He at first planned to perform the opera as a solo acoustic show using scenes from the film on backing screens, but after receiving offers of financing from Vespa, Townshend decided on a elaborate production.

The opera was performed with a large backing band, including Roger Daltrey, John Entwistle on bass, Zak Starkey on drums, John "Rabbit" Bundrick and Jon Carin on keyboards, Simon Townshend and Geoff Whitehorn on guitar, and special guests including Phil Daniels as the Narrator/Jimmy, Gary Glitter as the Rocker, Adrian Edmondson as the Ace Face/Bellboy, Stephen Fry as the hotel manager, Trevor McDonald as the newsreader and Pink Floyd's David Gilmour as the bus driver & contributing guitarist.

In February 2007, students from the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama staged "the first independent theatrical production of Quadrophenia blessed by Pete Townshend" at the Sherman Theatre in Cardiff, Wales.

[2] This production was reworked, recast and expanded by director Tom Critchley and playwright Jeff Young into a successful full-scale UK Tour which launched at the Theatre Royal, Plymouth in May 2009.

[3] As of March 2013, NK Theatre Arts based in Romiley, Stockport, produced the world amateur premiere of the show with the personal permission of Townshend.