| Biography | Ria Jones was born in Swansea, South Wales. At 19 she became the youngest actress ever to play the role of Eva Peron in the musical "EVITA" followed shortly by her West End debut in the musical "CHESS", in which she played the roles of both Svetlana and Florence. She then went on to play Grizabella in "CATS" at the New London Theatre, (where she stayed for two years).
Her next role was as Fantine in "LES MISERABLES", at Manchester's Palace Theatre, followed by the national tour, and the West End. Then came the role of the narrator in "JOSEPH AND HIS AMAZING TECHNICOLOUR DREAMCOAT" at the Appollo Hammersmith, and the national tour. Other credits include: playing both Josephine and Monica in "ROMANCE ROMANCE" at the Bridewell Theatre; Necrophorous in "NINE" at the Donmar Warehouse; Kim in the European premiere of the musical revue "PERSONALS" at the New End Theatre, Hampstead; the creation of the role of Emma West in "A TWIST OF FATE" at the Jubilee Theatre, Raffles, Singapore; Petra in Stephen Sondheims "A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC", at the Leicester Haymarket; Ida in "HONK" at the Victoria Theatre, Singapore. The title role in the European premiere of "VICTOR VICTORIA" at the Bridewell Theatre. Liz Imbrie in "HIGH SOCIETY" UK tour 2004/5, and the Shaftesbury Theatre. Reno Sweeney in the 2006 national tour of "ANYTHING GOES" for which she was nominated for a TMA award for best performance in a musical . Mrs Overall in "ACORN ANTIQUES" UK tour 2006/7 directed by Victoria Wood. Alex Spofford in "THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK" UK tour; guest vocalist in "STRICTLY COME DANCING" the Professionals tour; "CLOSER THAN EVER" at the Landor Theatre, London; The Witch in Stephen Sondheims "INTO THE WOODS" at the Esplanade Theatre, Singapore and Dorothy Brock in "42ND STREET" at the Curve, Leicester.
Workshops include creating the role of Norma Desmond in "SUNSET BOULEVARD" at Sydmonton Festival. Stephen Sondheims "MASTERCLASS" at St Catherines College Oxford, Mercedes in "CARMEN NEGRA" at the Royalty Theatre, London and "ZORRO" the musical at The Old Vic Theatre, London.
Concerts have taken Ria worldwide from France and Belgium to South Africa, Singapore and Shanghai. She makes regular appearances as a guest soloist in Denmark, singing with all the major orchestras. In 2009, she was a guest soloist for the Danish Royal family at the Concert House, Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen. She has appeared as a soloist with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at The Royal Albert Hall; sung by personal request at Buckingham Palace for The Duke Of Edinburgh Award Scheme; sung as a soloist with The Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestra; a guest soloist in "CHILDREN WILL LISTEN", celebrating the work of Stephen Sondheim at The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. "A NIGHT UNDER THE STARS" with Bryn Tyrfel at his annual festival in North Wales. Mary Magdelene in "JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR" at the Barbican Theatre, Eva Peron in "EVITA" in concert, Highams Park Chelmsford. Fantine in "LES MISERABLES" in concert Cardiff Castle. The world premiere of "THE THREE MUSKETEERS", Denmark. Anita in "WEST SIDE STORY" at Ledreborg Castle, Denmark. "MISSLEADING LADIES" at St Davids Hall, Cardiff, which she co-devised with her brother Ceri Dupree. "ABBAPHONIC" the concert with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall and on tour in Russia. In November this year Ria will be a guest soloist in the "BEST OF BROADWAY" at the Royal Albert Hall with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
She has recorded her own TV show "ONE NIGHT ONLY WITH RIA JONES" for BBC Wales and guested on three Royal Variety shows for the BBC as well as appearing on numerous TV chat shows and radio shows including "FRIDAY NIGHT IS MUSIC NIGHT" for BBC Radio 2 and "WELSH IN THE WEST END" for ITV1 Wales. Recordings to date are "LES MISERABLES" Manchester cast recording; Soloist "A TRIBUTE TO HAL PRINCE"; Kim in "PERSONALS"; Emma West in "A TWIST OF FATE"; guest soloist on Pier Nielsen's albums "MY WAY" (which went platinum) and "CHRISTMAS JOY"; guest soloist on Jesper Lundgaard's Album "SYMPHONY FOR MY LOVE" recorded with The Sonderyllands Symphony Orchestra; "ABBAPHONIC" and "THE VERY BEST OF RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN" with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra; "IT'S BETTER WITH A BAND" with the Prinsens Musikkorp, And her recently launched album "HAVE YOU MET MISS JONES?". |