Theatre News

Madness musical Our House revived for UK tour

Award-winning musical Our House, based on the songs of 80s chart-toppers Madness, is being revived for a new actor-musician production at the New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich.

The show, which premiered in 2002 and won and Olivier Award for Best New Musical, is written by Tim Firth, whose subsequent credits include hit film comedies Calendar Girls and Kinky Boots (both of which have been adapted for the stage).

The new production opens in Ipswich on 24 September 2013 (previews from 12 September) before touring to venues nationwide.

The cast will be led by Alexis Gerred as Joe Casey, Daniella Bowen as Sarah, Sean Needham as Joe’s Dad, Rebecca Bainbridge as Kath Casey, Alex Spinney as Lewis, James Haggie as Emmo, Dominique Planter as Angie, Lloyd Gorman as Reecey and Steve Dorsett as Mr Pressman.

It will also feature Edward Handoll, Dan McGowan, Sophie Byrne and Nicole Bryan, with additional musicians Joey Hickman, Al Twist and Adam Longstaff.

Directed by Peter Rowe, choreography is by Francesca Jaynes and musical direction by Dai Watts. Set and costume design is by Mark Walters, with lighting design by Ben Cracknell, sound design by Simon Deacon and video design by Will Dukes and Mike Higgs. Casting is by Debbie O’Brien.

New Wolsey chief executive Sarah Holmes said of the revival: “It’s incredibly exciting to take Our House on tour and to showcase work created in Ipswich at venues up and down the country. The combination of Tim Firth’s sharp dialogue and well-loved Madness songs is irresistible and we believe the actor-musician treatment will take it into another dimension.”

It’s the first time the venue has toured a musical on this scale, she added.

Featuring a string of Madness hits, Our House centres on teenager Joe Casey, who treats his girlfriend Sarah to an evening in a brand new luxury apartment to celebrate his 16th birthday. But there’s just one problem; he has to break in.

When the police turn up Joe has to decide – run away, or face the music – a choice that will change the course of his life, and his love, forever.

After its run in Ipswich Our House will visit: Nottingham Theatre Royal (8-12 October), Edinburgh Festival Theatre (15-19 October), Bath Theatre Royal (21-26 October), Coventry Belgrade Theatre (28 October-2 November), Brighton Theatre Royal (4-9 November) and Plymouth Theatre Royal (18-23 November).