The New Wolsey Theatre has put out a reminder that the crowdfunding campaign for their forthcoming FA Cup show Our Blue Heaven ends in two days’ time. In a recent update on the Our Blue Heaven website they expressed their hopes of pushing through the £10,000 mark before the campaign closes.
"Our Blue Heaven is a musical production celebrating the 40th anniversary of Town’s 1978 FA Cup win based on fans’ stories and memories, which were collected and collated by Liz Edwards, on behalf of the Supporters Club and ITFC Heritage Project, for the New Wolsey Theatre. Artistic director Peter Rowe has woven many of them into his script.
The stories will also be used as part of the ITFC Heritage Project with a number featuring in the matchday programme as the anniversary date, 6th May 2018, gets nearer. At a recent home game several of the stories were used as part of a heritage display in the FanZone.
The musical production opens next May just a few days before the actual anniversary of the Cup win, which falls on the same day as the Blues’ last home game of the season against Middlesbrough, and will run for around three and a half weeks.
To support the financing of the production the New Wolsey Theatre is currently inviting fans, businesses and organisations to get involved and offer their support.
Sponsorship packages are available via crowdfunding site Indiegogo with the theatre having created 12 levels of pledge packages, each named after one of the players who started the final and manager Bobby Robson, from a £5 donation for the Cooper package to a £10,000 contribution for the Robson.
Each package includes gifts such as premium tickets to the show, limited edition prints and signed memorabilia from the 1978 team.
At the fundraising launch, Peter Rowe, the artistic director of the New Wolsey Theatre and the writer of Our Blue Heaven, said: "2018 will mark 40 years since Ipswich Town’s historic FA Cup victory - a moment when Ipswich united to celebrate success as the underdog became victorious.
"We are working to commemorate this anniversary by producing a brand new musical production, using the stories and memories of the people of Ipswich and Suffolk at the time.
"The production is planned to open at the theatre exactly 40 years on from the Wembley final and will really be a show drawn from the local community, for the local community.
"This production can only happen with your support. Help us to relight that fire and ignite the town in celebration again, 40 years on from Ipswich Town’s historic FA Cup victory!”
For more details on the sponsorship packages, visit the Our Blue Heaven Indiegogo page.
Those unable to support the production through the fundraising campaign are being encouraged to use their enthusiasm for the production and spread the word — talk to family, friends, colleagues about Our Blue Heaven — tell them how they can get involved. If they would like to get involved then tell them about the website.
Ticket details will be available in the next month or so when the spring programme is announced.