A NEW musical based on the life of glam rock legend Marc Bolan and showcasing a classic 1970s soundtrack is coming to the Mayflower next week.

West End and musical theatre star Warren Sollars is leading the cast of 20th Century Boy, joined by television stars Sue Jenkins and Luke Bailey.

English singer-songwriter, poet and guitarist Bolan, best known as the front man of rock band T Rex, died in a car crash in 1977, two weeks before his 30th birthday.

Bailey, pictured right, (Marley Kelly in Waterloo Road and Sam Bateman in Casualty) is playing Bolan’s son, Rolan.

“He’s a young man who is a little bit disenfranchised with life, growing up not knowing his father and living in the shadow of a great, iconic rock musician,” said Bailey.

“The musical spans the life of Marc Bolan, seen through the eyes of his family in the modern day, and the turmoil they have faced since losing him.”

Bailey was approached last September to take part in the show, and he had no hesitation in getting involved.

“My dad was a huge T Rex fan so I used to listen to them a lot as a child,” he said.

“They are one of the very earliest bands I remember, and I really liked the director and the vision of the project.”

Bailey started acting as a child, appearing in musicals such as Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Bugsy Malone, and he is looking forward to getting back on stage.

“I think I’m going to attack the script in different ways and look at the performance from a different angle,” he said.

“There are so many different ways to look at it.”

The show is directed and choreographed by Gary Lloyd, whose theatre credits include Thriller Live and Fame, and written by Peter Rowe.

Lloyd said: “After working on this very special project for over five years, I am extremely excited to take Marc Bolan’s classic catalogue of songs out on the road in the UK.

“Marc is still very loved by a whole generation of fans and I really hope this piece will open up some of his greatest hits to a whole new generation.”

The show runs from Tuesday, to Saturday (May 6 to 10) and tickets are available from 02380 711811 or at mayflower.org.uk.