Entertainment writer Wayne Savage looks at what’s on the stages of the region’s theatres

East Anglian Daily Times: Into the WoodsInto the Woods (Image: Archant)

NEW WOLSEY THEATRE/STUDIO, IPSWICH

East Anglian Daily Times: In Health and In SicknessIn Health and In Sickness (Image: Archant)

Little Women - The Broadway Musical, Appeal Theatre Group, to June 22: Based on Louisa May Alcott’s own family experiences and novel, follow the adventures of Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy March as they grow up in Civil War America complete with song and dance.

East Anglian Daily Times: Stuff in the AtticStuff in the Attic (Image: Archant)

Into The Woods, The Gallery Players, June 26-29: Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s multi-award winning musical combines the fairytales of Cinderella, Rapunzel, Jack and the Beanstalk and Little Red Riding Hood with the story of a Baker and his Wife who desperately want a child.

East Anglian Daily Times: Romeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet (Image: Archant)

SIR JOHN MILLS THEATRE, IPSWICH

Stuff In The Attic, Common Ground Theatre Company, June 28-29: Dick’s dad has died and his older brother, Julian, has come over from the US for the funeral. Dick has put his life on hold to care for his father in his last years while Julian left to pursue a glittering career. A look at the complexity of sibling relationships. Part of IP-art. Visit our online pages for a full, web gallery breakdown on this year’s festival.

CHRISTCHURCH PARK MANSION LAWN

Romeo and Juliet, Heartbreak Productions, June 25: Shakespeare’s tale of two young star-crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately reconcile their feuding families. Part of Ip-art.

JERWOOD DANCEHOUSE, IPSWICH

High Voltage, DanceEast Performance Groups, June 29-30: Annual celebration of dance from across the East of England by DanceEast’s very best youth and adult community performance groups and guests.

SNAPE MALTINGS

The Royal Ballet and Royal Ballet Flanders - Britten Dances, to June 21: Part of the Aldeburgh Festival, this is a centenary celebration through dance of composer Benjamin Britten, taking place at the festival he founded. Co-commissioned for the Britten centenary by DanceEast, The Royal Ballet, Royal Ballet Flanders and Aldeburgh Music, the programme features new works inspired by him.

THE GUILDHALL, BURY ST EDMUNDS

Murder on The Second Floor, Bring Out Your Dead Productions, June 27-29: It’s the roaring 1920s and Mrs Armitage’s delightfully middle-class boarding house is plunged into mayhem when the charmingly shy playwright Hugh Bromilow attempts to win the heart of his beloved Sylvia with Murder, Suicide and Dope Trafficking in this daft thriller.

QUAY THEATRE, SUDBURY

In Health and In Sickness - The History of The Bartlet, by Suzanne Hawkes, Black and White Productions, June 23: A dramatic and musical journey across the rise and demise of community hospitals in Suffolk, focusing on The Bartlet in Felixstowe, through the eyes of those involved as patients, health care practitioners or protesters. It’s also at Waldringfield Village Hall, June 25; St Mary’s Hall, Woodbridge, June 26-27; Jubilee Hall, Aldeburgh, June 28; Orwell Hotel, Felixstowe, July 2; New Wolsey Studio, Ipswich, July 3-5.

Murdered to Death, by Peter Gordon, Coggeshall Amateur Theatre Society, June 27-28: Bungling Inspector Pratt battles against the odds and his own incompetence to solve a series of murders at a country house in this crime spoof.

DEBENHAM COMMUNITY CENTRE

Allo Allo, Debenham Players, to June 22: Written by the writers of the popular TV series Jeremy Lloyd & David Croft.

THEATRE ROYAL, NORWICH

Rising Damp, Comedy Theatre Company, to June 22: Directed by Don Warrington, who starred in the original TV sit-com, Rupert Rigsby is landlord of arguably the seediest, most run-down boarding house England has to offer. His unlucky tenants include the object of his affection Miss Jones and Alan and Philip who are the focus and foil of the majority of Rigsby’s many prejudices.

