Trio - New Wolsey Theatre

Trio

Performed from Fri 7 — Sat 15 Oct


by Warehouse Digital

by Warehouse Digital

by Warehouse Digital

by Warehouse Digital

by Warehouse Digital

The artwork for 'Trio' by Paul Sirett, Peter Rowe and Ben Goddard. The image shows three paint stripes, the left is orange, middle is blue and right is red. The stripes move away from us and then up as if going along the floor and then up a wall. Each colour blends into the headshot of one of the three actors in the show. From left to right they are Richard Costello, Gina Murray and Ian McLarnon. Below the headshots are a microphone, guitar and amp and a flight case reading 'a new intimate musical play.' Booking details are at the bottom of the image, outlining the dates (Fri 7 to Sat 15 Oct) and that captioning and livestreaming options are available.

A world premiere starring West End actor-musicians.

It started at a party back in the 80s. Ian the top record producer, Phil, the rising pop star, Becca the breezy studio receptionist and a glance across a crowded floor that sparks a blaze to last a lifetime. What could go wrong?

As the three look back on their entangled lives, who was to blame? Could things have been different?

One piano, one guitar, three stools, three characters and a lifetime of love and passion, loyalty and betrayal, is captured in the songs which will be their legacy.

This is the latest from the critically acclaimed team behind 'Midsummer Songs,' 'Oxy and the Morons' and 'Mods and Rox.'

'Midsummer Songs'
'Rowe and Goddard have dished up a minor miracle' - Musical Theatre Review

'Oxy and the Morons'
'It’s a touching story, beautifully written by Paul Sirett…' – Ipswich Star

'Mods and Rox'
'A standing ovation rounded off a fantastic night of musical theatre.' – EADT


Cast & Creatives

Gina Murray — Becca

A headshot of 'Trio' actor Gina Murray.

Gina is absolutely delighted to join this exciting world-premiere production of Trio. It’s particularly thrilling because she has been working for the past couple of years on her debut solo self-penned album with the incredible Ben Goddard, who has written the music for Trio, and the chance to work with him again is always a delight. She cannot wait to finish recording the album and share it, so look out for it!

During the pandemic, Gina’s group Woman had an iTunes rock number one with Brian May and their track ‘I'm a Woman.’ All proceeds go to Target Ovarian Cancer and Caron Keating Foundation so please do download and stream: https://myslink.app/womantheband 

After the pandemic, Gina starred in Starting Here, Starting Now at Waterloo East Theatre, for which she received an Offie nomination for Best Actress. During the same month she appeared at the Royal Albert Hall in Best of the West End.

After her fourth pantomime as Fairy Godmother for QDOS alongside Shane Richie/Diversity, Gina landed a lead role in the short film Mantis as Agy and then went straight on to film The Hunt For Raoul Moat (ITV/World Productions), playing Lesley Stobbart, due to be aired soon.

Other credits include: Velma von Tussle in Hairspray (UK Tour) and Donna in Mamma Mia (Cyprus) and she regularly returns to the role of Mama Morton in Chicago, having played her in the West End, on UK National Tour and in China and Singapore.

Other West End credits include: A Christmas Carol; The Full MontyFameThe Roy Orbison StoryPatsy Cline - A Musical Tribute and Carnaby St. Off West End she played Gloria Kramer in the critically acclaimed production of One Touch of Venus and Chloe in Broken Journey, both at the Kings Head Theatre. Her numerous other credits include: The Accrington PalsJihad The MusicalAlfie and Fuddy Meers.

Gina played Jo in the feature film Sorted, alongside Matthew Rhys and Tim Curry and subsequently played Kelly in the follow-up feature from the same director, entitled The Flirting Club.

Other TV credits include: Witless (BBC); Doctors (BBC); EastEnders (BBC); Judge John Deed (BBC); Teenage Kicks (Sky One); The Bill (ITV) and several TV commercials including Lidl, Special K, Harper Collins, Littlewoods, Boots, Lloyds Pharmacy, TD Ameritrade and many others.

