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Ipswich murders film shows how street of terror has regained its pride Ipswich murders film shows how street of terror has regained its pride
(5 days later)
When real-life drama reaches the cinema screen, the telling truths and minor details of the story can get lost in translation. But for the Ipswich residents who witnessed an extraordinary terror on their street almost 10 years ago, watching the actors who play them in a new film will be uniquely strange. Their exact words, down to each hesitation and repetition, have been faithfully recreated.When real-life drama reaches the cinema screen, the telling truths and minor details of the story can get lost in translation. But for the Ipswich residents who witnessed an extraordinary terror on their street almost 10 years ago, watching the actors who play them in a new film will be uniquely strange. Their exact words, down to each hesitation and repetition, have been faithfully recreated.
London Road, a musical directed by the National Theatre’s Rufus Norris and starring Olivia Colman, Tom Hardy and Anita Dobson, is to premiere in cinemas across Britain on Tuesday, yet the production stands as a radical departure from the usual process of creating a screenplay. The film is constructed from the verbatim accounts of residents of the town’s former red-light district, the neighbours at the centre of the investigation into the murders of five prostitutes in 2006. Tania Nicol, Gemma Adams, Anneli Alderton, Annette Nicholl and Paula Clennell were all killed in a chilling succession of attacks that finally led to the arrest of Steve Wright, who became known as the Suffolk Strangler.London Road, a musical directed by the National Theatre’s Rufus Norris and starring Olivia Colman, Tom Hardy and Anita Dobson, is to premiere in cinemas across Britain on Tuesday, yet the production stands as a radical departure from the usual process of creating a screenplay. The film is constructed from the verbatim accounts of residents of the town’s former red-light district, the neighbours at the centre of the investigation into the murders of five prostitutes in 2006. Tania Nicol, Gemma Adams, Anneli Alderton, Annette Nicholl and Paula Clennell were all killed in a chilling succession of attacks that finally led to the arrest of Steve Wright, who became known as the Suffolk Strangler.
Related: London Road review – gripping, macabre verbatim musical about real-life serial murders
Eighty-one-year-old Ron Alder, who still lives on London Road, is portrayed in the film and was moved last week when he saw a special preview. “The thing that really struck me was when my late wife, Rosie, half-appeared on the screen,” he told the Observer. “She is speaking as she leaves a room and you hear her. I know it was the voice of an actress, but it is what she said. That stopped me in my tracks, because I can remember it well.”Eighty-one-year-old Ron Alder, who still lives on London Road, is portrayed in the film and was moved last week when he saw a special preview. “The thing that really struck me was when my late wife, Rosie, half-appeared on the screen,” he told the Observer. “She is speaking as she leaves a room and you hear her. I know it was the voice of an actress, but it is what she said. That stopped me in my tracks, because I can remember it well.”
The interviews were put together by Alecky Blythe and are punctuated by songs composed by Adam Cork, who also uses words drawn from the tapes made by Blythe on London Road, inside the homes of participating residents.The interviews were put together by Alecky Blythe and are punctuated by songs composed by Adam Cork, who also uses words drawn from the tapes made by Blythe on London Road, inside the homes of participating residents.
“It was an awful thing at the time and I thought the film was a good reflection of it all,” said Alder, a former engineer. “We moved here 12 years ago and when a new neighbour first told me it was the red-light district I thought he was joking. Rosie and I didn’t go out much in the evening, so we didn’t see it. After I had been propositioned a couple of times, I began to wonder.”“It was an awful thing at the time and I thought the film was a good reflection of it all,” said Alder, a former engineer. “We moved here 12 years ago and when a new neighbour first told me it was the red-light district I thought he was joking. Rosie and I didn’t go out much in the evening, so we didn’t see it. After I had been propositioned a couple of times, I began to wonder.”
The film, like the highly acclaimed stage musical it is based on, tells of the impact of the murders on the street. An enforced confrontation with the cruelty of the killings and the hard lives of the women working outside their front doors brought about a sea-change in the behaviour of the residents. Neighbours began to speak to each other and it created a fresh sense of community that survives to this day.The film, like the highly acclaimed stage musical it is based on, tells of the impact of the murders on the street. An enforced confrontation with the cruelty of the killings and the hard lives of the women working outside their front doors brought about a sea-change in the behaviour of the residents. Neighbours began to speak to each other and it created a fresh sense of community that survives to this day.
