FAMILIAR FACES IN GRANDMA SAVES THE DAY AT THE NEW WOLSEY THEATRE!

13 Mar 2019 Press Release

The New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich has today announced the cast for their brand new upcoming musical GRANDMA SAVES THE DAY! A MUSICAL FEATURING THE GILES FAMILY, which runs from Fri 26 Apr to Sat 18 May. Directed by Artistic Director Peter Rowe and written by Phil Willmott, this actor-musician style musical is guaranteed to delight all the family this spring!

GRANDMA SAVES THE DAY! will see the return of Steve Simmonds to the New Wolsey Theatre, following his recent appearance as Baron Hardup in Cinderella – the Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto, alongside his huge success as Mick Mills in the sell-out production Our Blue Heaven in spring 2018. Steve will play the title role of Grandma. Alongside his recent appearances at the New Wolsey Theatre, Steve has also appeared in The Threepenny Opera (Bolton Octagon); The Lady in The Van (Theatre Royal, Bath) and 20^th Century Boy (UK Tour)

The cast also includes James Haggie as Rupert Farley-Rusk. James is no stranger to the New Wolsey stage having recently appeared as the much-loved Buttons in Cinderella, as well as previous appearances at the New Wolsey including Red Riding Hood, Sweet Charity and Mods and Rox. Adam Langstaff takes the role of Gareth Stinkelton, Adam’s recent appearances include Oxy and the Morons and Tommy, in addition to many of the popular Rock ‘n’ Roll pantomimes including: Cinderella, Red Riding Hood, Sinbad and Sword in the Stone.

Other familiar faces include Lana Walker as Vera Giles who may be recognised from her role in Red Riding Hood in 2017. Further credits include I Happen To Like New York (Orange Tree Theatre) and Dick Whittington (Stafford Gatehouse Theatre). Ben Goffe will also return to our stage, having last appeared in Beauty and the Beast in 2014. Ben has recently appeared in Snow White (London Palladium) alongside credits in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Royal Shakespeare Company) and The Threepenny Opera (Nottingham Playhouse & Graeae). Peter Manchester will appear as Father Giles, Peter has previously appeared in 20^th Century Boy, Mods and Rox and Sleeping Beauty at the New Wolsey Theatre. Christina Tedders takes the role of Carol Giles, Christina recently appeared in Carmen at the New Wolsey Studio in Autumn 2018, with further theatre credits including ONCE (Original West End Cast) Maggie May (Royal Court, Liverpool) and Oranges & Elephants (Hoxton Hall).

The cast of actor-musicians will also include: Guy Freeman as Larry Stinkleton (Dick Whittington, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre and The Commitments, UK & Ireland Tour); Nicky Swift as Eileen Stinkleton ( Mamma Mia! UK Tour and Les Miserables, Queen’s Theatre); Grace Lancaster as Bridget Giles (Cinderella the Rock and Roll panto, Leeds City Varieties & Return to the Forbidden Planet, Eastbourne Devonshire Park) and Alice Keedwell as Mother Giles and Mrs Thatcher (Thor & Loki, Edinburgh Fringe/High Tide Tour and A Little Night Music, Watermill Theatre)

From Tue 30 Apr, every performance of GRANDMA SAVES THE DAY! will be Audio Described via a headset. On Thu 9 May at 1.30pm, the New Wolsey Theatre will present a Dementia Friendly and Relaxed Performance where the environment will be adjusted for those needing a more relaxed atmosphere when attending the theatre, or need additional support. Sat 11 May at 2:30pm will be British Sign Language Interpreted and Captioned and Thu 16 May, 7:45pm will be a British Sign Language Interpreted performance.

Performed in the New Wolsey Theatre’s ever-popular actor-musician style, this brilliant new musical, packed with 80’s hits including Our House, Simply the Best and Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go is selling fast! Be sure to secure your tickets to avoid disappointment for the most talked about musical this spring!

Rehearsals for the production begin on Mon 1 Apr with the show opening at the New Wolsey Theatre on Fri 26 Apr with the Press Night on Tue 30 Apr at 7pm. The production runs until Sat 18 May.

Tickets at the New Wolsey Theatre are on sale now and can be booked through the Tickets Sales Team by calling 01473 295900 or by booking online at www.wolseytheatre.co.uk