Happy Families

Written and directed by the Chainers Youth Theatre

“I don’t blame her for abandoning us, but I don’t know why she did.”

HAPPY FAMILIES is a new historical play by The Chainers Youth Theatre, telling the life of Emma Hawes, a Victorian woman trying to get by in poverty stricken Ipswich.

Emma’s daughter, Mary, voices how unsure she is about attending her mother’s funeral. While listening to often contradictory and downright ridiculous tales delivered by her family and friends, she discovers that despite being surrounded by calamity, Emma might not have been as bad as she thought.

This exciting take on local heritage explores how people were, and still are, quick to judge those who have fallen on hard times. The play takes its historical storytelling to the extreme, with a cast of colourful characters and unique styles of storytelling.

This piece has been written, directed, and performed by The Chainers Youth Theatre, and follows their previous success with Outcast, which they performed to sell out audiences last year.

Dates & Times

Sat 29th April | 7 pm

Sun 30th April | 1:30 pm | 4:30 pm

Ticket Prices

Full Price: £12 | Concession: £5*

Photos and reviews from their previous show, Outcast

“It was creative, thoughtful, imaginative and talented”

Grapevine, Hayley Clapperton

“funny, thought provoking, surprisingly relevant and poignant.”

Audience member

“absolutely fantastic! this group of young actors keep on getting better and better.”

Audience member