Voice-overs are a big part of Gina's career and she has recorded many English Language Tapes, adverts, computer games and animations including Alice in Alice in WonderlandSummer Camp and Scary Larry. She also does a lot of dubbing for many Netflix and other TV/Film productions: Go Go Corey Carson and Starbeam (Netflix).

Gina co-wrote and starred in her own comedy show in Hollywood at Comedy Central Studios called Here Comes Treble alongside her sister, West-End star Mazz Murray, with whom she trained at Redroofs Theatre School.

She dedicates her performance to her totally indifferent, beloved teenage sons, actors Joe and Max Willis.

Richard Costello — Phil

Richard trained at Guildford School of Acting.

His theatre credits include: Hackney Fantom in Death of England for The National Theatre; Moment of Grace at the Hope Theatre, Islington; Never Lost at Home, Abanaza in Aladdin at the New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich; Daniel 3 in Now And Then at Above The Stage Theatre; Captain Flash in Miss In Her Teens for Lynchpin Productions; Captain Hook in Peter Pan at Key Theatre, Peterborough; Flint and Smullet in Treasure Island at New Vic Theatre, Stoke: Korff in Tantalus at Camberley Theatre; Various roles in Matchbox Theatre, Rehearsed Readings of Abigail’s Party and Groping For Words at Farnham Rep; Bailiff in Is It Getting Cold In Here and Rehearsed Reading of Superheroes for Sheerdrop Theatre; Swing in Zorro The Musical at the Garrick Theatre, West End; Roger Brunton in Bad Girls The Musical at West Yorkshire Playhouse; Branigan, Calvin, The Greek in Guys & Dolls at the Donmar Warehouse; Macbeth in Macbeth at Vienna’s English Theatre; Reporter in How I Got That Story at the Finborough Theatre; Steve in Bodychecks for Common People Productions; Owen in Island for Trestle Theatre Company; Philostrate in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Benvolio in Romeo and Juliet for R J Williamson Company; Various roles in NewsRevue at Canal Cafe Theatre; Turbot in The Amazons for Just The Ticket Theatre; Zeus and Dionysus in Pandemonium at the Edinburgh Festival; Peter Quince in A Midsummer Night’s Dream for Polsden Lacey Theatre; Oliver in As You Like It at Chilworth Manor.

Richard’s television and film credits include: The Suspect for ITV; Brussels for Apple TV; Sebastian in Gladiator for Dreamworks; Helmsman in Vikings: The Ambush for Ridley Scott Associates; Villain in Reprisal for Samuel Caws Productions; The Big Man in The Bicycle Thief for Park Bench Productions; Crimewatch for the BBC; Radio Werewolf for Sightline Productions.

Richard was part of the ensemble on the radio recording of South Pacific with Birmingham Symphony Hall. He was awarded Song of the Week by Kerrang Radio for his song ‘Sin City.’

Ian McLarnon — Ian

A headshot of 'Trio' actor Ian McLarnon.

West End credits include Forever Plaid at the Apollo, Fiddler on the Roof at the Palladium, Passion at the Queens, Sunday in the Park with George at the Wyndhams, Les Miserables at the Palace and Hand to God at the Vaudeville. At the National Theatre, he has appeared in The Relapse, Luther, South Pacific and Follies. Other London credits include Pacific Overtures at the Donmar Warehouse and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Troilus and Cressida and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, all at Regent’s Park.

Ian has played Joseph Cable in South Pacific on a national tour and roles at the Stephen Joseph, Scarborough include William in How the Other Half Loves, Narrator in Awaking Beauty, Frederick in The Pirates of Penzance and Nanki Poo in The Mikado.

TV and film credits include Casualty, Bomb at the Grand, Tim Burton’s Sweeney Todd and the role of Mr Smyth’s in A Christmas Carol for the Hallmark channel. Ian has performed extensively in concerts all over Europe , appeared on many film and show soundtracks and recorded two albums of his own.

