Accessible Archives - Page 2 of 6

Caroline: A New Musical

Caroline dreams of something more than stacking shelves at the local greengrocers. Her days are routine, but her nights come alive, walking the pier, sharing laughs with her best friend Mary, and spinning records with Robbie, her music-mad boyfriend who’s big on charm yet short on direction.

But a music revolution is coming, and Robbie lands a shock gig with Radio Caroline – the pirate radio station blasting pop, soul and rock ’n’ roll from a ship off the Essex coast and suddenly everything changes. Caroline is swept into a tidal wave of music, mayhem and a movement that would shake up British culture forever.

Set to a soundtrack of iconic hits from the 60s, Caroline is a vibrant, heart-warming and rebellious new musical about love, ambition and discovering your own voice.

She’s not a DJ. She’s not a rock star. But in the middle of Britain’s radio revolution, Caroline might just steal the show.

Attend our FREE pre-show Director’s Talk on Thu 7 May at 6.30pm. Book your space here.

Caroline: A New Musical is produced by the East Anglian Touring Consortium. It is penned by the award-winning writer Vikki Stone and Directed by Douglas Rintoul (Chief Executive/Artistic Director at the New Wolsey Theatre) and Alex Thorpe (Co-Creative Director at Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch).

Essex local Vikki Stone says “It has been a delight to develop Caroline, a bold, loud, and joyfully defiant show which celebrates the rich cultural history of the East Anglia”

Douglas Rintoul adds “As someone who also grew up in the area, I’m thrilled that we’re bringing this extraordinary story home. We are committed to creating high-quality, original theatre made by and for the people of East Anglia and what better story to tell than one that’s so deeply rooted in our region’s rebellious, creative spirit? Caroline celebrates the mavericks who changed the airwaves forever, blending wit, heart, and a glorious soundtrack that defined a generation. Audiences can expect an uplifting, joyful, and distinctly East Anglian story told with all the energy, humour, and humanity that defines our actor-musician work.”

The East Anglian Touring Consortium unites eight leading regional arts organisations from across East Anglia: Eastern Angles, HighTide, Landmark Theatres (New Theatre Peterborough), Mercury Theatre Colchester, New Wolsey Theatre, Norwich Theatre, Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch, and Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds. Their mission is to create a sustainable, inclusive model for midscale touring, producing original theatre that champions local talent and reaches under-served communities. Supported by Arts Council England, it aims to strengthen East Anglia’s creative economy, expand access to the arts, and set a national example for collaborative, environmentally responsible theatre-making.

Caroline was developed with the support of the National Theatre’s Generate programme.

Director’s Talk – Di and Viv and Rose

This is a FREE pre-show event.

Book your tickets to the main show here.

Frankie Goes to Bollywood

After a smash-hit UK tour, Frankie Goes to Bollywood returns—bigger, bolder, and bursting with Bollywood glamour.

This dazzling musical comedy-drama dives deep into the glitzy, high-pressure world of Indian cinema, where dreams are mass-produced, identities are reshaped, and women are expected to smile and play by the script written for them.

At the centre of it all is Frankie, a young British woman with little interest in fame. But her quiet suburban life is turned upside down as she is thrust into a world of dazzling lights, choreographed perfection and media obsession. Frankie must decide: Can she become a star without losing who she really is?

What must she give up to succeed in a man’s world—and what is she willing to fight for?

With show-stopping choreography, lavish costumes, and a cast of unforgettable characters, Frankie Goes to Bollywood is a bold, uplifting story of ambition, transformation, and the power of telling your own story.

Featuring original Bollywood songs by hit composer Harry Anand, this is Rifco Theatre Company’s most ambitious production yet—a celebration of love, identity and courage, packed with joy, drama, and spectacular entertainment.

Whether you’re a fan of musicals, Bollywood films, or powerful British stories, this is one night at the theatre you won’t want to miss.

Perfect Show For Rachel – Q&A Session

This is a FREE after-show Q&A for Perfect Show For Rachel.

Rachel is a theatre-loving, enigmatic, learning-disabled 35 year-old who loves Kylie, heckling her sister, and seeing people falling over. At the touch of a button she commands the action, each scene brought to life by a skilled cast ready for whatever she asks of them. From bar room brawls to a bourbon biscuit cabaret – get ready, this is Rachel’s Perfect Show.

Buy tickets for the main show here.

Perfect Show For Rachel

Meet the O’Mahony sisters. Flo is an award winning theatre director. Rachel is an enigmatic, learning-disabled 35 year-old who loves Kylie and seeing people fall over. So they decided to create Rachel’s perfect show: fast paced, funny, and different every night.

Expect physical comedy, live music, home movies, dancing and a lot of Rachel soaking her sister with a watergun in this critically acclaimed, award winning show. As Rachel creates the show on her own terms every night, the cast have to be ready for anything – including fart jokes, becoming singing biscuits, bar room brawls and being fired on the spot. This is “An absolute joy to watch” (A Youngish Perspective).

