However just one look at the website of the New Wolsey Theatre, located in the heart of Ipswich, can dispel these rather outdated notions. With a range of productions to suit every taste, from Elves and the Shoemaker for the little ones, through to the dark and uncompromising A Clockwork Orange, the New Wolsey Theatre has become a successful, vibrant and accessible part of the town’s cultural scene.
Productions span musicals, comedy, serious plays, pantomimes, puppet shows, light opera, and yes OK a little Shakespeare, but there really is something for everyone.
Also with tickets starting at just £8.50 for every performance, plus discounts for Over 60s, Under 16s, Full-time Students, Disabled People and those in receipt of Unemployment Benefits or Income Support, it’s never been more affordable to visit the theatre. In fact anyone aged under 26 can pay just £5 for unsold seats on performance days!
And there are none of those rip-off booking fees either; the ticket price is the price you pay. Book online via the website or call the box office on 01473 295900
National Theatre gift tokens are accepted and the theatre offer their own gift vouchers if you’d like to give the “gift of theatre” to someone local - a thoughtful gift for young and old.
Because the theatre is a registered not-for-profit charity, every penny goes straight back into the theatre and funds their productions, the ongoing upkeep of the building, and their work in the community.
Everyone at the New Wolsey Theatre is passionate about making theatre accessible to all, and provide performances which are Audio Described, BSL Interpreted and Captioned, plus “Relaxed” performances for people who may find a standard performance difficult to cope with. The main auditorium is equipped with an Infra Red Hearing System too, and all other parts of the building are adapted to be as accessible as possible.
Food & Drink
The theatre café bar is open every day for freshly-brewed coffee, sandwiches, soups, cakes and snacks, it’s a pleasant place to drop into for a break if you’re shopping in town, especially in good weather as you can enjoy sitting out on the terrace. There’s free wi-fi so don’t forget to check in on Foursquare for a loyalty bonus; why not see if you can oust “Glen P.” as the Mayor!
On performance days the café turns into a restaurant for pre-performance meals which are great value at £12 for 2 courses or £15 for 3 courses – an example set menu could be Beetroot and Goat’s Cheese Salad with Lemon Crotons, followed by Pork and Aspalls Cyder Casserole with Wholegrain Mustard Mash, with Treacle Tart to finish. So you could have a wonderful evening out with a delicious full meal for less than £25 - something to consider for your next anniversary/birthday/special occasion/hot date perhaps?!
Also within the theatre are a licensed bar which opens an hour before each performance, and a kiosk selling confectionary, drinks, ice creams, merchandise and programmes.
Behind the Scenes
An amazing amount of work goes on behind the scenes at the New Wolsey Theatre, all supporting their mission to create a dynamic programme of theatre, live performances and projects for all the people of Ipswich and the surrounding areas. Events and workshops include:
- Post-show talks - many shows have a Post-show talk after at least one performance, where members of the audience can find out more about the show, what happens backstage, and ask questions of the cast and creative team
- Backstage tours – a chance to see all the non-acting wizadry that goes on backstage during a performance
- Drama Club – a Saturday morning drama club for ages 7 to 11, with each group running for 12 weeks (one school term) to create a performance which is chosen in large part by the students themselves.
- Storymaker – a once-per-month storytelling piece for children aged 3 to 6, held on a Saturday morning. Children enjoy a short storytelling performance by a professional actor, then the older ones (ages 5 and 6) can create their own version of the story, while the younger ones have some structured play time.
- Three drama groups for older children and young adults
The theatre also offers work experience placements for young people considering a career in the arts at Key Stage 4 and above.
For businesses, the theatre can offer some unique training and corporate entertainment opportunities such as:
- Role Plays – the theatre’s Creative Learning Team can create short interactions, role plays and sketches designed to reflect the training or learning needs of a business.
- Skills and Training – the team can develop employee training sessions with a difference, using theatre to transform perception, increase personal confidence and illuminate decision making.
- Corporate Entertainment – the theatre can create unique small scale events for small parties, dedicated corporate performances within a longer production run, and even develop full-scale performances commissioned for specific notable events.
So you can see, even if you’re more likely to think of Hamlet as a mild cigar (and perhaps the less said about Coriolanus the better) the New Wolsey Theatre will have a production you’ll really enjoy at an affordable price. Go once and we guarantee it will have you looking forward to your next visit.
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