Most recently Ian appeared in Legacy with Maria Friedman and Friends at Menier Chocolate Factory, Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends – A Celebration at the Sondheim Theatre, London and joins the cast of Trio directly from his appearance in Side By Side By Sondheim, the first UK production of the famous revue since the composer’s death.

Writer/Director

The artwork for 'Trio' by Paul Sirett, Peter Rowe and Ben Goddard. The image shows three paint stripes, the left is orange, middle is blue and right is red. The stripes move away from us and then up as if going along the floor and then up a wall. Each colour blends into the headshot of one of the three actors in the show. From left to right they are Richard Costello, Gina Murray and Ian McLarnon. Below the headshots are a microphone, guitar and amp and a flight case reading 'a new intimate musical play.' Booking details are at the bottom of the image, outlining the dates (Fri 7 to Sat 15 Oct) and that captioning and livestreaming options are available.

Writer/Musical Director

The artwork for 'Trio' by Paul Sirett, Peter Rowe and Ben Goddard. The image shows three paint stripes, the left is orange, middle is blue and right is red. The stripes move away from us and then up as if going along the floor and then up a wall. Each colour blends into the headshot of one of the three actors in the show. From left to right they are Richard Costello, Gina Murray and Ian McLarnon. Below the headshots are a microphone, guitar and amp and a flight case reading 'a new intimate musical play.' Booking details are at the bottom of the image, outlining the dates (Fri 7 to Sat 15 Oct) and that captioning and livestreaming options are available.

Paul Sirett — Writer

Paul is a multi-award-winning, Olivier-nominated playwright, dramaturg, and musician.

Paul has written over twenty-five stage plays and musicals which have been produced in the UK and around the world. Notable productions include the hit West End musical THE BIG LIFE; the West End transfer of RAT PACK CONFIDENTIAL; three UK tours and numerous overseas performances of his Ian Dury musical for Graeae, REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL; and frequent UK and international revivals of his play BAD BLOOD BLUES. Paul’s play CLEAR WHITE LIGHT enjoyed two sell-out runs at Live Theatre in Newcastle. Previous plays for the New Wolsey include, MODS & ROX and OXY AND THE MORONS.

Paul has also won international awards his radio plays and has worked extensively as a dramaturg for companies including: the Royal Shakespeare Company, Soho Theatre, the Royal Court, National Theatre, and West End & Broadway producers Ambassador Theatre Group and Trafalgar Entertainment. Paul’s book, The Playwright’s Manifesto, was published by Bloomsbury/Methuen in September this year.

Paul has toured and recorded with numerous bands and is currently an Associate Artist of Soho Theatre, Associate Teacher of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Associate Fellow at the University of Warwick, and Literary Associate at Trafalgar Entertainment.

Libby Watson — Set & Costume Designer

Libby trained at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and has a 1st Class BA Hons degree in Theatre Design from Wimbledon School of Art. She has designed extensively in the UK and abroad. Libby designed the premiere of Katori Hall’s The Mountaintop in the West End which was the winner of 2011 Olivier Award for Best Play. 

Recent design credits include:

The Fellowship Hampstead Theatre Tony! the Rock Opera Park Theatre, Bring it On, Queen Elizabeth Hall London,Toast by Nigel Slater, West End and UK tour, Being Mr Wickham live stream and uk tour Dr Faustus, Sam Wanamker Theatre, Trolle and Helt Privat Kilden Theatre, Norway, The Philanthropist, Trafalgar Studios West End, A Midsummer Night’s Dream directed by Sir Trevor Nunn, New Wolsey Theatre, Once, Wolsey and Uk tour Daisy Pulls it Off, Park Theatre, Peter Pan, Misi Producciones Bogota Columbia, Fences, West End and Theatre Royal Bath, One Man Two Guvnors and Guys and Dolls, Wolsey Theatre,  Les Femmes Savantes, The Miser, Belgrade Theatre , Rudy’s Rare Records, Birmingham Rep and Hackney Empire, Propoganda Swing Belgrade and Nottingham Playhouse, Frankie and Johnny, Chichester Festival Theatre History Boys UK tour, Play Mas Orange Tree. Feed the Beast and Hysteria Birmingham Rep. The Uk Tour of Mustapha Matura’s Three Sisters. For the Kiln Theatre Gem of the Ocean, Blues for Mr Charlie, Radio Golf and The War Next Door. One Monkey Don’t Stop No Show, Sheffield Crucible and uk tour. Blonde Bombshells of 1943 Hampstead Theatre and UK tour. Blest Be The Tie and What’s in the Cat, Royal Court.

