AT the age of 12, Thomas Woodward was confined to the family home for a lengthy period, recovering from tuberculosis. It turned out to be one of the defining periods of his life.

"He was confined to the house for two years. During that time he had a record player and a radio, and he listened to music - that's what kept him going, and made him want to live the dream," says actor and singer Kit Orton.

The boy grew up to be Tom Jones, superstar singer, whose inspirational story of self belief and determination has been turned into a musical.

Kit plays Tom, the Valleys boy with the big voice who dreamed of making the big time.

"I'm from Cwmbran, about 40 minutes away from where Tom grew up. It's a great honour to step into his shoes," says Kit.

The show steps back to a time of dance halls and working men’s clubs in 1960s south Wales, where Tom started his singing career. It includes hits of the era, such as Ghost Riders In The Sky, Spanish Harlem and Lucille, and Tom's hits such as Delilah, Green, Green Grass of Home, What’s New Pussycat?

"I grew up listening to him but didn't know much about his early life," says Kit. "When I read the script I was blown away. It's the unheard of, fascinating story of a man who means different things to different people, depending on their generation.

"It takes place before he was a well-known singer. He was fiery, ambitious, a bit of a tearaway. He'd come home bloody from fighting at weekends. He came from a tough place."

So when did his talent start to shine? "From a very young age he was a show-off," says Kit. "He performed in the living-room then he got into music through records and the radio, and started singing live. He'd sing at the Wheatsheaf for a few pennies on a Saturday night. The opportunities started coming in and eventually he had to leave his young family for London. It was a difficult decision to make but his wife, Linda, was a tough woman and urged him to stay in London and try and make it. She knew how much it meant to him."

The show follows Tom from the ages of 16 to 24, exploring the influence of wife Linda, who died last week, and his manager, Gordon Mills. It climaxes with the release of his first single, It's Not Unusual.

"We sum up his career with a medley of hits at the end, but most of the music in the show is what influenced Tom," says Kit. "I'm backed up on stage by a live band, there's a feel of being at a gig in the late 50s and early 60s."

Musical theatre star Kit has written a show called My Land's Shore, about the Merthyr Riots, and manages a vocal group, The Fly Boys. He studied footage of Tom, not just to get his powerful voice right but also his distinctive dance moves. "It was important to keep it respectful and not just do an impersonation," he says. "In Wales he was a local boy done good, an ordinary man with an extraordinary talent who became a superstar on the world stage.

"The show has plenty of music but I'd describe it as a play with music rather than a musical. It's got Welsh humour which I think everyone gets now. Gavin and Stacey did wonders for that!"

Has he had feedback from the man himself? "He hasn't seen it yet," says Kit. "He'll probably just turn up one night and sit at the back, taking it all in."

* A Story of Tom Jones: The Musical is on at the Alhambra from April 19 - 23. For tickets call (01274) 432000.