Our Blue Heaven - New Wolsey Theatre

Our Blue Heaven

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A New Wolsey Theatre Production

The 6th of May 2018 will mark 40 years since Ipswich Town’s Historic FA Cup victory - a moment when Ipswich united to celebrate success as the underdog became victorious. Join us to celebrate with a milestone musical production!

With a hasty wedding, a first birth and missing tickets to contend with, will our mad-keen Ipswich fans make it to the Final? Can the Town navigate the frozen pitch at Bristol Rovers, the rioting Millwall supporters at the Den, dodgy refereeing at Highbury and make it all the way to Wembley? Created from the heart-warming memories of super blues fans themselves, with a live soundtrack of chart hits from '78, join Bobby and his Blue Army on this nostalgic trip down Wembley Way.

This production has been created thanks to support from: East Anglian Daily Times and Ipswich Star, who inspired the title Our Blue Heaven from their newspaper front cover on Monday 8 May 1978; BBC Radio Suffolk; Ipswich Town Heritage Society; Ipswich Town Football Club; DanceEast, and to the kind donations gathered from our Indiegogo campaign in Autumn 2017.


Cast & Creatives

Peter Peverley — Bobby Robson

 

 

Steve Simmonds — Mick Mills

Steve Simmonds headshot

Theatre includes: Rewind/Record in Alice in Wonderland (Liverpool Playhouse/Plymouth Theatre Royal); James/Mr Burney in The Invincibles (Queen’s Theatre/New Wolsey); Operation Julie (Theatr na nog); George Mole in Adrian Mole (Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch); Belinda Bigtop in Goldilocks (New Wolsey Theatre); Samuel Byck in Assassins (Watermill Theatre/Nottingham Playhouse); Grandma in Grandma Saves the Day, The Snow Queen, Cinderella, Guys And Dolls, Aladdin, Never Lost at Home (New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich); As You Like It Workshop (National Theatre); The Threepenny Opera (Bolton Octagon); The Lady in the Van (Theatre Royal Bath); The Who's Tommy (New Wolsey Theatre/Ramps on the Moon); Made in Dagenham (Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch/New Wolsey Theatre); Return to the Forbidden Planet 25th Anniversary Tour (Forbidden Planet Musicals, directed by Bob Carlton); 20th Century Boy, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui (West End/Chichester Festival Theatre); The Buddy Holly Story (Buddy Musical Productions); Aladdin and Cinderella (Stafford Gatehouse); Lend Me a Tenor, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, 12th Night, The Servant of Two Masters, Gaslight, Bouncers, It's a Fine Life (Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch); The Comedy Of Babi Babbett, Noah Babel's Ark (Rude Mechanicals); Mack and Mabel (West End – Adam Kenwright/Watermill); Pinafore Swing (Watermill/No.1 Tour).

TV includes: Love Soup (BBC) and, prior to training, he played Stitch in Oliver!, directed by Sam Mendes at the London Palladium.

Sarah Whittuck — Sheila

Sarah trained at The Rose Bruford College of Speech and Drama, gaining a BA Hons Degree in Theatre Arts.

Her television credits include Marigold (BBC), The Bill, The Sins (BBC) Peak Practice (Central) and The Prince (LWT).

Her Theatre credits include: Sleeping Beauty at the Key Theatre, Peterborough, UK and Far East Tours of From A Jack To A King and Blonde Bombshells Of 1943 for Pola Jones and The British Theatre Playhouse, Lottie in John Doyle's production of Mack And Mabel at the Watermill/UK tour/Criterion West End, Puss in Puss In Boots and Grandma in Little Red Riding Hood (Winchester Theatre Royal), Larissa in Funny About Love (Chichester Festival Theatre, The Mill At Sonning and regional tour), Lucy Westerman in Dracula (Haymarket Basingstoke), Corrinder in Moll Flanders (Salisbury Playhouse), Audrey in The Little Shop Of Horrors (Lyric Theatre, Belfast) and Miranda in Return To The Forbidden Planet (Regional tour). She also played the part of Lucy Locket in The Beggars Opera (Lyric Theatre, Belfast), the Kid in Pal Joey (Theatre Royal, York) and Kit Kat Girl in Cabaret (Octagon Theatre, Bolton). Her panto credits include Peter Pan (3 times!) Cinderella in Cinderella and Fairy Goodapple in Snow White (Wyllyotts Theatre, Potters Bar).

