January 2013, a music video was released for the song "Forever Autumn", performed by Gary Barlow, however Barlow does not appear in the video. It stars Anna-Marie Wayne as Carrie and Neeson as the Journalist and looks further into the story of Carrie, rather than from the Journalist's point of view as heard on the album. It features both all new footage as well as footage seen on the CGI 100-foot wide screen used during the live shows. The New Generation album was produced by Jeff Wayne and Damian Collier and was recorded at Olliewood Recording Studios in Hertfordshire by Gaetan Schurrer and Tom Woodstock.

Tours

A live tour based on the album began on 29 November 2012 and began playing across the UK and Europe. The live show, titled Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds – The New Generation: Alive on Stage!, includes a holographic performance of Liam Neeson, interacting with the other performers. Ricky Wilson retains his role as the Artilleryman from the album version. Marti Pellow is the Sung Thoughts of the Journalist. British rock band Jettblack's lead vocalist Will Stapleton is the Voice of Humanity. The touring cast includes Jason Donovan as the Parson Nathaniel and West End theatre star Kerry Ellis as Beth. Michael Falzon and Lily Osborne appear as new characters William Rowland and Vera May respectively, appearing in a new prologue, introduced to the tour in 2009. Falzon also plays the small role of NASA controller Jerome Marvin Krauth in the Epilogue Part 2, in which he gets blasted by the fighting machine onstage behind him which concludes the show.
Alive on Stage! also includes new content not featured on The New Generation album, such as the new prologue. A new scene opens Act 2 between The Journalist and Carrie, his fiancee. This new piece, entitled "Distant Shores", is an exchange between the two after they have been separated and is seen onstage via holographic projections of both characters in which they express hope they may one day see each other again, speaking as though to each other, from distant shores. The show also includes effects used previously on tours including the use of pyrotechnics, now much improved, in which the audience is blasted by real heat rays, leaves fall upon the audience during Forever Autumn, and a levitation trick is used after Beth is killed during the Spirit of Man.
Bassist Herbie Flowers and Guitarist Chris Spedding, both part of the original album and later the original live tour, again tour as members of The Black Smoke Band for Alive on Stage! The rest of band remain relatively unchanged from the album and previous tours, with the exception of Gordy Marshall from the album is replaced by Accy Yeats on drums. Jeff Wayne conducts The Black Smoke Band and the ULLAdubULLA Strings as he has done on tours before. On 15 December Michael Falzon announced on Facebook, as did Kerry Ellis and Will Stapleton on Twitter, that the sold out show at the O2 Arena in London was to be filmed for DVD release. This was confirmed by the official website.

Tour dates

The Final Arena Tour

In November 2013, it was confirmed that Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds – The New Generation would tour arenas again in late November through December 2014 for The Final Arena Tour. Tickets went on sale 22 November 2013. The tour took place across the UK and the Netherlands, beginning in Sheffield on 27 November 2014 and coming to a close on 16 December 2014 in Amsterdam. Three of the guest performers were confirmed at the time of the tour announcement. Westlife's Brian McFadden played the role of the Sung Thoughts of the Journalist, Les Misérables' Carrie Hope Fletcher played Beth, and Jason Donovan reprised his role of the Parson Nathaniel. At the time, Jeff Wayne also announced that another guest had been confirmed but was yet to be announced. Later announcements confirmed Shayne Ward as the Artilleryman, Joseph Whelan as the Voice of Humanity, and Jonathan Vickers as the NASA Controller. Other changes included adding the character of Carrie's Father and lyrics to the song Life Begins Again.
Later in the year, the final guest was announced as actor Callum O'Neill, who portrayed H.G. Wells on stage in three separate stages of his life.
After the William Rowland and Vera May prologue was moved into a pre-show, O'Neill appeared in a new prologue as a 33-year-old Wells, opening the show with a speech about 19th century England during the dying moments of 1899. He introduces himself and his work on The War of the Worlds before the on-screen introduction of the Martians. Later, just before Act II begins, O'Neill appears again as a 53-year-old Wells, discussing the end of World War I and speaking about the destructive capabilities of humankind. O'Neill appears a final time at the end of the show, just before the NASA epilogue, this time as a 79-year-old Wells, elderly and in a wheelchair. Set just after the end of World War II, he is dying, but now speaks about the extent of atrocities committed during the recent war, how human beings can, in some shapes and forms, be as destructive as the Martians had been in his novel.
The Final Arena Tour ended on 16 December 2014 in Amsterdam. Speaking about the last show, Jeff Wayne said, "Bringing The War of the Worlds to life in many of the world's finest arenas has been the most amazing experience for me over the last seven years. We've achieved more than we ever thought was possible both musically and technologically. However, the time is right to take The War of the Worlds in new directions after the 2014 tour."

