Norwich’s Playhouse venue has marked the 30th anniversary of its opening.
The 300-seat venue opened in late 1995 in a now 200-year-old converted riverside maltings, following a campaign led by founder Henry Burke and founding patrons Timothy West and Prunella Scales.
The very first show performed at the Playhouse was Jumpers by Tom Stoppard, and since then the venue has hosted a wide range of theatre, dance, and music shows. It has also carved out a strong reputation for comedy, with early gigs by comedians including Julian Clary, Al Murray, Sarah Millican, Rhod Gilbert, Katherine Ryan, Mo Gilligan, Nina Conti, Miles Jupp, and Russell Howard.
Rising star Tim Minchin was spotted in Edinburgh in 2006 and booked by the Playhouse twice for that autumn on his very first UK tour, and now West End and Broadway musical SIX had its world premiere in 2018 at the Playhouse.
Other notable performances include Sir Ian McKellen’s three sold-out shows during his 80th birthday tour. It was one of only a couple of venues to have three performances, thanks to a Playhouse initiative to gift tickets to those sharing Sir Ian’s birthday year.
The venue is a home for local acts including Temper Theatre, Eastern Angles, Sound Ideas, Threshold Theatre Company, Echo Youth Theatre, Anna Mudeka, The African Choir of Norfolk, John Osborne, Toast Poetry, and comedy duo The Nimmo Twins.
Stephen Fry, a patron from the start, said: “Over these 30 years, the Playhouse has taken its place in theatre history and nurtured so many great performers at the start of their careers and productions at the start of their lives. I am delighted to wish Norwich Playhouse a wonderful 30th birthday, and here’s to the next 30 years.”
For the start of the 30th anniversary celebrations Norwich Theatre chief executive Stephen Crocker was joined by former Playhouse director Caroline Richardson and Rachel Cooper, daughter of theatre founder Henry Burke.
Richardson said: “I loved my 25 years plus at the Playhouse. The Playhouse is a beacon of possibility, surviving early fear of inherited financial fragility, when there just wasn’t enough money in the bank. Supported by City and County Councils, who backed the vision and then joined with Big Brother Royal, with a supportive arm around small sister Playhouse.”
Crocker said: “30 years ago the inspirational Henry Burke had a vision for a brand new mid-scale theatre for Norwich and here began the life of our wonderful Playhouse. Over the years the Playhouse has been championed and supported by so many icons of the theatre world and by the people of Norwich and Norfolk. Thanks to this phenomenal support from so many it is now undoubtedly an icon in its own right and will live on as such for many years to come as part of Norwich Theatre.”
