Theatre to support homeless people in local area

Ipswich Regent Theatre will ask for donations for ihAg (Ipswich Housing Action Group)

A theatre is aiming to make a difference by encouraging audiences to help homeless people during a run of a new show.

Ipswich Regent Theatre will welcome West End show Come From Away from 2-6 July that centres around the real life story of a Canadian community welcoming grounded passengers during 9/11.

The theatre, which is owned by the local council, will ask audiences to donate items for homeless people.

Gavin Fisk, assistant director of housing and communities at Ipswich Borough Council, hoped people would be "inspired" to "help support homeless people" in the town.

Come From Away tells the real life story of 7,000 plane passengers who were grounded and then welcomed by the Newfoundland town of Gander.

Audience members are asked to donate canned food, dry food like noodles and porridge oats, toiletries, clothing and water bottles.

Items would be passed to the council's housing partner, the charity ihAg (Ipswich Housing Action Group).

"If everybody coming to one of these shows can bring just one item each to donate this will make a huge difference over the five-night run of this show," added Hannah Leys, assistant director of operations at the council.