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A major milestone has been marked in the redevelopment of a historic east coast theatre.

Press Release from Lowestoft Town Council, dated 23rd April 2025

A major milestone has been marked in the redevelopment of a historic east coast theatre.

The vision for a £3m revamp of the Marina Theatre in Lowestoft is gathering pace with the demolition phase nearing completion.

Lowestoft Town Council, the Marina Theatre Trust and East Suffolk Council said significant progress had been made in its ongoing upgrade works.

Ongoing works at the Marina Theatre in Lowestoft. Picture: Mick Howes. It will see a new theatre entrance created within a new link building between the existing Victorian theatre and the more modern existing box office.

The new link building will incorporate a lift – giving access for all visitors to all floors of the theatre – new toilets and a relocated and expanded box office facility.

Ground works have now been finished, paving the way for the installation of a steel-reinforced cage for the new lift, which will enhance accessibility for all theatre users.

With works ongoing, a temporary front of house area has been created alongside a temporary buggy store to ensure minimal disruption.

The Marina Theatre and its café remains open for business as usual in Lowestoft. Picture: 

The Marina Theatre and its café remains open for business as usual during this time.

The mayor of Lowestoft and town councillor Nasima Begum, said: “It is great to hear that the works on the Marina Theatre are progressing well.

“We appreciate the community’s support and patience as we work with the Marina Theatre Trust and East Suffolk to improve the facilities.”

Sam Vallerius, General Manager of the Marina Theatre said: “We would like to thank our loyal customers who have been so understanding and patient on their visits to us.

“We look forward to seeing the works progress as we move towards a closure period in the middle of June.”

Cllr Sarah Whitelock, East Suffolk Council’s cabinet member for Communities, Culture, Leisure and Tourism said: “These improvements have been funded through Lowestoft’s £24.9m allocation from the Government’s Towns Fund, secured by East Suffolk Council and we are pleased to see them move towards the next stage.”

The Marina Theatre Project is a Lowestoft Town Council scheme, in partnership with the Marina Theatre Trust and East Suffolk Council, with funding from UK Government’s Towns Fund.

It is owned by the town council.

 

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Seann Walsh to headline May’s Marina Comedy Club

With Seann Walsh, James Ellis, Toussaint Douglass and hosted by Chris Brooker!

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.

Described as ‘the best observational comedian of his generation’ (The Guardian), this Edinburgh Award nominee’s last UK tour show After This One, I’m Going Home ended with standing ovations around the country. Seann has starred in Netflix’s Flinch, I’m A Celebrity, Live at the Apollo, Tonight at the London Palladium, Celebrity Juice, The Stand Up Sketch Show, Virtually Famous, 8 Out of 10 Cats, Chatty Man and Stand Up Central.

Seann can also be heard on his regular podcast What’s Upset You Now? alongside co-host Paul McCaffrey, which sees them both moan for exactly 15 minutes about the things that infuriate everyone.

You can catch Seann on YouTube in his latest stand-up special Kiss. Recorded live at The Bill Murray pub, Seann recounts living through the centre of a media storm in his distinctively shambolic, intense and energetic trademark style.

Not just one of the country’s funniest stand-up comedians, Seann can be seen acting in Jack Dee’s ITV sitcom Bad Move where he plays audience favourite, Grizzo.

Seann also performs stand-up comedy in America and has appeared on Conan. His DVD, Seann to Be Wild, was recorded at Hammersmith Apollo.

Opening the show is award-winning comic James Ellis! 

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.

 

Leicester Comedian of The Year 2025 Nominee, South Coast Comedian of the Year 2021, regional finalist for the BBC New Comedy Award, James is currently on the road supporting Angela Barnes on her “Angst” Tour. Ellis is a “Talented comedy craftsman” (Steve Bennett, Chortle) with a bright future ahead of him. If you’re looking for a good laugh on a night out, be sure to catch James live!

 

With multi-talented award-winning comedian and writer, Toussaint Douglass! Toussaint is one of comedy’s most exciting and talked about names and is making serious waves across the industry. Harnessing his neurodivergence his innovative brand of oddball comedy mixes the personal with the political whilst adding a uniquely absurdist slant to brilliant comic effect making it accessible for all.

 

Toussaint’s social media green screen creations and guerilla documentary-style clips consistently capture the attention of the best in the industry and catapult him to the top of everyone’s must-have list, rewarding him with appearances on Comedians Giving Lectures (Dave), The Stand Up Sketch Show (ITVX), Late Night Mash (Dave), Richard Osman’s House of Games (BBC), Outsiders (Dave) and many many more!

 

In 2025, Toussaint made his hotly anticipated Edinburgh Festival Fringe debut with a critically acclaimed hour of stand-up that blended the surreal, the heartfelt, and the pigeon-obsessed. The show earned him a Best Newcomer nomination at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards, a NextUp Biggest Award in Comedy nomination, and a place on the ISH Edinburgh Comedy Awards Longlist. Hailed by the New York Times as one of the “must-watch” shows of the festival, the show sold out its entire run, prompted an added extra performance, and due to overwhelming demand, led to an additional week being added to his Soho Theatre run. His debut firmly cemented him as one of the most original and exciting new voices in UK comedy. 

 

Hosted by the Manchester-based funnyman Chris Brooker!

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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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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.