Worldwide musical phenomenon comes to Suffolk this summer
The worldwide musical phenomenon, Hadestown, is coming to Suffolk for the first time ever in a brand-new production from local theatre company, The Gallery Players.
Opening at The Gallery Studio in July, the blockbuster show is directed by Wade Ablitt and will feature exciting staging, a live on-stage band, and an entirely teenage cast.
The story…
Originally written by American singer-songwriter and playwright, Anaïs Mitchell, for Broadway and the Westend, the modern folk opera takes you on an unforgettable journey to the underworld and back, intertwining two ancient Greek mythic love stories – that of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and that of King Hades and his wife Persephone.
With a rollicking folk and New Orlean jazz-infused score, it’s about hope, love, faith and the belief that people keep trying even when they know the world can break their hearts.
Talking ahead of the show’s debut, Wade Ablitt says: “This is a very exciting production for us. The show is currently on in the West End but we have been granted exclusive rights to be able to bring it to Ipswich for the very first time. It's an enormous worldwide hit, playing both London and Broadway currently, so this is a real coup for us.
“On top of this, for the first time in the company's history, we have cast the show entirely with teenage performers, and we have been thrilled to have found 14 incredibly talented young people who are tackling this difficult show with great maturity and passion. It's thrilling to be able to offer such an exciting and unique opportunity to the talented young people in the area.”
The Gallery Players is an award-winning community theatre company based at the Gallery Studio Theatre in Ipswich. Founded in 1985 by director Pat Taplin, the company built its reputation by staging ambitious, lesser-known plays and musicals often overlooked by larger theatre groups. From the beginning, the company focused on intelligent, progressive productions, nurturing both experienced performers and emerging local talent while maintaining strong ties with schools and the wider Suffolk arts community.
Over the years, The Gallery Players have become especially respected for their adventurous musical theatre programming, including productions of complex Stephen Sondheim works and regional premieres of acclaimed contemporary musicals - just like Hadestown.
Hadestown is at The Gallery Studio, Ipswich from 22 July to 1 August 2026.
FOR SHOW DETAILS AND BOOKING LINK, CLICK HERE