University of West London Students Reimagine The Who's Tommy
Musical Theatre department stages ambitious immersive production
Audiences were drawn into a freestanding immersive performance
January 26, 2026
Musical Theatre students at the University of West London (UWL) unveiled a bold reimagining of Tommy, The Who’s iconic rock musical, in an immersive performance staged on Friday 16 January. The production paid tribute to the show’s creator, Pete Townshend — an alumnus of UWL and founder of the University’s Townshend Studio — while pushing the boundaries of contemporary theatre-making.
The cast of twenty-two first- and second-year students from UWL’s London College of Music (LCM) transformed multiple university spaces into a dynamic, multi-venue storytelling experience. Their adaptation explored how immersive theatre, site-specific staging and audience interaction can shed new light on a classic work.
The evening began in Lawrence Hall, where audiences were drawn into a freestanding immersive performance before being guided to Freddies for a cabaret-style sequence. The journey concluded back in Lawrence Hall for the final act. Throughout the show, selected audience members were invited into a separate room for intimate one-to-one scenes inspired by the interactive style of theatre company Punchdrunk — ensuring that no two audience experiences were the same.
The production was directed by Gillian Ford, Course Leader for Musical Theatre, with choreography by lecturer Kirsty MacLaren. The live band, led by Musical Director Harry Wells, featured three BMus (Hons) Popular Music Performance students, supported by a technical team headed by Theatre Technical Demonstrator Nikki Sutton.
Gillian Ford praised the students’ ambition and commitment, saying, “This project offered an exciting opportunity to celebrate our rich musical heritage while pushing forward with our own creativity and innovation. It was an ambitious project, and the students really rose to the challenge, putting together the performance in just two weeks.”
Students involved in the production reflected on the intensity and excitement of the process.
First-year student Lily Lakin said, “This project was so fun to do – I loved the whole process, from planning to rehearsing to seeing it all come together in the final show. Seeing people's visions and interpretations of Tommy and what it meant to them was so interesting. The final show worked really well – taking the audience through to different rooms helped tell the story effectively.”
Second-year student Eve Inacio highlighted the collaborative spirit behind the production saying, “We all worked incredibly hard and supported one another to put everything together in two weeks. Being in the ensemble was very hands-on, with long days spent working through harmonies, dance routines, and spacing. Interacting with audience members was an exciting new experience, engaging in short conversations and answering their questions whilst remaining in character.”
The project showcased the creativity, versatility and professionalism of LCM’s Musical Theatre cohort, while celebrating UWL’s connection to one of British music’s most influential figures.
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