Welcome to this year’s brand-new Rock ‘n’ Roll panto – The Snow Queen – this year also in a brand-new blended format for those of you watching in our auditorium or on the screen at home!This is an extraordinary re-imagining of our pantomime for an unprecedented year in all our lives. Our staff, technical team, creatives and acting company have been using all their ingenuity and imagination to create a safe and secure environment for us all, and to capture the spirit of communal celebration that is the essence of our Christmas show. We have been creating new ways of joining in and being a part of the event whether you are sitting in your family bubble in the theatre or in your own home. What follows is an exciting experiment, combining traditional pantomime treats with new technologies, and if there are any hiccups along the way we believe that the spirit of panto will see us all through!

This new pantomime is an indication that the New Wolsey Theatre is returning to full health and strength. Our new participation space, NW2, is now open for workshops, Youth Theatre, Young Company and community activity, our foyer and auditorium have benefitted from a major refurbishment and the whole of Theatre Square has had a makeover too, providing a natural amphitheatre for future outdoor performances.

The best way for the New Wolsey to survive and thrive is for us to make productions, run workshops and lead community activity. This we will continue to do through the spring, seeking new ways to offer shows to our supporters and patrons until the day when social distancing is no longer required and we can once again fill our auditorium and participation spaces with a full programme of productions and workshops.

Now more than ever we are grateful for the support of our funding bodies – Arts Council England, Ipswich Borough Council and Suffolk County Council – our sponsors, and especially our customers and supporters. I hope you enjoy this new twist on a traditional tale and that we see you again in person or online in 2021. On behalf of us all, thank you for your continued support, and we wish you a very happy holiday season and a peaceful and healthy New Year.

Peter RoweArtistic Director

SYNOPSISAll’s well in the peaceful little town of Ballbroken; Gerda is about to be crowned the Queen of May, the blacksmith’s apprentice Simon Clinkerbin hopes to graduate and get his very own hammer, and Dame Sigrid Smorgasbord has prepared a magnificent May Day feast...

What’s more, it looks like something’s blossoming between Sigrid’s young son Kay, and Gerda, the blacksmith’s daughter. To top it all Primrose, Spirit of the Spring, smashes the Snow Queen’s cursed mirror, to destroy its dark powers and banish her forever. Little does she know this will only make matters worse!

Soon Kay is spirited away in the Snow Queen’s magic sleigh and held captive in her glittering Ice Palace. It’s up to brave young Gerda and poor Dame Sigrid to trek to the Frozen North to rescue him. Can they make it before Kay is turned to ice forever? Will love come out on top? And just how will Simon earn his very first hammer?

Lucy Wells as GerdaPrevious work at the New Wolsey Theatre includes: Beauty and the Beast, The Sword in the Stone, Sinbad, Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Aladdin.

Steve Simmonds asDame Sigrid Smorgasbord

Previous work at the New Wolsey Theatre includes: Grandma Saves the Day, Cinderella, Guys and Dolls, Aladdin, The Who’s Tommy (U.K. tour – Ramps on the Moon), Made in Dagenham (Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch/New Wolsey).

Adam Langstaff asKay / Sven Lumphammer

Previous work at the New Wolsey Theatre includes: Grandma Saves the Day; Oxy and the Morons; The Who’s Tommy (U.K. tour – Ramps on the Moon); Beauty and the Beast; The Sword in the Stone; Sinbad; Red Riding Hood; Cinderella; Aladdin and Our House (U.K. tour).

ON STAGE ARE:

CAST AND CREW

James Haggie asSimon Clinkerbin / Icicle

Previous work at the New Wolsey Theatre includes: Little Shop of Horrors (New Wolsey Theatre and the Birmingham Rep); Sweet Charity; Mods and Rox; Grandma Saves the Day; Cinderella; Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood, Aladdin.

CAST AND CREW

Natasha Lewis asthe Snow Queen / Primrose

Previous work at the New Wolsey Theatre includes: The Who's Tommy (U.K. tour – Ramps on the Moon); The Threepenny Opera (West Yorkshire Playhouse/Nottingham Playhouse/the Birmingham Rep/New Wolsey Theatre/Graeae); Our House - The Madness Musical (U.K. tour); A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.

CREATIVESWriter / Director – Peter RoweSet & Costume Designer – Barney GeorgeMusical Director – Ben GoddardChoreographer – Francesca Jaynes Lighting Designer – David Phillips for CORE Production ServicesSound Designer – James CookVideo Designer – Peter Hazelwood Digital Consultant – Green Spark: Event & Video Production

PRODUCTIONProduction Manager – David Phillips for CORE Production ServicesDeputy Production Manager – Lewis Moore for CORE Production ServicesCompany Stage Manager – Laura Hammond / Ellie RandallWardrobe Supervisor – Margaret LockWardrobe Assistant – Mandy SmithLighting Programmer – Tom MullinerMaster Carpenter / Set Builder – Giles KingScenic Artists - Claire Winfield / Katie Skeys

ACCESSAudio Describer – Michael Achtman Audio Description Operator – Mae MunuoBSL Interpreter – Caroline SmithCaptioning Operator – Nathanael Penhallow

