EastEnders star Rose Ayling-Ellis has landed the lead role in a new wartime musical titled Private Jones. The play opens at the Southwark Playhouse Elephant on 14 December 2026 and will run until 30 January 2027.
Described as "a coming-of-age story told with grit, heart, and a touch of irreverence" and "thrillingly theatrical", Private Jones focuses on "the journeys that transform us and the friendships that remind us we're not meant to go it alone".
Set during World War One, it follows Gomer Jones (James Spence), who has recently lost his hearing and is "restless to find where he belongs," and feels "shut out of the world he longs to join".
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The synopsis continues: "Amid a company of misfit young men, he becomes an unlikely hero, only to discover that the prize he’s been chasing may not be the one that matters."
The production weaves together sign language, live captioning, a Foley soundscape, and a sweeping original score.
It features a cast of hearing, hard-of-hearing, and deaf performers, led by Ayling-Ellis as The Storyteller.
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The cast also includes Ffion Haf, Nadeem Islam, Bronwyn James, George Karanja, Luke McCall, Lili Mohammad, Thea Munoz-Buirski, Katie Louise Prichard, Jacob Ethan Tanner, and Jacob Young.
Related: Rose Ayling-Ellis says it was "refreshing" to work on new BBC drama that's predominantly BSL
Rose Ayling-Ellis said: "I’m delighted to be joining the cast of Private Jones and to work with Marshall Pailet, Misha Shields and Alexandria Wailes, alongside such a talented cast of deaf, hard of hearing and hearing people. It’s a special production and I’m excited to return to the stage in London."
Private Jones was written and directed by Marshall Pailet with choreography by Misha Shields, artistic sign language direction by Alexandria Wailes, and music direction by Màth Roberts.
The play is produced by Hugo Six in association with Thomas Hopkins Productions.
Private Jones runs at the Southwark Playhouse Elephant from 14 December 2026 until 30 January 2027.
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Stephanie is a freelance news writer, who previously covered WWE and AEW for Digital Spy.
After graduating with a degree in history from Queen Mary University, London, she studied journalism at Birkbeck University.
Outside of her work at Digital Spy, she writes about pop culture, with a special focus towards Irish media and how it intersects with politics.
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