Wide Variety at New Wolsey this Spring

The New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich will be bringing family shows, burlesque, music and more during this year’s Spring holidays.

The main event for this year’s offering is Around The World in Eighty Days (11th-15th April, New Wolsey Theatre), which sees a band of travelling circus performers embark on their most daring feat yet: to recreate the adventures of Phileas Fogg as he sets off on his race around the world. Based on the novel by Jules Verne and adapted and directed by Juliet Forster, this brandnew, fun and colourful family production is billed as the perfect show for families who love circus, dance and adventure too. Grab the family and your friends, take your seats and prepare for a theatre adventure you’ve never experienced before... A band of travelling circus performers embark on their most daring feat yet: to recreate the adventures of Phileas Fogg as he sets off on his race around the world. But this is a telling of two tales; fact meets fiction as we learn the incredible true story of American journalist Nellie Bly who emulated the character of Phileas in her record-breaking trip around the world.

Alex Phelps (As You Like It, Shakespeare’s Globe/CBeebies; When Darkness Falls, Park Theatre/UK Tour; Hamlet, Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre) will be playing the determined Ringmaster, Phileas Fogg. Taking on the role of the Acrobat, Nellie Bly, is actor and puppeteer Katriona Brown (There’s a Rang-Tan in My Bedroom and Other Stories, Little Angel Theatre; Chum-o-logues, Southwark Playhouse).

Genevieve Sabherwal (My Grandma’s a Walrus, Southwark Playhouse; Speed Dial, Pleasance; Spooky Ship, Bristol Old Vic) will be performing as the Aouda, The Trick Rider. Wilson Benedito (50 Ways to Kill Your Lover, Amazon; Alan Carr’s New Year Specstacular, Channel 4) provides comedic relief as The Clown, Passepartout. Rounding off the cast as the sharp-witted Knife Thrower, Detective Fix, is Eddie Mann (Rocketman, Paramount; Macbeth, Three Inch Fools; Back to The Future, Secret Cinema).

The holidays will begin with The Adventures of the Little Red Hen (3rd-4th April, New Wolsey Theatre), an energetic adaptation of the much-loved story, featuring a breathtaking combination of brilliant puppetry, live music and unforgettable comedy.

The Bubble Show (5th April, New Wolsey Theatre) sees Mr Bubbles aka actor, storyteller, and Guinness World Record holder and one of the top bubble artists in the world, The Highland Joker, perform an interactive, fun, international award-winning bubble extravaganza.

A celebration of Soul music through the decades including Aretha Franklin, The Temptations and Marvin Gaye will be brought to Ipswich with The History of Soul (6th April, New Wolsey Theatre) and cabaret, comedy, music, circus and burlesque will light up the stage in An Evening of Burlesque (8th April, New Wolsey Theatre).

The beautiful tale of the Velveteen Rabbit (11th April, NW2) will be brought to life by two actors, inventive puppetry and original songs. The performance will also contain integrated Makaton signing. Tickets are now on sale at www.wolseytheatre.co.uk.