About Us

Our Patron

Clare Presland, Suffolk-born opera singer and “proud Suffolk gal” is Irving Stage Company’s first patron – we are so pleased to have her with us and grateful for all her support.

Would you like to come and join us? We’d love to meet you! If you would like to audition, all the information will be on the appropriate show pages. We always want to hear from anyone who would like to help out on our invaluable backstage and supporting teams – email [email protected] and we will get back to you.

ISC’s future programme – now including our 2025 season announcement:

Rehearsals are under way for Stepping Out – a heartwarming British comedy (complete with tap dancing) by Richard Harris, on sale now and opening on 7 May.

  • 7 to 11 May 2024 – Stepping Out – by Richard Harris – see the Home Page for more information
  • 5 to 9 November 2024  – Guys and Dolls – based on the story by Damon Runyon, music and lyrics by Frank Loesser, book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows – audition dates now added to Guys and Dolls show page
  • Spring 2025 – A Murder is Announced by Agatha Christie – Miss Marple tries to find a killer in the  sleepy English village of Chipping Cleghorn
  • Autumn 2025 – Monty Python’s Spamalot – Book and Lyrics by Eric Idle, Music by John DuPrez and Eric Idle – the award-winning musical “lovingly ripped off” from the motion picture Monty Python and the Holy Grail
The Irving Stage Company is one of the oldest theatre groups in Suffolk and celebrates its 65th anniversary in 2024. It was formed in 1959 as The Irving Club by a group of enthusiasts anxious to present high quality theatre. We now perform primarily at the Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds – the country’s only surviving working Regency playhouse, which marked its 200th anniversary in 2019.

Our History

Paving the way for success...

Since 1959 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 where it still stages up to three productions a year. In 2019 we celebrated our Diamond Anniversary.

The company played a major role in supporting the restoration of the Theatre Royal both during the 1960s and the recent tremendously successful project of 2005-2007.

Priding itself on presenting a wide range of musicals and plays, the theatre group gives opportunities to those who have done it for many years (the oldest member being in his 80s) as well as those who have never trod the boards before.

Our Goals

A diverse range of productions

The Irving Stage Company has a uniquely strong tradition of regularly performing plays, musicals, and fundraising events.

We try and be diverse with our production choices and welcome feedback on these from our membership and audiences. We are also always interested to hear suggestions for future productions so please get in touch with the committee if you think you know of a musical or play that you can see the Irving Stage Company doing well! You can look at a list of the shows that we have performed on our ‘Past Productions’ page.

Recent years have seen us perform musicals including Hello, Dolly!, Me and My Girl, Company, My Fair Lady, Chess and Hairspray, to name but a few.

Plays have included Murder on the Nile and The Unexpected Guest, both by Agatha Christie, Season’s Greetings by Alan Ayckbourn, the stage version of the popular TV comedy ‘Allo ‘Allo, The Crucible by Arthur Miller and A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams.

 

The Committee

Artistic Director – Sian Couture

Committee 2023/2024

Chairman Julie Merrick

Finance Officer Sian Couture

Business Manager Darian Vomund

Secretary Christian Jenner

Elizabeth William

Julia Foulsham

Simon Spence

Elected at the Annual General Meeting held 6 June 2023