This Autumn, the New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich is set to broaden access to live performance with three major new productions: Don’t Look Now, Teechers, and Beauty and the Beast. These productions are presented through innovative partnerships and with accessibility at their heart.
The New Wolsey Theatre’s Autumn programme, which goes on general sale from Saturday, 10 May, promises a rich variety of shows at affordable prices and accessible formats. The announcement includes three major new in-house productions and co-productions.
The first of these is a fresh take on John Godber’s beloved comedy Teechers (25 September – 2 October). This vibrant play speaks directly to the role of creativity and drama in young people’s lives. The production will support young people studying the text and champion the careers of artists in East Anglia. For the first time in their histories, the New Wolsey Theatre is co-producing this show with Eastern Angles Theatre Company, drawing on their renowned touring expertise to widen the reach of their work and bring this production to even more audiences across the region.
A terrifying and deeply moving reimagining of Daphne du Maurier’s iconic short story and supernatural thriller Don’t Look Now for the stage (9-25 October) arrives just in time for the dark October nights. Playwright Nell Leyshon revisits her 2007 adaptation, breathing fresh life into this haunting modern classic. Following their acclaimed 2023 co-production of Noël Coward’s Brief Encounter, the New Wolsey Theatre is thrilled to reunite with powerhouse producing theatre Wiltshire Creative to deliver an unmissable night of gripping, unforgettable theatre.
No winter at the New Wolsey Theatre would be complete without the much-loved Rock ’n’ Roll Panto. Hot on the heels of two UK Pantomime Award nominations – including a Best Script nomination for Vikki Stone – the New Wolsey Theatre is proud to present a brand-new version of Beauty and the Beast from 25 November 2025 – 17 January 2026. With 30,000 people expected to experience the magic in person, and an award-winning live streaming offer making the production accessible to even more audiences who may not be able to visit the theatre, this year’s panto promises to be bigger, bolder, and better than ever.
The visiting programme is packed with exciting theatre including Alan Ayckbourn’s comedic masterpiece Bedroom Farce (2-6 September), a clever new stage adaptation Sherlock Holmes – The Hunt for Moriarty (9-13 September), new writing from Suffolk writer Danusia Iwaszko in powerful new prison drama Penned Up (16-17 September), and a razor-sharp account of rural life in Norfolk and the dilemmas facing farming families in Black Sheep (5-8 November). All this, plus plentiful half-term entertainment for families to enjoy, and a whole host of one-night comedy, music, poetry and musical treats to entertain as the nights draw in.
Douglas Rintoul, Chief Executive/Artistic Director of the New Wolsey Theatre, said, “Over 100,000 people from Suffolk and beyond experience our programmes each year, and thanks to our growing partnerships both locally and nationally, we continue to strengthen as an organisation and introduce even more audiences across the UK to our work. Alongside our own productions, we’re proud to bring some of the most exciting visiting shows from around the country to Ipswich. I’m especially pleased that this season showcases so many new productions from artists and companies based right here in East Anglia — it’s a real celebration of the incredible talent on our doorstep. Through our award-winning live streaming offer, we’re also proud to make our work accessible to even more people, ensuring that audiences who may not be able to attend in person can still share in the experience.”
As always, the Theatre’s productions include a range of accessible performances, including Relaxed/Dementia-friendly, Captioned, BSL interpreted and live-stream performances, as well as a Touch Tour. Beauty and the Beast will be available by livestream from 20 – 29 December.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
