Skip to main contentEnter
Join 7,200+ people who care about this town
Ipswich.co.uk logoSupport our work
News

Suffolk radio history preserved through new play by visually impaired actors

Oral histories from Radio Orwell 257 have inspired "Living On Air", a new production featuring twelve actors living with sight loss.

The big picture: Suffolk-based performing arts company Cohere Arts has developed the play through its visually impaired drama company High Spirits, following research conducted with Suffolk Archives.

Living on Air
Living on Air(Cohere Arts)

The details: Living On Air draws audiences into the world of Radio Bardwell, a fictitious local radio station serving the Suffolk community, described as "an absurd romp through local radio and the sexual politics of the 1970s".

Behind the scenes: Last year, the cast collected oral histories through community story-collecting events at Ipswich venues, capturing recollections from former listeners, presenters and employees of Radio Orwell 257.

What they're saying: Emma Bernard, writer and director of Living On Air, reflected: "The 1970s was an exciting era for local radio, and it has been so wonderful to be able to draw on people's experiences of Ipswich's beloved Radio Orwell when making this play. However, any similarities with our Radio Bardwell are purely coincidental!"

For your diary: Performances will be held at the Sir John Mills Theatre in Ipswich from Saturday, 12 April to Sunday, 13 April.

Accessibility focus: All performances will be fully accessible, with BSL interpretation and integrated audio description.

The background: The play was developed with funding from Arts Council England and The National Heritage Lottery Fund, with support from New Wolsey Theatre and Eastern Angles.

The bottom line: "Living On Air" offers a unique opportunity to experience local history through inclusive theatre, with tickets available at easternangles.co.uk/event/living-on-air.

You can read it for free thanks to the generous support of Lanman Solar and PLMR Genesis

Despite a lack of promotion, the big reveal drew a good crowd of passersby

We're regenerating Ipswich – but we can't do it without you!

People tell us every day that our work matters – that it's making Ipswich better; that it's needed. But our work costs money, and unlike the Ipswich Star, we're not funded by national advertisers or owned by corporate US overlords. For just £4.75 a month, you can help fund our mission to restore pride of place and accelerate the much-needed regeneration of the town we call home.
Become a member →

In other news...

News

Revolution Ipswich among 62 bars facing closure threat

Revolution Ipswich could close after its parent company moved towards administration, putting more than 3,000 jobs at risk nationwide, though bosses say they are in advanced talks to sell the business.
by
Continue reading →
News

Sizewell B seeks £800m extension to secure around 600 jobs to 2055

EDF Energy announced it is seeking government backing for an £800m investment to extend Sizewell B's operations by 20 years beyond its planned 2035 closure, that would secure around 600 permanent jobs in Suffolk until 2055.
by
Continue reading →
News

Charity football tournament calls on businesses for Suffolk Mind

Commercial cleaning firm Vivo Clean has launched its first-ever charity five-a-side football tournament to help bring Ipswich businesses together for mental health support and raise vital funds for Suffolk Mind.
by
Continue reading →
News

NHS seeks views on future of Suffolk community health services

The NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board has launched a major engagement exercise asking residents how £100 million worth of community health services should be delivered over the next decade.
by
Continue reading →
News

How the Post Office scandal is being told on stage in Ipswich

A new play based on the Post Office scandal, which saw sub-postmasters wrongly accused of theft due to faulty Horizon software, arrives at the New Wolsey Theatre next month, bringing the story to life through the experience of Barkham sub-postmistress Pam Stubbs.
by
Continue reading →
News

Mid Suffolk Business Exhibition returns in March

Stowmarket Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual Mid Suffolk Business Exhibition on Wednesday, 25 March 2026, at The Barn, Stonham Barns.
by
Continue reading →
News

Babergh backs Ipswich culture bid as county shows united front

Babergh District Council has become the latest authority to throw its weight behind Ipswich's City of Culture campaign, with councillors unanimously agreeing to give "wholehearted" support to the bid that will benefit the "whole county."
by
Continue reading →
Load more content
Our journalism is free thanks to
Our journalism is free thanks to
Want our best content delivered to your inbox every Friday?

Have you subscribed to our free weekly newsletter?

If you haven’t, you really should. You’ll get our best content delivered to your inbox every Friday afternoon, just in time for the weekend. You can unsubscribe at any time, although 99.7% of people don’t.

  • Lee Walker
  • Joe Bailey of Brighten the Corners
  • Mark Hubert
7,260+ people are already loving it