“The road is quiet and peaceful now,” said Alder. “Before, we used to get cars going round and round all through the night. There is a respect for our area now and no sightings of a sex worker for a long time. The girls who worked here have all been rehabilitated. That is the greatest thing that has happened.”“The road is quiet and peaceful now,” said Alder. “Before, we used to get cars going round and round all through the night. There is a respect for our area now and no sightings of a sex worker for a long time. The girls who worked here have all been rehabilitated. That is the greatest thing that has happened.”
Alder and his neighbours believe in a strong link between looking after a place and looking after its people. He remains, however, mystified by the musical. “The success of the stage show puzzled me,” he said. “I cannot imagine why people are interested and why they would want to see the film. But then, I am one of the ones who said, ‘This is never going to work’ to Alecky at the beginning.”Alder and his neighbours believe in a strong link between looking after a place and looking after its people. He remains, however, mystified by the musical. “The success of the stage show puzzled me,” he said. “I cannot imagine why people are interested and why they would want to see the film. But then, I am one of the ones who said, ‘This is never going to work’ to Alecky at the beginning.”
In the aftermath of the murders, new community action projects – including the inauguration of an annual London Road in Bloom festival, as well as the efforts of Iceni, a tiny charity working with local prostitutes – tackled the problem from several sides. The work of Iceni’s founder, Brian Tobin, was portrayed in an award-winning television drama about the victims, Five Daughters, and is applauded by London Road resident Helen Lawrence, 62, a retired English teacher who is also portrayed in the film.In the aftermath of the murders, new community action projects – including the inauguration of an annual London Road in Bloom festival, as well as the efforts of Iceni, a tiny charity working with local prostitutes – tackled the problem from several sides. The work of Iceni’s founder, Brian Tobin, was portrayed in an award-winning television drama about the victims, Five Daughters, and is applauded by London Road resident Helen Lawrence, 62, a retired English teacher who is also portrayed in the film.
“The film does not dwell on the murders, but on the regeneration of the street,” said Lawrence. “Since those days we have all become good friends. Our London Road in Bloom event is on 4 July this year, followed by a celebration in the evening. We plough that money back into the community.”“The film does not dwell on the murders, but on the regeneration of the street,” said Lawrence. “Since those days we have all become good friends. Our London Road in Bloom event is on 4 July this year, followed by a celebration in the evening. We plough that money back into the community.”
Lawrence’s fear that the prostitutes would simply be moved on to another area proved unfounded. “It is not just that there are no street prostitutes in our road any more, but that around 30 girls were helped. I can’t say it changed the whole of Ipswich, but definitely around here it did.”Lawrence’s fear that the prostitutes would simply be moved on to another area proved unfounded. “It is not just that there are no street prostitutes in our road any more, but that around 30 girls were helped. I can’t say it changed the whole of Ipswich, but definitely around here it did.”
Workers at Iceni confirm that, while there are still prostitutes, chiefly addicts, working in the Suffolk town, far fewer are involved in vulnerable streetwalking.Workers at Iceni confirm that, while there are still prostitutes, chiefly addicts, working in the Suffolk town, far fewer are involved in vulnerable streetwalking.
Lawrence, played by Linzi Hateley in the film, said: “It was a horrible time to go through. It didn’t feel safe to go out. But it has been sensitively handled and is obviously faithful to what we said. There is also a lightness of touch and an element of humour that runs through it. It is uplifting because it is about a group of people fighting adversity.”Lawrence, played by Linzi Hateley in the film, said: “It was a horrible time to go through. It didn’t feel safe to go out. But it has been sensitively handled and is obviously faithful to what we said. There is also a lightness of touch and an element of humour that runs through it. It is uplifting because it is about a group of people fighting adversity.”
