Zelly's picks: Five Ipswich events not to miss this month

This month brings an eclectic mix of theatre, dance and live music to Ipswich, with everything from a dance world premiere, intimate live music and climate protest to deep-space horror and psychedelic pop.

Here are my five arts highlights for October.

1. Femina | Ekleido at DanceEast

Friday, 9th October

Opening my October highlights is Femina, a world premiere from choreographic duo Ekleido at DanceEast.

Inspired by historian Janina Ramirez’s writing on women and LGBTQIA+ people whose influence has been written out of medieval history, Femina explores feminine power, visibility and the fight to be heard.

Choreographers Hannah Ekholm and Faye Stoeser bring together contemporary, club and street dance in a six-dancer production. An original electronic score from Floating Points, Ela Minus and Stella Mozgawa makes this sound as much a musical experience as a choreographic one.

DanceEast continues to programme work that stretches expectations of what contemporary dance can look and sound like, and Femina feels like another great example.

• Where: Jerwood DanceHouse, DanceEast, Foundry Lane
• Tickets: From £14

2. Fire Fire at Eastern Angles

Saturday, 10th October

Climate activism, class and unlikely alliances collide in Fire Fire, John Webber’s new play arriving at Eastern Angles as part of its East of England tour.

The story begins when climate activist Paige closes a road near the country park where Eddie is holding a memorial for his brother. Their first encounter is predictably combustible, but repeated meetings reveal that beneath their opposing perspectives the pair may have more common ground than either expects.

What particularly interests me is the decision to explore climate protest through class as well as environmental politics. Rather than simply asking whether direct action is justified, Fire Fire places two people with very different lived experiences at the centre of the debate and asks what might happen when anger gives way to understanding and, ultimately, collaboration.

• Where: The Studio @ Eastern Angles, Gatacre Road 
• Tickets: From £14

3. Tom McRae at The Church

Friday, 16th October

For something more intimate, Mercury Prize-nominated singer-songwriter Tom McRae comes to The Church as part of Brighten The Corners’ autumn programme.

Following a full-band tour celebrating 25 years since his acclaimed debut album, McRae is stripping things back for a career-spanning solo show combining songs and storytelling.

Across ten albums, he has built a devoted following around thoughtful songwriting spanning folk, alternative and indie influences. In the atmospheric surroundings of The Church, this feels particularly suited to listeners who like gigs where the stories between the songs are almost as important as the music itself.

• Where: The Church, St Stephens Lane
• Tickets: From £26.64

4. The Void at The New Wolsey Theatre

Friday, 23rd – Saturday, 24th October

Just in time for Halloween, the New Wolsey heads eight million miles from Earth for Thunder Road Theatre’s sci-fi horror The Void.

Space ranger Flint responds to a mysterious distress call from the Odyssey, an ageing research vessel where the crew has disappeared and something deadly appears to have been left behind.

Combining theatrical illusion and atmospheric projection with themes of artificial intelligence, memory and fear, The Void sounds like an intriguing meeting point between theatre and cinematic science fiction.

I’m always interested in productions that use stagecraft to tackle genres we more readily associate with film and television. Creating the isolation and scale of deep space inside a theatre is an ambitious proposition – which is precisely why this one has caught my attention.

• Where: New Wolsey Theatre, Civic Drive
• Tickets: From £15

5. Hollow Hand with Mega Bog (Solo) at The Smokehouse

Thursday, 29th October

I’m ending October at one of Ipswich’s most intimate live music venues, The Smokehouse, for Brighton-based psych-pop project Hollow Hand.

Hollow Hand is the work of Max Kinghorn-Mills, whose music moves between psychedelic pop, folk-rock, jangling guitars and 1960s-inspired melodies. His 2023 album Your Own Adventure attracted acclaim across the music press, while recent years have seen him tour with artists including MJ Lenderman and Willie J Healey.

With new music on the way and Mega Bog appearing in support with a solo set, this feels like a chance to catch distinctive independent artists in exactly the kind of small venue where discoveries are often at their best.

• Where: The Smokehouse, South Street
• Tickets: From £13.60

October once again shows just how much variety can be found across Ipswich’s cultural venues. Which one will you be heading to?

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