For Corporate Sponsor Kevin Foley, 2024 is a landmark year as he celebrates his 25th year as a McDonald’s Franchisee with 14 restaurants in and around Norwich. We sat down with the family to find out why the theatre is a family affair in the Foley household.
Family is a theme which echoes through the 14 fast-food restaurants Kevin runs locally, including in Cromer, Wroxham, Great Yarmouth and Norwich. Not only is there a great sense of community but the staff have truly dedicated themselves to the brand. “We have got people working for us that have been with us for the full 25 years. My wife Nikki, my sister, and my son, Lucas now works part-time as well.”
This sense of community extends beyond his restaurants, with Kevin Foley Ltd renewing as a Norwich Theatre corporate sponsor, taking their partnership into its third year and supporting Norwich Theatre’s charitable mission for creative experiences for all. This is something that Kevin firmly believes in: “The reason why I joined as a corporate sponsor is it’s so important to get art and theatre accessible to all of the community.”
Kevin has been connected to the theatre for a long time, with son, Lucas, now 18 years old, even starring in the Norwich Theatre pantomime as a member of the junior ensemble.
“I think that is why I am so passionate about wanting to get involved with Norwich Theatre. Having Lucas in the panto for four years and sitting in the audience and feeling pride in watching your child on stage and now being able to offer opportunities for other children is fantastic.”
Since then, Lucas has acted, sang and danced his way through school, inspired by the stage production of Billy Elliot. He said: “When I watched the performance, I was engrossed by the whole show. It, of course, showed the stereotype of how boys have to be a certain way, but Billy Elliot did what he wanted to do, and that sparked something in me.”
The show inspired Lucas to take up dance, finding his passion in the process. He is currently a member of Legacy Dance Company a male youth dance company. “It allowed me to be myself and know that there are other people like me, who are my brothers, who I can trust with anything,” Lucas added.
This has made Kevin and Nikki passionate about supporting the arts and becoming a sponsor of Norwich Theatre. “It is so important that theatre and the arts are accessible for the youth so children are able to get involved and express themselves creatively,” said Kevin.
Nikki adds: “Specifically boys as well, because boys still have this stigma of boys can’t dance, which is silly. They really do a good job, and there are some fantastic male dancers out there. So it is really important to make theatre more inclusive.”
Norwich Theatre has recently launched a new Boys Movement Company, which is a community of boys aged 11 – 18 where they have an open opportunity and platform to express themselves through a vast range of movement styles. “I think there are a lot of boys out there who want to dance. I think it is all about getting them to find where they can go and start. Where they feel safe and accepted,” Kevin continues.
For the Foley family, encouraging their children in creative arts isn’t just about the practical skills they learn in the workshops. “It is part of their life skills, whether that is boys or girls. It is the discipline to turn up to each session, to respect and support each other, trying your best and pushing yourself out of your comfort zone,” said Nikki.
So how do the Foley family wind down? The theatre, of course! “As a family, I think musical theatre is where we can all enjoy a show. Nikki likes to come down and watch the ballet with Lucas, so it is a real mixture of what we like. It is hard to get our rugby-playing eldest to come to the theatre, but when he has come, he wouldn’t outwardly tell you, but he does enjoy it, and it is just escapism,” said Kevin.
Corporate Partners like Kevin Foley are integral to Norwich Theatre’s charitable mission of creative experiences for all and ensuring the continuation of its creative engagement programmes like Boys Movement.
K Foley Ltd is a Norwich Theatre Corporate Sponsor. For information about joining the Corporate Community, please get in touch by email at corporate@norwichtheatre.org or call 01603 598 556.