The company was founded in 1959 as the Irving Club by a group of enthusiasts anxious to present high quality theatre in West Suffolk. Since then the company has established a fine record for classical and contemporary theatre in the region. The Irving Youth Company was founded in 1986 and merged with the main company several years later. The company continues to provide young actors with the opportunity to work in the Theatre Royal. The company played a major role in supporting the restoration of the Theatre Royal both during the I960s and the recent tremendously successful project of 2005-7.
The Irving Stage Company has a uniquely strong tradition of regularly performing both Plays, Musicals, One Act Plays and Revues. We are celebrating our 50th anniversary this year as we formed in 1959. Our first play was performed at the Tollgate Primary School in that year – Jean Anouilh’s 1932 romp Thieves’ Carnival. Our first musical was performed in 1963, once again at Tollgate – Julian Slade’s Salad Days. Throughout our history we have performed challenging pieces such as Cabaret, One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, Godspell, The Crucible, The Boyfriend, Stepping Out and Sweeney Todd to name but a few.
Our recent performance of Chess - The Musical was received with much critical acclaim and marked the company's celebrations on entering its 50th year.
Our programme this year, 2010, has been announced. We begin the year with the classic musical - Guys and Dolls. July sees us undertake a new venture - Shakespeare at the Cathedral - with our first performance being an outdoor performance of Romeo and Juliet. October sees us welcome back Shawn Peart to direct A Streetcar Named Desire.
Once again, welcome to our website and I hope that you may be tempted to join us, one of the fastest growing amateur theatre companies in West Suffolk.
Mark Jefferson - Chairman
