OUR HOUSE Begins National Tour; Opens at New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich Tonight

Inspired by the music of Madness, the Olivier Award-winning musical OUR HOUSE will begin a National Tour in a brand new actor-musician production at the New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich tonight 12 September 2013 (press night Tuesday 24 September). Full listings below.

It's Joe Casey's 16th birthday and tonight he's treating his girlfriend Sarah to an evening in a brand new luxury apartment. 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. Inspired by the music of Madness and written by Tim Firth, this raucous musical comedy is an uplifting tale of life and love, heartbreak and hilarity set in London's famous Camden Town in the mid-80's, and featuring the greatest hits from the mighty Madness back catalogue including Our House, Baggy Trousers, My Girl, Driving in My Car, The Wings of a Dove, Night Boat to Cairo and the all-time classic It Must Be Love.

The actor-musician cast features 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. The cast also includes Edward Handoll, Dan McGowan, Sophie Byrne and Nicole Bryan, with additional musicians Joey Hickman, Al Twist and Adam Longstaff.

Alexis Gerred's West End credits include Bobby in Dreamboats and Petticoats at The Playhouse Theatre and Dirty White Boy in Dirty White Boy: Tales of Soho at Trafalgar Studios. Alexis also came second in the BBC's Eurovision talent searchYour Country Needs You. Daniella Bowen's recent stage work includes Janey in Taboo at Brixton Clubhouse, understudy Dyanne in Million Dollar Quartet at the Noel Coward Theatre, Laura in Dreamboats and Petticoats at The Playhouse Theatre and understudy Sally Bowles in the UK Tour of Cabaret. Sean Needham's recent West End credits include covering the roles of Bill, Sam and Harry in Mamma Mia! at the Prince of Wales Theatre, cover Wizard and Dr. Dillamond in Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre and Norman Petty in Buddy, The Buddy Holly Story at the Duchess Theatre.Rebecca Bainbridge most recently understudied the role of Tanya in Mamma Mia! at the Novello Theatre. Other stage credits include Nurse Flinn in One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest at Leicester Curve, understudy Sally Bowles in Cabaret at the Lyric Theatre and Des'ree in the UK Tour of Tonight's The Night. Alex Spinney makes his professional debut in Our House having recently graduated from the Royal Academy of Music. James Haggie has appeared as Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors at the Birmingham Rep and New Wolsey Theatre Ipswich, Joe in the UK Tour of Fame and in The Taming of the Shrew, Aladdin, Robin Hood and Cinderella at Clwyd Theatr Cymru. Dominique Planter joins the cast of Our Househaving recently graduated from the Arts University Bournemouth. Lloyd Gorman has recently appeared in Faust atGreenwich Theatre, Saturday Night at the Arts Theatre, and in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Sweeney Todd, Romeo and Juliet and David Copperfield at the Bolton Octagon Theatre. Steve Dorsett's stage credits include Soul Man at the Stephen Joseph Theatre and The Big Bopper in the UK Tour of Buddy, The Buddy Holly Story.

Madness are one of the most successful British bands of the last five decades, having releasing ten studio albums, three live albums and nine compilation albums since their formation in 1976. In the 1980's Madness spent 214 weeks in the UK singles charts, sharing the record with UB40 for the most weeks spent by a group in the UK Singles Charts throughout the decade. More recently Madness have given several iconic performances; at the Queen's Diamond Jubilee concert from the roof of Buckingham Palace, at the Closing Ceremony of the London Olympic Games, and outside the BBC Television Centre in a live broadcast for BBC Four to mark the closure of the building. Over 30 years after its release, Madness are still perhaps best known for their international hit Our House, which won an Ivor Novello Award.

Our House, Winner of the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical, is written by Tim Firth. His work includes the record-breaking film "Calendar Girls" starring Helen Mirren and Julie Walters, which he later adapted for the stage, and the 2005 film "Kinky Boots" which is now a Tony Award-winning Broadway musical.

OUR HOUSE is produced by the New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich, a regional theatre with a national reputation for the quality, range and reach of its work and for embracing cultural diversity in the widest sense. The theatre is central to the creative life of Suffolk and seeks to expand the horizons of audiences and artists by presenting a programme designed to entertain, enrich and challenge. The theatre is acknowledged as a leading player in the development of new musicals including the World Premieres of It's A Wonderful Life, 20th Century Boy and Mods and Rox, and through its touring co-productions is gaining recognition on a national scale for work including Miss Nightingale - The Burlesque Musical and Philip Pullman's I Was A Rat.

Sarah Holmes, New Wolsey Chief Executive said today: "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. This is the first time that the New Wolsey Theatre has toured a production of this size and we cannot wait to bring Our House to your town!"

OUR HOUSE is written by Tim Firth, with music and lyrics by Madness. It is directed by Peter Rowe, with choreography 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.

For more information, visit: www.ourhouseuktour.co.uk

2013 UK TOUR

THURSDAY 12 SEPTEMBER - SATURDAY 5 OCTOBER

NEW WOLSEY THEATRE, IPSWICH
Box Office 01473 295 900 | www.wolseytheatre.co.uk
ON SALE NOW

TUESDAY 8 - SATURDAY 12 OCTOBER 2013

NOTTINGHAM THEATRE ROYAL
Box Office 0115 989 5555 | www.trch.co.uk

ON SALE NOW

TUESDAY 15 - SATURDAY 19 OCTOBER 2013

EDINBURGH FESTIVAL THEATRE
Box Office 0131 529 6000 | www.edtheatres.com

ON SALE NOW

MONDAY 21 - SATURDAY 26 OCTOBER 2013

BATH THEATRE ROYAL
Box Office 01225 448844 | www.theatreroyal.org.uk
ON SALE NOW

MONDAY 28 OCTOBER - SATURDAY 2 NOVEMBER 2013

COVENTRY BELGRADE THEATRE
Box Office 024 7655 3055 | www.belgrade.co.uk
ON SALE NOW

MONDAY 4 - SATURDAY 9 NOVEMBER 2013

BRIGHTON THEATRE ROYAL
Box Office 0844 871 7650 | www.atgtickets.com/theatre-royal-brighton
ON SALE NOW

MONDAY 18 - SATURDAY 23 NOVEMBER 2013

PLYMOUTH THEATRE ROYAL
Box Office 01752 267222 | www.theatreroyal.com
ON SALE SOON