The Final Arena Tour dates

DVD and cinema

Alive on Stage! at the O2 Arena was recorded and released across cinemas in the UK and Europe in April 2013. The War of the Worlds team worked with the distribution company More2Screen, a company that brings special events to cinema. The recorded show was well received in a series of platform digital screenings in the UK before it transitioned to home entertainment; it was released on DVD in November 2013. DVD releases of the 2014 and 40th Anniversary tours are unlikely to ever come to fruition.

2016 London Theatre Production

It was announced that The War of the Worlds was to make its theatrical debut in a "re-imagined" production at the Dominion Theatre in London's West End, produced by Wayne and Bill Kenwright. It ran from 8 February to 30 April 2016 and featured direction by Bob Thompson, an onstage orchestra conducted by Jeff Wayne and Liam Neeson as the Journalist in 3D holography. Jimmy Nail played Parson Nathaniel, Daniel Bedingfield was The Artilleryman and Heidi Range appeared on the stage as Beth. Alongside them was Michael Praed as George Herbert, Madalena Alberto playing Carrie and David Essex as The Voice Of Humanity.
Due to the indisposition of Daniel Bedingfield during the run, the Artilleryman was played by understudy and experienced West End performer Simon Shorten for a number of shows, later Shorten took over as the Artilleryman for a remaining month of the run.
There were several musical changes to the piece including a key change for the song "Thunderchild" and a new song written for the stage production titled "With Joy and Hope and Wonder", as well as a Forever Autumn duet at the beginning of Act II.
The 2016 West End Production of Jeff Wayne's The War of The Worlds received mixed reviews.

Alive On Stage 40th Anniversary Tour

In early 2018, Jeff Wayne announced that The War of The Worlds would be touring again with a special limited two month UK Tour celebrating the album's 40th Anniversary. A new setup of staging, choreography, costumes and cast of actors were introduced. Liam Neeson's narration and holography was once again used in the show. The show starred Newton Faulker as the Sung Thoughts of the Journalist, Adam Garcia as the Artilleryman, Anna-Marie Wayne as Carrie, Inglorious' Nathan James as The Voice of Humanity and Jason Donovan and Carrie Hope Fletcher reprising their roles as Parson Nathaniel and Beth. A new song was also introduced at the beginning of Act II, a reprise of "Forever Autumn" performed by both Anna-Marie Wayne and Newton Faulker as their respective characters.
The cast of players for the 40th Anniversary tour received critical acclaim, with many praising the acting, singing and chemistry between Jason Donovan and Carrie Hope Fletcher during "The Spirit of Man". Nathan James' performance as the Voice of Humanity also received praise and the inclusion of Anna-Marie Wayne as Carrie was also highly acclaimed.

Alive On Stage 40th Anniversary tour dates

In March 2020, Jeff Wayne announced a new tour of The War of the Worlds for 2021 with new technological advances being added to the production. The tour will journey across the UK as well as Amsterdam during March and April 2021.
2021 marks the 15th anniversary of the original 2006 staging. The press release states that 'new features for the 2021 tour include the giant arched bridge now running from the lip of the stage out over the audience to the front of house desk, three panoramic screens with two hours of cutting edge CGI and other content. Prepare for big and bold lighting, pyrotechnics and other-worldly special effects as well as ground-breaking levitation effect.' Also the inclusion of 'the incineration of a cast member in full view of the audience 'and' the release of deadly Black Smoke from the Martian Fighting Machine.' Most notably, this tour has been marketed with this comparion to its original 2006 counterpart: 'In 2006 TWOTW was already considered a cutting edge production with six trucks filled to the brim. But in 2021, which marks a momentous 15 years of live touring, the production be up to 12 trucks, and with it, a host of ingredients and special effects that will challenge and excite the senses.'
Liam Neeson's filmed footage will be used once again. The main cast have not yet been announced.

The True Story of the Martian Invasion tour dates

The New Generation album received mixed to positive reactions from music critics and lifelong fans of Wayne's original album, with many praising Liam Neeson's performance as The Journalist though some fans of the original were not impressed and compared his performance unfairly to that of Richard Burton's. People praised its new compositions, dialogue and re-arrangement of Wayne's original music, claiming it to be "less dated" but criticism was aimed at the overuse of the synthesizer elements as well as some of the singers' performances, mainly by some fans of the original album. Gary Barlow's performance of "Forever Autumn" received praise but many criticized Ricky Wilson's performance as The Artilleryman, mainly for his delivery of the spoken dialogue. Maverick Sabre and Joss Stone's performances as Parson Nathaniel and Beth received a more lukewarm response whereas Alex Clare's rendition of "Thunder Child" received praise, with many people claiming that his take on the song was the best track on the album.
Since the album was released, Wayne has tried to be more faithful to his original version by toning down the synthesizer elements and re-arranging the string orchestra whenever he performed the album live in 2014 and 2018, but keeping his new compositions and Liam Neeson's narration entirely unchanged.

Track listing

All dialogue written by Doreen and Jerry Wayne, based upon H.G. Wells's original text.

Cast

Performers

Album

Album

Album