★★★★★ “Why can’t more theatre be like this? Open, relaxed, fun and full of love” The Guardian

★★★★ “Bright, funny, musical, silly… try not beaming” in The Times

★★★★ “a joyous celebration of theatre without the rules” The Stage

★★★★★ “A theatrical experience like no other” Broadway World

★★★★★ “An absolute joy to watch” A Young-ish Perspective

★★★★ “Glows with a kind of truthfullness most productions only gesture towards” Live Art Live

A short series of excerpts from a blog piece on a rehearsal of the show by Meg Fozzard:

“The tech desk, where Rachel sits when she arrives, has been custom made for her. There’s almost 50 buttons with pictures on them. It links to a computer. “It’s all very Wizard of Oz” says Rachel Sampley, the Lead Technical Designer. Flo has discussed with me before the importance of this desk. They were going to have someone else controlling the tech desk under Rachel’s direction, but then that wouldn’t be Perfect Show for Rachel…
Then a piece is choreographed along to ‘Who’s Got the Bag (21st June)’ by The Streets. If you’re wondering how this fits in with the themes of Perfect Show for Rachel, apparently Rachel finds it really funny when things go missing. One of the performers, Folarin, is at the front of the stage and pretends to be a news broadcaster- “We interrupt this broadcast with breaking news…”. Bags are flying through the air as the garage track blares, then everyone moves in slow mo as the track slows down…
Here’s what I was able to jot down about the first 10 minutes before I gave up and just watched and enjoyed it: ‘The game’- only rachel knows the rules, Flo gets sent out/off stage, ‘Human bowling’- the cast are pins, Flo sings Soul Sister, one of their favourite songs to sing with Rachel, ‘Rachel goes on holiday’- on the screen and narrated by Flo we hear about how, during lockdown, the family weren’t able to see Rachel for a long time because of the restrictions and when they were lifted they went on their first family holiday together in Devon”
Read the full article here

Perfect Show for Rachel was developed with Rachel, to create a show on her own terms. It explores who defines artistic taste, and questions who that currently excludes. Created by Zoo Co Theatre, a multi award-winning company creating theatre that loudly champions access. Zoo Co won the Oxford Samuel Beckett Theatre Trust Award in 2022. Created in collaboration with Improbable, a pioneering company of improvisers and theatre-makers who have been making ground-breaking work for the past 25 years. Proud winners of Producer of the Year at The Stage Awards 2023.

Book your place at the free post-show Q&A on Fri 6 Feb.

Want to know more about the show? See the Perfect Show for Rachel Introduction Notes

Parental guidance recommended. Under 14s must be accompanied by an adult.

Di and Viv and Rose – Touch Tour

Jack and the Beanstalk – Touch Tour

Di and Viv and Rose

A Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch and Theatre by the Lake production

Back in the 80s, Di, Viv and Rose are university housemates. Energetic and idealistic, they become friends – but where will life take them after that?

Filled with the iconic culture, fashion and music of the 80s, 90s and Noughties, Di and Viv and Rose follows these three women through the messy complexity of adulthood, in a must-see celebration of the power of lifelong friendship.

Candid and full of humour, Di, Viv and Rose talk about sex, ambition and love – sharing joyful moments, painful experiences, and some surprising secrets.

★★★★★ “The perfect show for a group of friends.” What’s Good to Do

★★★★ “A cracking night out at the theatre.” Northern Arts Review

★★★★ “You feel you have known these characters, thanks to the great performances.” North West End UK

Di and Viv and Rose is written by actor-writer Amelia Bullmore, best known for her portrayal of Steph Barnes in Coronation Street and more recently Riot Women (2025), Happy Valley (2016) and Scott & Bailey (2011). The original production of Di and Viv and Rose transferred to the West End after a sell-out run at Hampstead Theatre.

Don’t forget to attend our FREE Director’s Talk on Fri 17 Oct at 6.30pm – click here to book.

The Singing Mermaid

Did you ever go to Silversands
On a sunny summer’s day?
Then perhaps you saw the mermaid
Who sang in the deep blue bay

One day, the singing mermaid is tempted away from all of her sea creature friends and her peaceful home at Silversands to join a travelling circus. The audiences love to hear her sing, but the poor mermaid was tricked! Instead of the swimming pool she was promised, she is kept in a small tank by the wicked circus master Sam Sly, and she soon longs to return to the freedom of the sea.

Will she ever escape? And who will help her along the way?

Through beautiful puppetry and performance, and with music by Barb Jungr (We’re Going On A Bear Hunt, The Pixie and the Pudding, The Smartest Giant in Town, There May be a Castle), Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks’s enormously popular story, The Singing Mermaid, is brought to life.

The Singing Mermaid by Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks is adapted for the stage by Barb Jungr and Samantha Lane with music and songs by Barb Jungr.

Age recommendation 3-8 yrs.

Surinderella Touch Tour

Before Audio Described performances, we offer a free Touch Tour.

This is a guided tour that will allow you to experience the stage and set up close while exploring and touching set pieces, props and costumes.

Please book onto the touch tour when booking your tickets for Surinderella as spaces are limited. If you have any mobility difficulties, please make us aware prior to the performance.