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Simon Evans to headline April Marina Comedy Club

With Simon Evans, James Ellis, Ben Cohen and hosted by John Mann!

Headlining the show is Simon Evans! Simon is one of the UK’s most respected and best loved comedians. Familiar from TV and radio appearances, as well as for his live tour shows and festival appearances,  he has been at the top of his game now for over twenty years yet at this year’s Edinburgh festival was unanimously agreed to only be getting better.

His TV credits include BBC One’s Live at the Apollo, Michael McIntyre’s Roadshow, and a season of Channel 4’s Stand Up for the Week. On BBC Radio 4 his series Simon Evans Goes to Market, has had six seasons, delighting audiences with his witty and insightful take on the comedically unpromising territory of economics, all of which prove among the most popular downloads on the Sounds App. He is also a regular on Radio 4’s The News Quiz, and various other panel games, and from 1998 to 2002 wrote and hosted eight series of the news satire, The Way It Is.

Simon’s live tour shows such as Friendly FireLeashed and most recently Genius 2.0 have sold out theatres around the country and garnered superlative reviews from national and comedy press. Dominic Maxwell described him as “demonically dry”, William Cook as “sublime”, and Chortle as “an evil delight”. At the Edinburgh Festival, Genius 2.0 received the rare and highly coveted ★★★★★ rating from The Scotsman—the reviewer describing it as a “Masterclass”.

He is to date the only comedian to have appeared on both University Challenge: The Professionals (on the Comedians team, narrowly beaten by the eventual winners, The Ministry of Justice!) and Christmas University Challenge, representing his alma mater, Southampton. He also won Celebrity Mastermind in 2012, with his specialist subject being Sir Ernest Shackleton.

Opening the show is award-winning comedian James Ellis, a rising star in the UK comedy scene. His sharp observational humour and clever punchlines have won him rave reviews from critics and audiences alike. James’ comedy is rooted in everyday life, and he has a knack for finding the funny in the mundane. A gifted writer, his jokes are well-crafted and delivered with precision. In 2021, James was named South Coast Comedian of the Year, and was a regional finalist for the BBC New Comedy Award. He is currently on tour supporting Angela Barnes on her “Hot Mess” Tour.

With rising star Ben Cohen! London based stand up, Ben, was New Jewish Comedian finalist in 2018 and Up The Creek’s One to Watch Finalist 2019. He has over 10 Million views on TikTok with his sketch duo, The Lovely Boys. He performs his quirky style of observational comedy in clubs up and down the UK and Europe also taking his act to Israel and LA.

Hosted by legendary local comedian John Mann!

Please note, that while we do our best to ensure that we deliver the published bill, line-ups can be subject to change at short notice.

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Strictly star casts magic on Panto!

Panto cast Announcement: Genie of the Lamp with Latin Magic!

Granting wishes with a touch of Latin and ballroom magic in this year’s Marina Theatre pantomime will be Robin Windsor as he cha cha chas into the role of Genie of the Lamp in Aladdin.

The Strictly Come Dancing professional is in constant global demand having achieved world championship success, prior to partnering Anita Dobson, Patsy Kensit and Deborah Meaden in the popular Saturday night TV programme which made him an instant favourite with viewers. Robin partnered with Lisa Riley in the 2012 series, lifting the glitter ball as Strictly champions!

He started his dance training in Ipswich at the age of three and has gone on to perform and choreograph across the world, including a period in St Lucia as Entertainment Director, Dancing with the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance, both in Australia, headlining Burn the Floor in London’s West End, national tours of Puttin’ on the Ritz, Keep Dancing and Here Come the Boys at the legendary London Palladium.

Robin recently headlined a nationwide tour of Come What May, a high-energy musical extravaganza and received an Honorary Degree from Suffolk University for his services to dance.

Pantomime producer Paul Holman said:

“I’m delighted Robin will be performing in pantomime this December at the Marina Theatre. He has such energy and charisma, he’s perfectly cast as Genie of the Lamp, a role he has performed before in Bridlington and Redditch. Robin has also played Gaston in Beauty and the Beast at the Pavilion in Worthing, so he’ll bring some strictly swagger and attitude to the role too!”

Leading the cast in the title role will be Anthony Sahota.

Anthony Sahota shot to recognition in the BBC talent competition Let it Shine where Gary Barlow auditioned young hopefuls for his stage musical The Band. Making it through to the finals, Anthony’s talent was rewarded with offers of recording contracts, however he took the decision to concentrate on his studies and a degree in engineering was his reward!

Never shaking off the thrill of performing, Anthony was directed by Andrew Lloyd Webber in Whistle Down the Wind, appeared in the Bollywood musical Bring on the Bollywood and spent most of 2022 touring the UK in the David Walliams hit Billionaire Boy  before appearing in the pantomime Aladdin at Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone.

Joining them will be popular returning star, Lowestoft’s favourite Terry Gleed as Wishy Washy and back by popular demand Alexander Lee – who wowed audiences as Fleshcreep in Jack & the Beanstalk, will take up the role of Abanaza. Completing the principle cast actress Mia Longman will play the princess.

Aladdin takes off at the Marina Theatre in Lowestoft from 12 December to 1 January 2024. Book your tickets here.

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News

Flying System Upgrades

Our auditorium will be closed for over six weeks this summer while the flying system over the stage is replaced.

Following surveys and consultation over the last few years, our existing flying system will be removed and replaced with a new, modern system. The fly’s allow for quick and safe re-rigging of stage lamps as well as the ability to hang scenery and backcloths for productions, and maintain a permanent cinema screen which can be flown out of sight during live shows. A new system will allow us to continue this work safely as well as keeping pace with advances in stage technology.

Upgrades for this work are supported by funding from our principle stakeholders, Lowestoft Town Council.

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A Year of Birdsong and Birdsongs

BBC wildlife presenter and London singer bring birdsong show to Suffolk theatre

What happens when a wildlife ranger meets a stage performer birdwatching on the east coast? Well, they create a theatre show inspired by their feathered friends.

Ajay Tegala – the BBC nature presenter, author and ranger – and London singer Anthony Harris, bring their show A Year of Birdsong and Bird Songs to Lowesotft.

With costumes, choreography and a cacophony of calls, birds are nature’s performers, leading dramatic and theatrical lives. The UK is blessed with a changing cast of winged visitors throughout the four seasons.

From our smallest to our tallest, loudest caller to most complicated singer, Ajay passionately shares fascinating facts, anecdotes and admiration for Britain’s birds. From pigeons in the park to seabirds soaring thousands of miles around the globe, the show looks at the lives and songs of our avian actors through the cold winter months and the sunny summer days as they battle to fly, feed and fledge young.

Between the stories, sounds and footage, Anthony warbles his way from classical to opera, folk to pop, choral to show tunes, in celebration of skylarks, nightingales, woodpeckers, owls, geese and even an ugly duckling.

“The show puts the audiences to the test in a fun way, giving knowing nods when they hear the sounds of the familiar birdsong, and a sense of ‘Oh that’s what it is!’ when they discover some of the lesser known calls,” said Ajay who works as a National Trust ranger.

Stepping through the seasons, A Year of Birdsong and Bird Songs navigates the wintry cold landscapes in to the bustling dawn chorus of spring, with Ajay sharing his unique footage.

From his time conserving rare British wildlife, and working on BBC Springwatch and Winterwatch, Ajay has had many weird and wonderful encounters of the feathered kind. Paired with Anthony’s singing – and love for encouraging audience participation – their show will have audiences tapping their feet, listening, learning and larking around!

Marina Theatre, Lowestoft, Suffolk on Friday 9th June at 7.30pm. Book now