Sarah lives in St Albans with her Husband, two Sons, 2 giant rabbits and 1 chicken.

Katia Sartini — Ange

Katia hails from North Yorkshire and started her early training at the Richmond Dance Centre, before receiving a full scholarship to and then graduating from SLP College, also gaining her licentiate teaching qualification with the London College of Music.

Katia has recently finished filming Nativity Rocks! Due for release in cinemas Christmas 2018.

Credits include: Miss Rye in Nativity! The Musical (Hammersmith Apollo and UK Tour), Hattie in Kiss Me Kate (Kilworth House Theatre), Fairy Frederica in Sleeping Beauty – Rock Panto (Leeds), Wendy Winters in The Beatles Sessions (Royal Albert Hall and Arena Tour), Nikki in Sweet Charity (New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich), Ensemble/Cover Miss Eerie in The Tale of Mr Tumble, (Manchester Opera House, CBBC), Ensemble/First cover Eva Cassidy in Songbird (UK Tour), Rubella in Cinderella and Fairy Frederica in Sleeping Beauty (Stafford Gatehouse Theatre), Helen Shapiro/Chelita Secunda in 20th Century Boy (UK Tour), Lead singer in Dancing Queen (UK tour), Phoebe/Assistant MD in Carnaby Street (UK Tour), Vi Petty in The Buddy Holly Story (UK Tour), Ruth in The Remains of the Day (Union Theatre, London). Katia has also appeared in 5 seasons of 'The Good Old Days' at City Varieties, Leeds.

Workshops include: Sarah in Trouble The Musical, Mary in Be Back Soon – The Life of Lionel Bart.

Soundtracks include: Nativity! The Musical original cast album.

As well as stage shows, Katia also performs in various bands including an Acoustic Duo with her Fiancé, Scott, gigging around the UK and Europe. Katia is a keen musician and plays, Piano, Flute, Piccolo and Saxophone to an advanced standard.

Katia is delighted to be part of the cast of ‘Our Blue Heaven’. Having grown up in a football mad house (LFC!) she feels right at home. Katia would like to thank her family and friends for their continuous love and support.

Jon House — Brian

Originally from Cardiff, Jon trained at the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts in London.

He has worked extensively in theatre, TV and film.

Theatre credits include The Warder in WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION (Olivier nominated) at London County Hall, Claudius in HAMLET, Narrator in UNDER MILKWOOD (Kenya), Malvolio in TWELFTH NIGHT, Frank Sr plus lead guitar in SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER (Frankfurt), THE JUDAS KISS & RELATIVELY SPEAKING (Bath Theatre Royal), ROYAL VARIETY & FRED AND GLADYS (Balls in the Air theatre company), NEWSREVUE, SHADOWS ON THE SUN, A RESPECTABLE WEDDING, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, Pat Brady in THE LAST TYCOON at the Arts theatre.

Film credits include BRONSON, GREEN STREET, KISS KISS BANG BANG and Oscar-nominated Bollywood epic LAGAAN

TV credits include RIVER (BBC), Detective Steve Fulcher in CATCHIN A SERIAL KILLER (ITV), ASHES TO ASHES, GUILTOLOGY for CNN, CRIMEWATCH, THE BILL, 9-11 VOICES FROM THE SKY and the title role in a self-penned television pilot called ELVIS JONES, a comedy about a welsh Private Eye in London. He also wrote the soundtrack.

Eileen

Dale Mathurin — Smudger

Dale trained at the Manchester School of Theatre

Stage credits include: Henry V (RSC), Richard II, (RSC) Henry IV Part II, (RSC), Wuthering Heights, (Aquila Theatre Company), The Tempest, Aquila Theatre Company,  Henry V (Hallé Orchestra), To Kill A Mockingbird (The Royal Exchange).

Josie Dunn — Mel

Josie trained at Rose Bruford College.

Theatre includes: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (The Old Vic); Torgus & Snow (RSC workshop); As You Like It, After The Dance (Theatre by the Lake); Backbeat (West End, U.S. & Canada); Snow White and Other Tales from the Brothers GrimmSummer of Shakespeare (Creation Theatre); Desert Rats (Arts Theatre West End); Alice in Wonderland (The Watermill); Dark Tourism (Park Theatre); James and the Giant Peach (Mercury Theatre); Here Be Monsters (UK Tour); The Story Giant (Shanty Theatre Company); Occupied (Theatre 503); Faust (Greenwich Theatre).