CAMBRIDGE ARTS THEATRE

Dreamboats and Petticoats, Bill Kenwright Presents, to June 22: Inspired by the smash hit multi-million selling albums, it’s 1961 and emotions run high as young musicians Norman and Bobby compete to win a national song writing competition and, more importantly, the attention of the gorgeous Sue. But when Bobby discovers shy Laura is no slouch on the piano, love and rock ‘n’ roll fame beckons.

Birdsong, June 24-29: Based on the bestselling novel by Sebastian Faulks, young Englishman Stephen Wraysford clings to the memory of his affair with Isabelle Azaire as he leads his men through the carnage of the Battle of the Somme.

MERCURY THEATRE, COLCHESTER

A Game of Golf, by Alan Ayckbourn, A Mercury Theatre Made in Colchester Production, to June 22: Farcical comings and goings on a golf course leave Miles up to his neck in a bunker trying to figure out whether to give his marriage one last shot.

A Pageant, by Alan Ayckbourn, to June 22: A battle between Sylvie and Celia over who’s going to play Boudicca at the village fete forces Toby to make a life-changing choice between love and art.

The Country Wife, by William Wycherley, Colchester Institute final year extended diploma (acting) students, to June 21: Newly arrived in town with his wife Margery, Jack Pinchwife is jealous and strains to keep his innocent spouse away from Horner’s clutches. She, however, is desperate to savour all the pleasures of the big city.

Around the World in 80ish Minutes, June 26-29: A villainous plot forces the youngsters of Colchester Scouting and Guiding to save the day.

OLD COURT THEATRE, CHELMSFORD

Frost/Nixon, by Peter Morgan, June 25-29: When President Nixon resigns after Watergate, every newspaper, publisher and TV network wants to get his side of the story. Unexpectedly it’s British chat show host David Frost who gets the deal signed, but will he be able to give Nixon the trial he never had?

THE CUT, HALESWORTH

Birdhouse, Jammy Voo, June 28: Mrs Smith, Ms Schiffer, Miss Spoke, Miss Shire; sole survivors of the attack by Hitchcock’s birds. Taking refuge in the Coronet Cinema, they live in a permanent state of post-traumatic shock in this surreal comedy horror.

FISHER THEATRE, BUNGAY

Anne of Green Gables, Fisher Youth Theatre Group, to June 22: The stage play by Sylvia Ashby, adapted from the novel by Lucy Montgomery, orphan Anne is an unusual child adopted by the stern Marilla and her gentle brother Matthew Cuthbert - but she’s not what they expected.

101 Dalmations, Fisher Youth Theatre Group, June 27-29: Adapted and reworked from the Dodie Smith novel by Laila Choat with new music, there’s bungling henchmen, an evil villain and more in this comedy caper.

SEAGULL THEATRE, LOWESTOFT

The Insect House, by Shirley Day, Mustard Theatre Company, June 21: Gareth’s childhood should have been idyllic but his mother’s neglect led to a series of events that have haunted him. At 16 he left. Thirty years later he returns home and begins to question the events that sent him into exile in this psychological thriller.

Gary and May, by Milly Finch and Matthew Phillips, June 22: It’s 1975 and Gary and May are finally hitting the big time, but this is where the trouble begins. There’s a question and answer session afterwards.

Faliantology, June 28: Jacques and Albert are trapped in a strange sub-basement of reality, charged with running dull maintenance and administration tasks for the entirety of existence. But they have an escape plan.

MARINA THEATRE, LOWESTOFT

Oliver!, Lowestoft Players, June 25-29: Lionel Bart’s iconic musical featuring songs like As Long As He Needs Me to I’d Do Anything.

MARCH TOWN HALL

Ours Was The Fen Country, June 26: Rural tour of a piece of dance theatre conjured from captured conversations with people of the fens in East Anglia. It’s also at Chatteris Midsummer Festival on June 27.

Staging a show? Email the details to event@archant.co.uk