Producer Dixie Linder, who worked with Norris on his first film, Broken, said the journey from stage to screen was surprisingly smooth. “One of the biggest challenges was to make it cinematic, and Rufus spent a long time looking for the right street to stand in for London Road. We found one in the London borough of Bexley with gasometers at the end. But we have changed very little. We wanted a more linear story, so we start at the chronological beginning.Producer Dixie Linder, who worked with Norris on his first film, Broken, said the journey from stage to screen was surprisingly smooth. “One of the biggest challenges was to make it cinematic, and Rufus spent a long time looking for the right street to stand in for London Road. We found one in the London borough of Bexley with gasometers at the end. But we have changed very little. We wanted a more linear story, so we start at the chronological beginning.
“The best compliment we had at a screening last week was someone saying they couldn’t imagine how it could be done on stage.”“The best compliment we had at a screening last week was someone saying they couldn’t imagine how it could be done on stage.”
Although the man convicted of the murders is mentioned in the film, he is a long way from the focus of the story. “It is not a film about Wright. It is about society’s macabre obsession with these events,” said Linder.Although the man convicted of the murders is mentioned in the film, he is a long way from the focus of the story. “It is not a film about Wright. It is about society’s macabre obsession with these events,” said Linder.
The National Theatre’s David Sabel agrees: “You do wonder if Wright is aware of the film. But we have never had any contact, because it is a production about the consequences of these terrible events.”The National Theatre’s David Sabel agrees: “You do wonder if Wright is aware of the film. But we have never had any contact, because it is a production about the consequences of these terrible events.”
London Road premieres on Tuesday via NT Live.London Road premieres on Tuesday via NT Live.
CHRONICLE OF CRIMECHRONICLE OF CRIME
2 December 2006 Gemma Adams’s body is found in water in Hintlesham.2 December 2006 Gemma Adams’s body is found in water in Hintlesham.
8 December 2006 A second body, that of Tania Nicol, is found in water in Claydon.8 December 2006 A second body, that of Tania Nicol, is found in water in Claydon.
10 December 2006 Anneli Alderton’s body is found in woodland in Nacton.10 December 2006 Anneli Alderton’s body is found in woodland in Nacton.
12 December 2006 The bodies of Paula Clennell and Annette Nicholls are found in woodland in Levington.12 December 2006 The bodies of Paula Clennell and Annette Nicholls are found in woodland in Levington.
15 December 2006 More than 300 police officers and specialists work on the murder investigation, receiving a total of more than 7,300 telephone calls.15 December 2006 More than 300 police officers and specialists work on the murder investigation, receiving a total of more than 7,300 telephone calls.
18 December 2006 A suspect is arrested by Suffolk police, but later released on bail with no charges brought.18 December 2006 A suspect is arrested by Suffolk police, but later released on bail with no charges brought.
21 December 2006 Another suspect, Steven Gerald James Wright (pictured), is charged with murdering five women.21 December 2006 Another suspect, Steven Gerald James Wright (pictured), is charged with murdering five women.
January 2008 Wright goes on trial for murder at Ipswich crown court.January 2008 Wright goes on trial for murder at Ipswich crown court.
February 2008 After a unanimous guilty verdict, Wright is given a “life means life” sentence for five murders.February 2008 After a unanimous guilty verdict, Wright is given a “life means life” sentence for five murders.
December 2008 Iceni wins Guardian Charity of the Year for its work with Ipswich prostitutes.December 2008 Iceni wins Guardian Charity of the Year for its work with Ipswich prostitutes.
April 2010 Five Daughters, a TV series starring Sarah Lancashire and Jaime Winston, is screened on BBC1, and goes on to win a Royal Television Society Award.April 2010 Five Daughters, a TV series starring Sarah Lancashire and Jaime Winston, is screened on BBC1, and goes on to win a Royal Television Society Award.
April 2011 Alecky Blythe and Adam Cork’s musical, London Road, opens to rave reviews at the National Theatre, directed by Rufus Norris.April 2011 Alecky Blythe and Adam Cork’s musical, London Road, opens to rave reviews at the National Theatre, directed by Rufus Norris.
July 2012 A short National Theatre revival runs for 29 performances.July 2012 A short National Theatre revival runs for 29 performances.
June 2014 The Bristol Old Vic Theatre School performs London Road.June 2014 The Bristol Old Vic Theatre School performs London Road.
June 2015 Norris’s film of London Road is premiered in Britain. June 2015 Norris’s film of London Road is premiered in Britain.