The New Wolsey Theatre is excited to announce their programme for autumn 2014, which goes on general sale on Saturday 17 May. Friends and group bookers are invited to book from Saturday 10 May.

This year’s highlight will take place at the beginning of September with the world premiere of a brand new musical MIDSUMMER SONGS produced by the New Wolsey Theatre, written and directed by Artistic Director Peter Rowe, with music by Ben Goddard

Twenty-five years ago a group of friends celebrated the end of their university careers with a wild week in a barn half-way up a mountain in West Wales. A week of madness, mayhem and music, recorded on a C90 cassette and buried in a biscuit at the top of a hill with a pledge – “Wherever we are in twenty-five years’ time we’ll come back here on Midsummer’s Eve and create the B side”

Peter Rowe, Writer and Director says: “It all started when we wrote a song called Angel of Soho for a show called Mods and Rox and decided we should write a full musical together. It’s the first thing I’ve written that doesn’t involve a pantomime fairy tale or a dead rock star - an original story that talks about what concerns us in the middle of our lives - written for a company of seasoned and experienced actor-musicians who have worked with Ben and me at various stages of our own journeys. Midsummer Songs is an opportunity to celebrate the talent of these singers and songsmiths, and to explore what matters most, when there’s more road already travelled than left up ahead”

MIDSUMMER SONGS will run from Thu 4 to Sat 27 September. Written especially for a company of multi-skilled actor-musicians in the New Wolsey house style, this brand new musical is a celebration of friendship, survival and the power of song.

This season, the New Wolsey will be taking part in a global commemoration to remember the lives of those who lived, fought and died in the First World War. Alongside these productions will be events that support the shows, focusing on how the war affected Ipswich and its community.

From Mon 29 September to Wed 1 October, Scamp Theatre presents PRIVATE PEACEFUL, adapted for the stage from the popular Michael Morpurgo story. The production relives the life of Private Tommo Peaceful, a young First World War soldier awaiting the firing squad at dawn. To accompany this on Mon 29 September, Dr John Greenacre - First World War Centenary Project Coordinator from University Campus Suffolk - will present his talk on Private Benjamin Hart, a Territorial Soldier from Ipswich who faced trial during the war, and will be exploring the wider aspects of British military justice.

From Tue 4 to Sat 8 November, imitating the dog will present A FAREWELL TO ARMS by Ernest Hemingway, one of the greatest love stories of the twentieth century. To accompany this, Dr John Greenacre will return on Wed 5 November with his talk on Australian Private Charles Ingleton and how he came to Ipswich, with a look at the medical services during the First World War. On Sat 8 November, Ipswich Tourist Guides Association will be running a guided walk around Ipswich – a tribute the men and women who battled for victory.

These events will be listed along with many others across the country on the IWM (Imperial War Museums) First World War Centenary Partnership website.

To continue the development and support the New Wolsey provides to new, emerging and experimental theatre making, PULSE presents will continue into the autumn with three shows from companies who have showcased work within Pulse Festival in previous years.

On Thu 4 September, TOOT return with BE HERE NOW, an irreverently comic yet tender look at how music seeps into and influences our lives.

On Thu 18 and Fri 19 September there is the premiere of a brand new show STOWAWAY by Analogue (Beachy Head, 2401 Objects) commissioned by New Wolsey Theatre.

On Thu 25 September, Two Destination Language present a first look of a brand new show MANPOWER - all about what it takes to be a man.

The New Wolsey’s very own theatre makers take up residence in the studio this October to present two completely different pieces of theatre.

The New Wolsey Youth Theatre present the classic ALICE’S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND, a trip through Lewis Carroll’s world of magic and wonder where nothing is ever as it seems. Join them from Tue 7 to Sat 11 October for a show that’s perfect for all the family.

The New Wolsey Young Company presents the brutal comedy FOUR KNIGHTS IN KNARESBOROUGH by Paul Webb from Tue 21 to Sat 25 October. A funny, violent, and touching story about four knights going through the worst year of their lives.

On Sat 11 October, hip hop dance company Rationale will explore new storytelling techniques that will immerse you in an innovative way of interacting with dance. They will be in Ipswich for three days to develop and work with local artists and the community, and you can watch their findings in AN AUDIENCE WITH RATIONALE.

The New Wolsey joins in with the SPILL Festival on Fri 31 October with THE LIVE ART COMMUNITY MUSICAL presented by GETINTHEBACKOFTHEVAN. This radical approach to mounting a classic musical is for anyone who’s ever considered themselves a misfit and wants to make a riotous song and dance about it.

Other productions featured this season include: Custom/Practice and the Corn Exchange Newbury’s production of a dynamic new version of Shakespeare’s ROMEO AND JULIET containing contemporary street dance; the Olivier Award nominated ERIC AND LITTLE ERN paying homage to one of the greatest double acts Britain has ever seen; THREE MEN IN A BOAT presented by Original Theatre and Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds – a classic tale of boat misadventure, and Sheffield Theatre’s THIS IS MY FAMILY, a new musical from Tim Firth, the writer of Our House and Neville’s Island.

Find out more, book your tickets or make your reservations by calling our friendly Ticket Sales team on 01473 295900, or by visiting our website featuring a live chat option at www.wolseytheatre.co.uk.