OPERATIONSound No. 1 (Live) – Simon Deacon Sound No. 2 (Digital) – James CookLighting Operator – David PhillipsFollow Spot Operators – Jack Goodwin / Crystal GayleStage / Traps Crew – Matt Ramsey / Ben AgerTechnical Stage Manager – Lewis MoorePuppeteer – David Watson

LIVESTREAMVideo Mixer – Callum MacdonaldDigital Support – Peter HazelwoodRight Auditorium Camera – Vicky PhillipsLeft Auditorium Camera – Giles KingOnstage Camera – Dave GardenerPTZ Operator - Adam ClarkOutside Broadcast Operator – Yasmin Turner

SUPPORTED BYCORE Production Services / Crosslight and Sound / Green Spark: Event & Video Production / Warehouse Digital

THANK YOU!We’ve managed to give away at least 400 free tickets for The Snow Queen to local carers as part of our Carers’ Big Night In, to thank them for the amazing work they have done and will continue to do, particularly this year.

Thanks to your donations, we’ve managed to offer even more free tickets than we originally planned, allowing us to share our panto more widely. Any remaining funds from donations to the Carers’ Big Night In will help us to continue our work in the community with similar initiatives.

As a registered charity, donations greatly help us in the running of the company, especially at the moment. If you feel you’d like to make a donation to the New Wolsey Theatre, you can do so here: www.wolseytheatre.co.uk/donations/Thank you for your generosity.

It is important to take care of yourself. Suffolk Family Carers offer a wealth of support and advice.Visit their website at suffolkfamilycarers.orgor call 01473 835477 for more information.

WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO:Lorna GarsideSteamboat CreativeMatthew LinleyGreen Spark: Event & Video ProductionDigital-4Paul McghieEmma Free and Simon DawsGipping Construction LtdMike KwasniakMiss S Darroch for additional musical arrangementsSuffolk Public Health

BOARD OF DIRECTORSAshley Bowdler, Sarah Collins, Sara Corcoran, Cathy Frost, Matt Harrison, Kimberly Hurd, David Hutchinson, Richard Lister (Chairman), Louise Rogers, Sophie Woolley, Charlotte Wormstone, Andy Yacoub

Sarah Holmes – Chief Executive

ARTISTICPeter Rowe – Artistic DirectorJamie Beddard – Agent for Change

ARTISTIC ASSOCIATESChina Plate, Zoe Svensden

ADMINISTRATIONMatthew Linley – Capital Projects DirectorDavid Watson – Head of OperationsKlyde Robinson – Finance ManagerLucy Parker – Operations ManagerSophie Flack – Programme ManagerJulie French – Administration OfficerSuzanne Simpson – Finance OfficerTerri Winwood – Finance Officer

FACILITIESNeil Daines – Facilities ManagerKeith Mickleburgh – CleanerScott Mickleburgh – Cleaner

CREATIVE COMMUNITIESTony Casement – Head of Creative CommunitiesRachel Fitzgerald – Creative Communities ManagerSian Thomas – Creative Communities Producer

CREATIVE ASSISTANTSSophy Annison, Ellie Duggan-Matthews, Noah Seeley

FREELANCE PRACTITIONERSHelen Baggett, Harry Bowen, Andra Chelcea, Natassa DeParis, Jessica Foulger, Lorna Garside, Jack Lang, Joe Leat, Aidan Napier, David Norton, Emily Salter, Kirsty Tallent

PRODUCTIONPeter Hazelwood – Head of Production Matt Ramsey – Senior Technician Dave Gardener – Senior Technician Nathanael Penhallow – Theatre Technician Vicky Phillips – Theatre TechnicianGiles King – Theatre Technician

PRODUCTION CASUAL STAFFBen Ager, Ben Ashton, James Aleksic, Shaun Emmerson, Kevin Fuller, Lorna Garside, Crystal Gayle, Nathan Godding, Jack Goodwin, Bradley Hardman, Oakey Hand, Callum Macdonald, Charlie Shephard, James Smith, Danuta Tarbard, Jonathan Terry, Kira Tisbury, Yasmin Turner

COMMUNICATIONSSue Lawther-Brown – Head of Communications Daniel Emmens – Sales ManagerKatharine Allerton – Marketing OfficerLucy Mellamphy – Assistant Relationship Manager Elliott Wilshier – Communications Consultant

ACCESS INFORMATION:Both online and live versions of The Snow Queen will be captioned and audio described (please note the only performance for which captioning will not be available is the livestream of the 7:00pm show on Wednesday 23 December).This show on Wednesday 23 December at 7:00pm will be interpreted in British Sign Language for audiences both in the theatre and at home.We are also working on a Relaxed Experience of the show. To find out more about this, please email tickets@wolseytheatre.co.uk

Terms and Conditions:INFORMATION WAS CORRECT AT THE TIME OF PUBLISHING BUT WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE ALTERATIONS WHERE NECESSARY. PLEASE VISIT THE WEBSITE WHICH ALWAYS CONTAINS THE MOST UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

The New Wolsey Theatre Team:

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