Advertisement

Our Blue Heaven

The New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich hopes to celebrate the legendary Ipswich FA Cup win of 1978, with Our Blue Heaven – a musical production timed for the 40th Anniversary in May 2018 – but they need your help!

Today, in the week of the 39th anniversary of that win, the theatre has launched the Our Blue Heaven website, where you can leave your details to register your interest in supporting the project and find out more about how plans develop over the coming months. They will officially launch the fundraising campaign on Tue 12 September 2017, and hope to raise enough funds to make the production a reality!

Peter Rowe, Artistic Director of the New Wolsey Theatre and Writer of Our Blue Heaven has said:

Advertisement
horn factory

“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. But, this production can only happen with your support. Help us to re-light that fire and ignite the town in celebration again 40 years on from Ipswich Town’s historic FA Cup Victory!”

As part of the creation of the show, the Theatre is asking for stories from those who were caught up in the events of 1978, whether they attended the match or not, from the third round victory in Cardiff in January to the final in May, and the euphoria of the Victory Parade. Stories that are funny or quirky, co-incidences and twists of fate, the scramble for tickets, the making of banners, trips to Bristol, Millwall, or Highbury for the Semi; and even if you were not a fan or supporter but got caught up somehow in the events of that Spring, the theatre would be delighted to hear from you.

Ipswich Town Supporters Club is co-ordinating the collection of these reminiscences which will also be used as part of the ITFC Heritage Project, and by the East Anglian Daily Times for a commemorative publication.

Elizabeth Edwards from Ipswich Town Supporters Club has said:

‘Our Blue Heaven provides a chance for one of ITFC’s greatest achievements to be immortalised on stage. It is not just about what happened on the pitch, on the day of the final though – we are looking for fans to provide their stories of the whole cup run, that wonderful 4-month period of our lives when Town worked their way through to Wembley glory from the midwinter 3rd round. We have already received lots of tales – but we could do with many more.’

Send your stories directly to the Supporter’s Club, including your phone contact details, to fa_cup78@btinternet.com using the subject line ‘FA Cup Memory’.

Visit the website and sign up to hear more about how you can be part of this landmark event for Ipswich at www.ourblueheaven.co.uk.  Follow all the latest updates on Facebook/OurBlueHeaven and on Twitter @OurBlueHeaven78

register online
sign in
faq

Advertisement

editors picks
Grapevine Magazine