Television includes: Doctors (BBC); Playhouse Presents: Hey Diddly Dee (Sky Arts).

Josie is a founding director of Chaskis Theatre, a transcultural theatre company who collaborate with playwrights from across the globe, uniting international artists and encouraging empathy across borders.

Joe Leat — Scott

Joe trained at East 15 Acting School.

His theatre credits include: The 39 Steps, Murder by the Book, The Prisoner of Zenda, Murder Weapon (Suffolk Summer Theatres) The Mystery of St Finnigans Elbow, Everything Must Go (Eastern Angles), Her Mothers Voice, Bus Stop, Fast Food (Ink Festival), The Secret Garden, Casanova, Mindgame, A Christmas Carol (Spinning Wheel Theatre Company), Breathing the Blue (Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds), This Is What Men Do (Nigel Barrett & Louise Mari), Shakespeare Showcase, Alfie Strange, When I Grow Up (New Wolsey Theatre) Sherlock Holmes & the Hooded Lance, The Old Curiosity Shop, Justin & the Argonauts, The Count of Monte Cristo, The Prisoner of Zenda (Common Ground Theatre Company), Sleepover (Shunt), Ruthie Henshall & Guests: Care for a Song (Ipswich Regent), A Midsummer Nights Dream (Skewbald Theatre), Old Wise Tales (Kings Place). Joe's T.V & film credits include: Taboo (BBC) With Love From Suffolk (Film Suffolk), Opening Night of the Living Dead (Suitcase Films).

James Daffern — Paul

Dan Lloyd — Ipswich Fan/Band

Daniel was raised in Rhosllannerchrugog and trained at East 15 Acting School.

He now lives in Llandyrnog, Wales with his wife Elen and their two children Ted a Greta.

Theatre credits include:Eye Of The Storm (Amy Wadge & Geinor Styles), The Commitments (West End) Tom: The Tom Jones Musical (U.K no 1 Tour x 2) As You Like It (Ludlow and Stafford Castle) Jack Lemmon in Some Like It Hotter (Nationwide Tour) Mods and Rox (The New Wolsey Theatre), Spring Awakening (Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru/Elen Bowman). Gluscabi, Melangell,  The Princess and the Hunter, Me, a Giant! for Theatr na n’Og, The Comedy of Errors (Stafford Festival Shakespeare) and Romeo & Juliet for Bitesize Theatre.

Clwyd Theatr Cymru Credits include: BoHo (co pro with Hijinx) Audrey II in Little Shop of Horrors, The Hub, The Taming Of The Shrew, Animal Farm, Yesterday, The Suicide, Tales From Small Nations, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and 11 rock n roll pantos inc. Sleeping Beauty, Aladdin, Robin Hood & The Babes in The Wood, Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Beauty & The Beast and two portions of Dick.

Dan worked for Disney on the recent Muppets Most Wanted sequel at Pinewood studios (he got to meet & work with Kermit, Fozzie and Animal in the flesh!)

Television credits include: Asra, Dau Dŷ a Ni, Tipyn o Stad, A470 (ITV) and in a number of short films.

Dan is a professional signed guitarist/singer-songwriter/ multi-instrumentalist and has had recent success with his first solo studio album Tro Ar Fyd reaching no 3 in BBC Radio Cymru’s chart. He is a regular on Welsh television and radio performing his own songs. Appearances include: Wedi 3, Ar Gamera, Yr Ystafell Fyw, Trac, Gofod, Bro, Bryn Terfel’s Gwyl Y Faenol, Pws, Wedi 7, Noson Lawen, Nodyn, Uned 5 and Bandit.

He also fronts the Welsh band Daniel Lloyd a Mr Pinc who have released several Welsh language recordings and have toured extensively over the past 15 years.

He co wrote the series and composed the music for S4C kids show ASRA and also appeared as the green faced character EMS.

Dan has recently directed the S4C TV Panto ‘Shane’ starring Welsh rugby legend Shane Williams worked with many of his international Rugby heroes!

He co-directed and was musical director on far From The Madding Crowd with Theatr na n’Og and will direct the WW1 play The White Feather for the company in the Autumn the Dylan Thomas Theatre in Swansea.

Daniel Carter-Hope — Ipswich Fan/Band

Dan is a dyed in the wool Ipswich Town fan ever since he bought a retro Ipswich Town pint mug during last year’s rock and roll panto. He once supported West Ham for a few weeks but after five successive defeats Steve Simmonds begged him to stop.

