There’s an Aladdin’s cave of treasures in the huge Ipswich warehouse that is home to the Co-op Juniors Theatre Company and their Theatre Academy.  Along with five dance studios, each floor is packed with thousands of costumes, props and sets, most hand-made for specific productions and events, and available to hire. From Shrek and Oliver! to Beauty and The Beast and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, the choice is virtually limitless.  

On a recent visit to their workshop, it was a hive of activity for two Co-op Juniors productions, Moana Jr and RENT, staged at the Seckford and New Wolsey Theatres.  Carpenters and scenic artists were all busy, creating a two-way magic mirror for a props hire alongside huge steel girders and windows for a New Wolsey Theatre set. New sustainable techniques for construction means that the ‘steel’ is actually made out of specialist cardboard panels - no wonder their hire business is called Scenery Magic!

The production expertise of Co-op Juniors Theatre Productions extends beyond hire, as last year they were commissioned to design, produce and install the sets and props for the National Trust’s immersive winter programme at Ickworth House, near Bury St Edmunds.

Explains technical director Alan Ayres, “We worked with Dave Borthwick Design to develop ideas for the National Trust team, following their creative brief.  Then we built and painted everything in our workshops before our team of eight specialists installed it at Ickworth House.”

Working in a historic building required an extra level of attention to detail, with a huge sailing ship in the entrance hall complete with mast and sails, snow-covered alps at the back of the hall, the ruins of Rome in the spectacular domed Rotunda Room, a flavour of Venice and even a Bavarian tavern. This summer, the team produced a suspended ‘flight’ of 200 period letters stretching into the distance from a table in the entrance hall. 

Alan Ayres added, “It’s imagination and creativity, combined with the design and technical expertise to deliver what any client wants, whether it’s a particular costume, a specific hand-made prop, a complete set, or a revolving stage. We can build to order or hire from our stock, working with schools, colleges and theatre companies all over East Anglia and further afield.”

The organisation is run by volunteers, supporting the development of young people in musical theatre, dance and drama.  The hire and construction business is run on a commercial basis to generate revenue, with a team of costume and props specialists to hire, make or source anything for a theatre show or event.  

The Co-op Juniors studios have also hosted international theatre company Gecko for the development of a new show for the National Theatre and for film companies needing a large space.  Recently, a major new production destined for China used three of the studio spaces to develop and rehearse an immersive show to be performed on a converted ship in dry-dock! 

For more information: scenerymagic.co.uk. or call 01473 212181

For tickets to RENT School Edition: wolseytheatre.co.uk or call 01473 295900