Why it matters: The free livestream marks a 'birthday gift' to the community as the theatre celebrates 25 years of its award-winning and iconic Rock'n'Roll pantomimes, while ensuring those unable to visit in person can still experience the show.
The details: Ipswich residents can book free tickets through the New Wolsey Theatre website to watch both final performances from home at 14:00 and 19:00. The Rock'n'Roll pantomime, written by Vikki Stone, opened in December and has been playing to packed houses since.
The show features magical adventure, pantomime comedy and rock and pop hits performed live by the cast. Running time is two hours and 20 minutes including an interval, with the 14:00 performance captioned for accessibility.
What they're saying: Douglas Rintoul, chief executive and artistic director of New Wolsey Theatre, said: "Ipswich has backed our Rock 'n' Roll panto for 25 years, and this free livestream is our way of saying thank you. Being as open as possible is what we believe in, and this is a practical way of putting that belief into action - going further to make sure brilliant live performance and our iconic offering is accessible to as many people in Ipswich as possible."
For context: The livestream was originally introduced during the pandemic to keep audiences connected, but has since evolved into an essential element of the theatre's access provision, offering a cultural lifeline for those unable to visit the venue in person.
The bottom line: After 25 years of community support, New Wolsey Theatre is thanking Ipswich residents with free access to its sold-out pantomime finale, while furthering its accessibility work.
