Sean Kingsley, Rob Jarvis and Janet Fullerlove in rehearsal for Oxy & the Morons at the New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich. Pictures: Mike Kwasniak
Rehearsals have begun for the New Wolsey Theatre’s new actor-musician production Oxy and the Morons which is due to play the Ipswich venue from 12 to 21 October.
Directed by the New Wolsey’s artistic director Peter Rowe, the new musical was written by Mike Peters and Steve Allan Jones from the rock band The Alarm and Paul Sirett whose previous works include the Ian Dury and the Blockheads’ inspired Reasons To Be Cheerful.
The cast includes Rob Jarvis (BBC’s Hustle, and Call the Midwife, with film credits including Transformers 5, A Streetcat Named Bob and David Brent: A Life on the Road); and actor-musicians Adam Langstaff (Sinbad, Beauty and the Beast) and Sean Kingsley (The Sword in the Stone, Sleeping Beauty).
Also appearing in the production will be: John Hasler (Timon in The Lion King, UK tour); Mark Newnham (Young John Lennon in Lennon, Royal Court, Liverpool; Steve Marriott in All or Nothing, The Vaults, London); Molly-Grace Cutler, making her professional debut; Matthew Durkan (The History Boys, UK tour); Janet Fullerlove (Fiddler On the Roof, Grange Park Opera/BBC Proms; Shakespeare in Love, Noel Coward Theatre); and David Rubin (Woyzeck, The Old Vic; People, Places and Things, Wyndham Theatre).
With a creative team that also includes designer Frankie Bradshaw, musical director Ben Goddard, lighting designer David Phillips, sound designer James Cook and fight director Bret Yount, the lively tale follows the fortunes of Andy who, following a shock diagnosis, decides to re-live his 1970s glory days by re-forming his band Oxy & The Morons.
As part of the show’s world premiere run – on Saturday 14 and the press night of Tuesday 17 October – the theatre will host Love Hope Strength Foundation – a rock‘n’roll cancer charity founded by Peters which is dedicated to raising awareness of and recruiting people to the Bone Marrow Donor List.
With the support of some of the biggest names in music including: Robert Plant, The Levellers and Texas, Love Hope Strength Foundation has found more than 100 lifesaving matches in the UK alone. Audiences members will be invited to register to become a bone marrow donor with just a quick cheek swab and a form.
The performance on Thursday 19 October will be British Sign Language interpreted and captioned, and will also feature a post-show talk. The matinee performance on Saturday 21 October will be audio described via a headset with a ‘touch tour’ at 1:30pm.
Angela Thomas
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