This production is part of our ongoing commitment to delivering thought-provoking theatre that sparks conversations. Over the past year, we’ve welcomed over 82,000 visitors from Ipswich, Suffolk and beyond to more than 200 performances. In addition we have reached 6,000 students from 70 schools, and through our livestreaming, we’ve reached over 2,000 people, including those in remote or isolated communities. We’re particularly proud to offer affordable tickets to underserved audiences, ensuring theatre remains accessible to everyone.
Beyond the stage, our creative programmes are at the heart of what we do. From our school tours and NHS collaborations, to our support for local community groups and free events, we’ve welcomed over 5,000 people through workshops and creative projects.
We're committed to making a positive impact on our community, knowing that storytelling and creativity have the power to transform lives. Every ticket you purchase and every donation you make helps us continue this important work.
Thank you for your support and we hope you enjoy the show!
Lola trained at the Royal Scottish Conservatoire.
Her theatre credits include: Macbeth (English Touring Theatre), Medea (National Theatre of Scotland), Interiors (Vanishing Point) and Opening Time (A Play, A Pie and A Pint).
Her television credits include: The Demon Headmaster (BBC) and The Wedding (Create Anything/BBC Scotland) which was shortlisted for the Digital Broadcast Awards.
Chris’ theatre credits include The Wizard of Oz (Watermill), Beautiful – The Carole King Musical (Leicester Curve/UK Tour), A Christmas Carol (European Tour), Dreamboats and Petticoats (UK/Ireland Tour) and Spamalot (Palace, West End),
His film and television credits include The Little Stranger (Film4), The Real Story of Hacksaw Ridge (ITV Studios) and Things Not to Say to Someone with Tourette's Syndrome (BBC Three).
Theo trained at the Guilford School of Acting, where he was the winner of the 2022 Timothy West and Prunella Scales Actors Speech Prize.
His theatre credits include Sleeping Beauty: The Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto (Theatr Clwyd), Once, The True Adventures of Marian and Robin Hood (The Barn), and RuneSical (Edinburgh Festival). His credits whilst training include As You Like It, The Baker’s Wife, and Into the Woods.
Kirsty was nominated with the 2016 cast of Our Ladies Of Perpeutal Succour (NTS/London National) for an Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.
Her theatre credits include Jack & the Beanstalk (Perth Theatre), Girl Meets Boy (National Theatre of Scotland) and Beauty and the Beast (both Glasgow Rep & St Andrews' Byre), whilst her film credits include Close (Tom Gentle Productions), Scenes for Survival (NTS/BBC) and On the Outside (Nasreen Sarerei).
Connor trained at the University of Glasgow & Royal Academy of Music.
His theatre credits include Noises Off (Pitlochry Festival Theatre) and Footloose (West End, UK & International Tour).
His television, film and audio credits include Behind Her Eyes (Netflix) Cinderella (Sony Films) and Harry Potter & The Cursed Child (West End).
Charlotte trained at the Mountview Academy of Theatre & Arts.
Her theatre credits include Sunshine on Leith (Pitlochry Festival Theatre), Lord of the Rings the Musical, Whistle Down the Wind and A Christmas Carol (Dundee Rep), Songs for a New World (The London Palladium), A Christmas Adventure (Oxford Playhouse) and Song of the Far Isles (Oxford Playhouse).
Nina is a multi award-winning artist, including the Award of Excellence at The Houses of Parliament and GAB award for Excellence in the Arts for Africa & Africans around the World.
Her West End theatre credits include leading roles in High Society, Little Shop of Horrors, The Sting, Blues in the Night, Medea, Anthony & Cleopatra and her selfpenned, award-winning hit shows Billie Holiday Story and Timeless.
Signe trained at the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, where she became the first actor-musician to receive the Gyearbuor Asante Award for Acting.
Her theatre credits include The Wizard of Oz (Watermill Theatre), Beautiful - The Carole King Musical and Sense & Sensibility (Pitlochry Festival Theatre).
Myles trained at the Mountview Academy of Performing Arts.
His theatre credits include Maid Marian and Her Merry Men, A New Musical (Sort Of!) (Workshop, Soho Theatre), Dick Whittington and His Cat (New Wolsey Theatre), Alice In Wonderland (Liverpool Everyman Playhouse), Beautiful - The Carole King Musical (Curve and UK Tour) and Beauty and The Beast (Nottingham Playhouse).
Wendy trained at the Rose Bruford College of Speech and Drama.
Her theatre credits include Footloose (UK Tour & Dubai), The Crucible (Pitlochry Festival Theatre), The Wind in the Willows (Brewhouse, Taunton), Dick Whittington (Gatehouse, Stafford), Dreamboats & Petticoats (Savoy & Playhouse Theatres, West End & UK Tour) and Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story (Duchess Theatre, West End & UK Tour).
Elizabeth trained at the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts.
Her theatre credits include One Man Two Guvnors (Nuffield Theatre, Southampton), Oliver! With a Twist! (Leicester Square Theatre) and Made in Dagenham (Queens Theatre Hornchurch/New Wolsey Theatre)
Elizabeth can also be seen performing with UK Fleetwood Mac as Christine McVie.
