After training at London’s Central School of Speech and Drama, John, at the age of twenty six, became the youngest actor ever to play the role of Jean Valjean in the West End production of Les Miserables. He is one of a handful of actors to have played the role of Valjean both in the West End and on Broadway and is in fact the only British actor to do so. In an online poll, John was voted the “Best Ever Valjean” and “Best Ever Performer in Les Miserables" by fans of the show worldwide.
John returned to play the role of Jean Valjean in a brand new production of Les Miserables for its 25th anniversary tour and was awarded the Manchester Evening News Award for the Best Actor in a Visiting Production for his performance as Jean Valjean. The Manchester Evening News described his performance as “a truly astonishing achievement that must be one of the greatest stage performances of all time.” John was also part of the Valjean quartet featured in the finale of the Les Miserables 25th Anniversary Concert at the O2 Arena, London.
John originally played the role of The Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera between 2001 and 2004 in the West End production to great acclaim -The Daily Mail said he was "better than all the actors that preceded him in the role" He returned to the role of The Phantom in the West End in 2011 culminating in a performance as part of the Phantom quartet in a special finale at the Phantom 25th Anniversary Concert at The Royal Albert Hall. He is the West End’s longest running Phantom with nearly 2000 performances in the role. Most recently he appeared in a special finale of the show at the Majestic Theatre, New York to celebrate Phantom's 25th year on Broadway.
After reinterpreting the role of Valjean on the 25th Anniversary tour of Les Miserables in 2010, John was asked to reinterpret the role of The Phantom in the brand new production of The Phantom of the Opera for it's 25th anniversary UK tour in 2012. His performance on the tour earned him a nomination for Best Actor in a Visiting Production from the Manchester Theatre Awards and he is in the unique position of being the only actor to have the opportunity to reinvent Valjean and The Phantom - two of the greatest roles in musical theatre history.
John has performed extensively in theatre all over the country at prestigious venues such as The National Theatre, London and The Open Air Theatre, Regent's Park, London and The West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds. He has appeared on television and radio in such shows as Scott and Bailey, In The Flesh, The Bill, The Royal Variety Show, Friday Night Is Music Night, Children In Need, This Morning and The Alan Titchmarsh Show. He has performed as a soloist in concerts around the world from Bangor to Bangkok.
John has released three albums. The independently released ‘Hallelujah’ (2006) and on the Sain label 'John Owen-Jones' (2009) and 'Unmasked' (2011).
Have a read of an interview with John Owen-Jones which was conducted while he was performing as The Phantom of The Opera at Her Majesty's Theatre London in 2011
https://www.londontheatre1.com/index.php/5122/interview-with-john-owen-jones-the-phantom-of-the-opera/
This is the Moment
John Owen-Jones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I would do At This Moment
When you're standing before me
With tears in your eyes
Trying to tell me that you
Have found you another
And you just don't love me no more
I would say At This Moment
When I'm faced with the knowledge
That you just don't love me
Did you think I would curse you
Or say things to hurt you
Cause you just don't love me no more
Did you think I could hate you
Or raise my hands to you
Now, come on, you know me too well
How could I hurt you
When Darlin' I love you
And you know, I'd never, never hurt you
What do you think
I would give At This Moment
If you'd stay, I'd subtract
Twenty years from my life
I'd fall down on my knees
Kiss the ground that you walk on
If I could just hold you again
The song This Is the Moment by John Owen-Jones captures a sensational moment when someone is faced with the harsh reality that the person they love no longer feels the same way. The singer is addressing the person he loves who is in tears, trying to explain that they have found someone else and no longer love him. The first verse begins with the singer asking the listener what they thought he would do at this moment. He then emphasizes the reality of the situation with tears running down from the other person's eyes. The chorus expresses the pain of rejection and the harsh acceptance of the fact that the person he loves no longer loves him back.
The second verse begins with the singer asking what the listener thinks he would say at this moment. He exposes the brutal truth that she does not love him anymore, and then he asks if the listener thought he would retaliate, hurt her feelings or curse her. He then manages to refute that thought through the bridge, where he states that he could not hate her or lift a hand to her. He assures her of his love and promises never to hurt her.
In the final verse, the singer asks what the listener thinks he would do if she stayed; he would give up 20 years of his life in exchange. He would kneel before her and kiss the ground she walks on if it meant he could hold her again.
Line by Line Meaning
What did you think I would do At This Moment
What did you expect me to do right now?
When you're standing before me With tears in your eyes Trying to tell me that you Have found you another And you just don't love me no more
When you're standing before me crying, confessing that you've found someone else and don't love me anymore?
What did you think I would say At This Moment
What did you expect me to say right now?
When I'm faced with the knowledge That you just don't love me Did you think I would curse you Or say things to hurt you Cause you just don't love me no more
When I know you don't love me, did you think I'd react angrily and say hurtful things to you?
Did you think I could hate you Or raise my hands to you Now, come on, you know me too well How could I hurt you When Darlin' I love you And you know, I'd never, never hurt you
Did you really think I could hate you or become violent towards you? You know me better than that. I could never hurt you because I love you.
What do you think I would give At This Moment If you'd stay, I'd subtract Twenty years from my life I'd fall down on my knees Kiss the ground that you walk on If I could just hold you again
What do you think I'd be willing to sacrifice in order to have you back in my life right now? If it meant you would stay with me, I'd give up twenty years of my life, get on my knees, and worship you if it meant I could just hold you again.
Lyrics © DistroKid, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Billy Vera
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
VampireKiller999
His voice is from heaven !!!!
EditorOfSL
I think he could play this part on stage! Jekyll and Hyde is quite a challenging role because the actor plays two completely different characters; and I think JOJ could pull it off!
michael galt
Sounds like a step below John’s registry. A lower baritone sound than we usually hear from him. Sounds good.
Earthshare.Global.Products
Love JOJ<3 “ This is the moment “ is one of my favorites:)
J may
awesome voice...
Teddy Brauer
At first he do sounds like Michael Ball but when it reaches the high notes you can hear JOJ :))
ohene darkoba
The Korean version killed me most...💓
Zach Labbadia
So help me, when Jekyll comes to the screen, he better play either the titles roles or Utterson!
chris wagstaff
Love JOJ<3
Don Mason
Seen joj in Bristol ontour les mis...thank god I did