Aled Jones to Play Ian Curtis in Controversial Joy Division Theatre Tribute
It's official - Aled Jones will play Ian Curtis, the charismatic doomed frontman of legendary band Joy Division in Andrew Lloyd Webber's controversial new tribute musical Atrocity Exhibition on Ice.
Lloyd Webber gave musicpress an exclusive seven minute phone interview explaining his motivations for this tribute.
The controversial theatre supremo explained: "I'm a huge Joy Division fan - always have been, and I hope Joy Division and New Order fans will come and see our musical which should open in Drury Lane in mid-August; we're currently in production at the moment."
Why did you cast Aled Jones to play Ian Curtis? I know on the face of it, it may seem an odd choice, bit it isn't really: Both men are recognised as being prodigious talents in their field, both men have seen and experienced the dark side of the creative process..Aled Jones has a lot in common with Ian Curtis and he now sounds like him aswell. It's not like he'll be singing The Snowman or anything.
Who will be playing the other members of Joy Division? We don't yet have the drummer although we are speaking to a couple of people at the moment and are hopeful that by the end of this week we can make an announcement. Bernard Sumner will be played by Michael Crawford and Peter Hook will be played by Anthony Worrel Thompson.
The chef? Remember he used to be a theatre actor, and in the seventies he played bass in a student band - he can't wait. He's familiar with their oeuvre. Oh, and Sarah Brightman will play the female New Order keyboardist; she'll be singing in the musical aswell.
Why are you calling the musical Atrocity Exhibition on Ice? It's a skating musical, the stage will be made of ice. All the actors will be skating.
Why? Well it's a metaphor for the thin ice between life and death, truth and myth, reality and art, tragedy and beauty. For me Joy Division and the life of Ian Curtis inparticular embodies all these qualities and contradictions. Ice is bleak but also fragile and beautiful. Imagine Aled Jones skating on ice while singing She's Lost Control. It almost makes me cry just thinking about it.
Us too... Have Factory Records and New Order given their support for this musical? Not officially. No.
Have you asked for their support? We would certainly hope that they come and see our musical. You know, I (pause) understand some people's reluctance..But yes, of course we advised them of our plans, actually over eighteen months ago - when both Tim (Rice) and I began working on the initial script and music, along with Bjorn (formerly of Abba). Tony Wilson and New Order are Abba fans and we hope that this will win them over. I'm sure it will. Remember they didn't vetoe our musical plans and they could have done: they still have the intellectual property rights over Joy Division's music, their music's not in the public domain so we don't have carte blanche to do what we like, regardless of whether they like it or not.
Thanks for your time Thank you.