Robin’s theatre credits include Macbeth (Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre), Laurel and Hardy (New Vic), The Hound of the Baskervilles (Oldham Coliseum), To Kill a Mockingbird (York Theatre Royal) and Grandpa in my Pocket (Nottingham Playhouse).
His television credits include Coronation Street, Emmerdale, Home Fires, See No Evil - The Moors Murders (ITV Studios) and Doctors, Holby City and Waterloo Road (BBC).
Luke trained at the Rose Bruford College.
His stage credits include Brief Encounter (New Wolsey Theatre), Romeo & Juliet (440 Theatre), The Crucible (Pitlochry Festival Theatre) and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (London Palladium and Sunderland Empire).
Luke has also sung as a soloist at the Royal Albert Hall and Sydney Opera House.
Luke trained at the Royal Academy of Drama and Performing Arts (RADA).
His theatre credits include Much Ado About Nothing (Royal Shakespeare Company), The Mountain Top (Chipping Norton Theatre), Under the Sun (The Royal Court), Romeo & Juliet (Red Rose Chain), Twelfth Night (Southwark Playhouse), La Bayadere (Royal Opera House) and The Lion King (Lyceum Theatre).
Lighting Designer - Jeanine Byrne
Sound Designer - James Cook
Re-lighter - Peter Fennell
Deputy Stage Manager (Book) - Katie Marie Galbraith
Assistant Stage Manager (Floor) - Nele Haehnsen
Fight Director - Robin Hellier
Dresser - Marc Hepworth
Dialect Coach - Charmian Hoare
Choreographer - Kally Lloyd-Jones
Sound No.1 - Toby McFarlane
LX Programmer - Kat Mercer
Company Stage Manager - Ruby Noble
Musical Director - Richard Reeday
Designer - Adrian Rees
Director - Douglas Rintoul
Sound No.2 - Pete Ryles
Wardrobe Maintenance - Kira Tisbury
Production Manager - Nick Trueman
Sam Bates | Charlotte Bayford | Emma Blades | Emily Bradbrook | Denise Calver | Tony Casement | Neil Daines | Delroy Daniels | Chloe Davis | Kemi Edonmi | Daniel Emmens | Abbie Farnworth | Rachel Fitzgerald | Bethany-Rose Griggs | Rebecca Hall | Oakey Hand | Zanna Hornby | Alanta Jarrett | Sally Jones | Giles King | Rebekah Laws | Zack Lwin | Lucy Mellamphy | Keith Mickelburgh | Scott Mickelburgh | Ellis Northrop | Jack Parker | Lucy Parker | Vicky Phillips | Douglas Rintoul | Klyde Robinson | Lisa Sare | David Watson | Board Members | Café & Bar Assistants | Casual Box Office Assistants | Casual Technicians | Creative Communities Assistants & Practitioners| Volunteer Ushers
I’m so looking forward to being back at the New Wolsey Theatre! I had such a wonderful time there while taking part in the 2023 panto! The people, staff and building are so warm and welcoming, which makes it such a pleasure to return and be working here again!
I am thrilled to be returning to the New Wolsey in the role of Rusty in Footloose. It's such a fun part to play with amazing songs, so performing them on familiar soil is fantastic. One of my first jobs out of drama school was at the New Wolsey and my family live nearby, so it's a home away from home for me. Let's hear it for a fantastic month in Ipswich, cutting loose!
I’m so excited to be returning to the New Wolsey and the best audience who I know will absolutely love Footloose! It’s such an iconic story with killer tunes which I defy anyone not to dance to - don’t let me down, Ipswich!
Did you know that Footloose is based on a true story?
In 1979, in the small town of Elmore City, Oklahoma, the seniors of Elmore High School wanted to plan a senior prom, however organised dances were against the law thanks to a not-forgotten order introduced in 1898 that banned dancing within the city, in an attempt to control alcohol consumption and the associated drunken antics.
“There was a time for this law, but not anymore. See, this is our time to dance.”
In the 1979/80 school year, the students set out to change this outdated law. Class member Mary Ann Temple-Lee said, “We just wanted to have a dance in a safe space.” Prom organisers Rex Kennedy and Leonard Coffee said “We were told the school board was afraid things would get out of hand, so they were condemning us before we ever did anything wrong.”
The town was left divided by the plans, with Reverend F.R. Johnson (inspiring the Footloose character Reverend Shaw Moore) being one of the most vocal against the plans, stating that “No good has ever come from a dance.” How wrong he was...
Thankfully, the students’ protests were successful and the ban was overturned, with their school board President Raymond Lee simply declaring “Let ‘em dance!”
The iconic 1984 film starring Kevin Bacon was a box office success, grossing $80 million in North America and becoming the seventh highest-grossing film of that year. The songs Footloose by Kenny Loggins and Let's Hear It for the Boy by Deniece Williams went on to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song.
A top 40 hit in several European countries, including reaching number two in the UK after a 1985 re-release.
Became her second number one hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart.