Film: Alexander Pope Discovering a Genius for BBC4, Tell Me you Love Me (short)

Lighting Designer

The artwork for 'Trio' by Paul Sirett, Peter Rowe and Ben Goddard. The image shows three paint stripes, the left is orange, middle is blue and right is red. The stripes move away from us and then up as if going along the floor and then up a wall. Each colour blends into the headshot of one of the three actors in the show. From left to right they are Richard Costello, Gina Murray and Ian McLarnon. Below the headshots are a microphone, guitar and amp and a flight case reading 'a new intimate musical play.' Booking details are at the bottom of the image, outlining the dates (Fri 7 to Sat 15 Oct) and that captioning and livestreaming options are available.

Sound Designer

The artwork for 'Trio' by Paul Sirett, Peter Rowe and Ben Goddard. The image shows three paint stripes, the left is orange, middle is blue and right is red. The stripes move away from us and then up as if going along the floor and then up a wall. Each colour blends into the headshot of one of the three actors in the show. From left to right they are Richard Costello, Gina Murray and Ian McLarnon. Below the headshots are a microphone, guitar and amp and a flight case reading 'a new intimate musical play.' Booking details are at the bottom of the image, outlining the dates (Fri 7 to Sat 15 Oct) and that captioning and livestreaming options are available.

Debbie O'Brien — Casting Director

West End/UK Tours include: The Choir of Man; Dirty Dancing; Thriller Live; American Idiot; Knights of the Rose; 20th Century Boy; The Knowledge; Close to You; Priscilla Queen of the Desert; Sinatra; Our House; Starlight Express; Mum’s the Word; Jackie; I Was a Rat; Grease; The Snowman, Flashdance; The King and I; Showboat; Dancing in the Streets; The Rat Pack Live from Las Vegas; Daisy Pulls It Off; The Harder They Come; Chitty Chitty Bang Bang; Saturday Night Fever; Fame; Peter Pan; The Pirates of Penzance; Smokey Joe’s Café; The Rocky Horror Show; Doctor In the House; Mahabharata; Anything Goes; What a Feeling; A Chorus Line; A Tribute to the Blues Brothers.

Regional and international productions include: Tony! The Tony Blair Rock Opera; Trio; Playboy of the West Indies; The Birds and the Bees; Never Lost at Home; Friends! The Musical Parody; Hugh Jackman The Show; Cruel Intentions; Friends the Musical Parody; Menopause the Musical; Starlight Express; Once; We’ll Live and Die In These Towns; The Noise Boys; Kinky Boots; Million Dollar Quartet,; Jersey Boys; Rock of Ages; Room; Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin; Oxy and the Morons; The Last Five Years; Five Guys Named Moe; The BFG.

Children’s casting includes: Waitress; The King and I; Avalanche; The Bodyguard; Caroline or Change; Annie; Medea; The Sound of Music.

Recorded media includes: Mimi’s World; Waybuloo; Grandpa In My Pocket; What’s Your News; Planet Cook.


Reviews of Trio

What the public say

An engaging show that transported me back to the eighties & kept me guessing as to how the story would end. Most enjoyable evening at the New Wolsey.

Colin Lister

Stunning performances from all three actors, amazing voices, brilliant songs, thought provoking, just another fantastic performance from the New Wolsey. Well worth seeing!!

Tracey

I loved this show from start to finish. the acting was incredible and the plot was great. I'm still feeling on a 'high' having seen it at the matinee performance this afternoon (12.10.22) and feel so lucky that we can see such a show in Ipswich

Teresa MacKay

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