Dan is excited to be back at the New Wolsey and for it not to be Christmas, having appeared in the last five rock and roll pantos. You can still get him a Christmas present if you like.

Recent work includes; Made In Dagenham (New Wolsey/Queens Theatre Hornchurch) Jackie the Musical (UK tour), several adverts for a well known fast food company and a short film featuring a man killed by his own duvet.

Dan hopes you enjoy the show with its excellent seventies playlist, and he looks forward to finding out if Ipswich can go all the way

Dan de Cruz — Ipswich Fan/Band

Dan gained a BMus (Hons) from the University of Surrey before going on to train on the post-graduate course at Guildford School of Acting.

Dan has recently been Musical Supervisor for CAKE opening at the Lyric Theatre and Associate Musical Supervisor for La Bamba! A Musical at the Peacock Theatre and on tour, working alongside Alfonso Casado Trigo.

He has worked extensively around the UK as a Musical Director: most recently on the UK tour of Beautiful – The Carole King Musical, Just So and Kiss Me, Kate! at the Watermill, Our Blue Heaven at the New Wolsey Theatre and as MD and Arranger on Justin Fletcher’s show – Justin’s Band

Other recent work includes the UK No.1 tour of the hit musical, Jackie – The Musical, Dick Whittington at the Wyllyotts, Beauty and the Beast and Red Riding Hood at the City Varieties, Assistant Musical Director for the critically acclaimed production of Made In Dagenham at the Queen’s Theatre/New Wolsey Theatre, and Musical Director & Orchestral Arranger for Aladdin, at the Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch, which was voted one of the Top Ten Shows of 2015 in London Theatre 1, Seussical the Musical, Chicago, The Wedding Singer, On The Streets, Little Shop of Horrors, The Dracula Spectacular, FAME, Back to the 80's, The Pirates of Penzance, Annie, Guys and Dolls, The Wizard of Oz, Jesus Christ Superstar, Joseph, Oliver, The Mikado, A Christmas Carol, Captain Noah, The Evacuees and Sago The Clown.

Dan also has appeared on stage in shows including: Sinbad, Made In Dagenham, Sweet Charity Beauty and the Beast, Dick Whittington, Mods and Rox (New Wolsey); Lemon - The Musical (Arts Theatre); The Man Who Stole The Circus (Isis Theatre); Run For Your Wife, They're Playing Our Song (Queen's Theatre); Cinderella, Aladdin (City Varieties); Much Ado About Nothing, Romeo and Juliet (Stafford Castle); Buddy Vs The Killer (Raffles, Singapore); Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood (Theatre Clwyd); My Fair Lady, West Side Story (Aberystwyth Arts Centre); Dawlish Road (Soho Theatre); The Far Pavilions, Time's Up (Shaftesbury Theatre); FAME (Palladium).

Callum Harrower — Ipswich Fan/Band

Training: The Institute of Contemporary Musical Performance, London.

Theatre: Ted in Made In Dagenham (New Wolsey, Ipswich & Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch).

Music: Drummer for Don’t Stop Thinking About Tomorrow, Dreams of Freedom at the Royal Albert Hall, Blowin’ In The Wind, Adventure To Oz, Peter Pan, The Night Before Christmas, Globaleyes, Sleeping Beauty - Dream On (Chickenshed Theatre, Southgate); Live musician in Brer Rabbit’s Track & Field, Tales From The Shed at Big Feastival and British Summer Time Festival (Chickenshed Theatre, Southgate); Composer for Brer Rabbit’s Track & Field & Darnaby’s Space Race (Chickenshed Theatre, Southgate).

Reviews of Our Blue Heaven

What the press say


★★★★ ‘dusted with magic’

The Stage

‘A sumptuous treat from beginning to end'

EADT

★★★★★ ‘… a heart-warming piece of theatre that above all, celebrates togetherness…’

Reviews Hub

What the public say

A really great show with great acting and nostalgic music. Very comical. Smudger was great! Thoroughly enjoyed myself!

Jeanette

Football and theatre don't usually mix, but this show gets you by the Wark and Burley's! From the opening bars of Blondie to the guest appearance at the end, it's a wonderfully feel good and nostalgic trip down Wembley Way for ITFC fans young and old. Fantastic band, and "absolutely remarkable" Mastermind segment!

Gary Wiles

Brilliant show, great Acting , the actor playing Sir Bobby Robson has got him off to a Tee!! Brought back great memories . Felt very emosh, lovely to see Mick Mills at the end too

Rach

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