Roy Orbison is getting a new stage musical in the UK with a massive twist

28 June 2023, 12:19 | Updated: 15 September 2023, 13:52

Roy Orbison - Mystery Girl unravelled documentary trailer

New Roy Orbison musical In Dreams won't be a straight telling of the Big O's life story.

Roy Orbison is one of the most influential musical figures of the 20th century, so he's long overdue a high-profile stage musical featuring his work.

The Big O is getting just that, with In Dreams set to open at Leeds Playhouse in 2023 and run from July 3 to August 5.

• Roy Orbison's 10 greatest songs, ranked
• Listen to the Gold 60s Live Playlist on Global Player
• How well do you know Roy Orbison's lyrics?

The writer of West End hit & Juliet David West Read will stitch together around 20 Roy Orbison hits – including work from The Traveling Wilburys, his supergroup with Bob Dylan and George Harrison – into a new musical.

Instead of telling Orbison's life story, In Dreams will instead be about a female singer in today's world who is getting her old band back together for a Mexican restaurant.

Some of the songs will be played by the on-stage fictional band, but others will push forward the narrative, which is directed by & Juliet's Luke Sheppard.

The cast will be led by Lena Hall, a major Broadway star whose crexits include Kinky Boots, Cats and a Tony Award-winning turn in Hedwig and the Angry Inch.

She is joined by former Hear'Say star Noel Sullivan and West End performer Oliver Tompsett.

The cast is rounded out by Leon Craig, Alma Cuervo, Gabriela García , Manuel Pacific, Sian Reese-Williams, Richard Trinder, Mark Peachey, Fabiola Ocasio Carrasquillo, Hannah Ducharme and Pablo Gómez Jones

On why he decided against writing a straight Roy Orbison musical biopic, Read told The Guardian he "didn't want to see someone doing their best Roy Orbison impression".

He added: "In some jukebox musicals the lyrics are not intrinsic to the story – they provide a break. I always try to let the lyrics of the songs lead the story."

Of which songs he has chosen for the musical, Read contrasted the decision-making process to that of & Juliet, which used the hits of '90s and '00s pop mastermind Max Martin.

"Max Martin’s catalogue is the opposite as he has so many fun party songs," Read said. "Roy Orbison is known for heartbreaking, soaring epic ballads.

"I grew up with the music of Roy Orbison playing constantly in my household – both of my parents were huge fans"

The production has the blessing of The Big O's family, with Orbison's sons giving their backing to the musical.