A CONTROVERSIAL musical depicting the Ipswich murders has raised �3,000 for a drug rehabilitation organisation in the town.

The production, entitled ‘London Road’, attracted controversy earlier this year after the National Theatre announced plans to stage it at one of its venues.

Steve Wright was jailed for life after being found guilty of murdering Gemma Adams, Tania Nicol, Anneli Alderton, Paula Clennell, and Annette Nicholls, in 2006.

London Road, the Ipswich street in which Steve Wright lived, is based on material written by Alecky Blythe.

London Road audiences have donated around �3,000 so far from the collections at the end of the performances, all of which will go to the Iceni Project.

A spokeswoman for the theatre said: “Alecky Blythe got to know about Iceni while researching the play. She conducted interviews, which feature in the show, with some of the girls in recovery there.”

“Having witnessed the brilliant and vital help Iceni offers, she was very sorry to learn that its funding is under threat due to the cuts. She and the creative team and company hope that the collections which take place after every performance will help Iceni to continue its valuable work in Ipswich.”.

Co-founder of the charity Brian Tobin, who watched the play two seats away from Hollywood legend Dustin Hoffman, who donated �20, said the money raised would be used for an extreme hardship fund to make sure it benefits those most in need.

“The gesture of collecting for Iceni is morally right, whatever you think of the play. The money will be spent on the most vulnerable people in Ipswich, it is the least we can do.”

The cast includes Rosalie Craig, Kate Fleetwood, Nick Holder, Claire Moore, Michael Shaeffer and Paul Thornley.

Established in 1999, Iceni is a community based addiction treatment centre with a national reputation for excellence.