Musical theatre students at Ealing’s University of West London (UWL) have staged an immersive reimagining of Tommy, the rock musical by The Who, as part of a performance exploring alternative approaches to theatrical storytelling.
BA (Hons) Musical Theatre students at UWL performed the adaptation earlier this month (16 January 2026). The production drew on immersive theatre techniques, site-specific staging and multi-venue performance to reinterpret the 1969 work by Pete Townshend, a UWL alumnus and founder of the university’s Townshend Studio.
The performance involved 22 first and second year students from UWL’s London College of Music. It began with a freestanding immersive section in Lawrence Hall before audiences were led to Freddies for a cabaret-style sequence, returning to Lawrence Hall for the conclusion.
Audience members were separated at points during the show for one-to-one performances, designed so that each attendee experienced a different version of the narrative. The approach was influenced by interactive theatre companies such as Punchdrunk.
The production was directed by Gillian Ford, course leader for musical theatre, with choreography by lecturer Kirsty MacLaren. Musical direction was provided by Harry Wells, supported by three popular music performance students and a technical team led by Nikki Sutton.
Gillian Ford said: “This project offered an exciting opportunity to celebrate our rich musical heritage while pushing forward with our own creativity and innovation.”
Student Lily Lakin said: “Seeing people’s interpretations of Tommy and taking the audience through different spaces helped tell the story effectively.”
