A flagship London theatre has defended a controversial new show about the five murders committed by a former Norwich pub landlord.

The National Theatre said London Road, a documentary musical about the killing of five sex workers in Ipswich in 2006, would 'not be sensationalist in any way'.

Steve Wright, 48, who used to run the Ferry Boat pub in Norwich, was jailed for life after being found guilty of murdering Gemma Adams, 25, Tania Nicol, 19, Anneli Alderton, 24, Paula Clennell, 24, and Annette Nicholls, 29. They were found near Ipswich over a 10-day period in 2006.

Wright, who was born in West Beckham, Norfolk, took over as landlord of the Ferry Boat Inn in Norwich in 1988. The pub had been a haunt for prostitutes, but is now closed and being transformed into a hostel for backpackers.

A spokesman for the National Theatre said: 'It's certainly not sensationalist in any way. It's a very serious look at the effect on a community of this kind of tragic event.

'Alecky Blythe spent a lot of time in Ipswich and obviously spoke to the residents, to members of the press and the people who found themselves caught up in this tragic event.'

James Duell, 63, father of Tania Nicol, said: 'There's no good being upset about it, my thoughts are what happened, happened.

'People will do what they want to do, you can't put a hold on these things.

'If I did get involved it would only be an upsetting experience for me.

'Everyone's different, some of the families might be offended. I know the other families I met in court were nice, placid people and not war-like at all.

'I'm not going to go rushing down to London. If it's offensive I might be thinking otherwise.

'The main thing for me is the truth is being portrayed.'

The show, which will open on April 14, comes less than a year after a three-part drama entitled Five Daughters screened on BBC1.

London Road, the Ipswich street in which Steve Wright lived, is based on material written by Alecky Blythe. It will be directed Rufus Norris. The cast includes Rosalie Craig, Kate Fleetwood, Nick Holder, Claire Moore, Michael Shaeffer and Paul Thornley.