Come with us into the Norwich Theatre archive to look back at the Legends from the Legends of Variety and their shows at Norwich Theatre Royal! Do you remember these stars coming? Were you one of the lucky ones who got to see them live?
Back in 1973, the Royal stage hosted the Super Star Carnival event for eight days of the best talent the UK had to offer. On the line up were David Bowie, Monty Python’s Flying Circus, Jimmy Tarbuck and Bobby Crush. It was reported in the Eastern Daily Press at the time that tickets for David Bowie were selling for double the price!
Bobby Crush told us: “Gosh! Can it really be 50 years since I appeared on that week of one-nighters at the Theatre Royal? I guess so … 1973! I’d not long finished my run of wins on “Opportunity Knocks!”. Always a pleasure to return to Norfolk … happy memories of my summer seasons in Great Yarmouth with John Inman and Keith Harris & Orville. This time, I’m returning to Norwich on May 30th with a show featuring my good friends from the golden days of variety. Actually, I think I’m the youngest on the bill … not very often I can say that nowadays!”
Anita Harris was a regular visitor to the theatre. She first stood on the Royal stage with her very own show back in 1973. Programmes then only cost 10p. The show was billed as spectacular entertainment for all the family and featured popular comedian, Alton Douglas. Anita wasn’t back until May 2001 in the play Double Double a romantic crime drama where she played Philippa James. She starred alongside Simon Ward. In 2006, Anita was back with another thriller, this time set on a train. In Strangers on the Train, she played Elsie Bruno and starred alongside a host of other TV stars.
Freddie Davies brought his charisma and charm to the Norwich Theatre Royal stage in Talent by Victoria Wood. Freddie played Arthur Hall, and he starred alongside Mina Anwar, Sarah Moffet, John Junkin, David Holt and Oliver Beamish.
The comedians Tommy Cannon and Bobby Ball tickled audiences’ funny bones throughout the 80s. They brought the signature routines to Norwich in 1983 and 1987. They came back in 1989 with their show You’ll Do For Me, a comedy play that was described as “the hilarious laughter-packed comedy”.
Bernie Clifton and Oswald the Ostrich first visited Norwich in our pantomime Mother Goose in Christmas 1982. On the bill with Bernie was the star of Last of the Summer Wine and Crosswords, Kathy Staff and Junior Showtime Bobby Bennett. The adverts in the programme were colour TVs for sale at Hughes TV & Audio, Wimpy and Bagley’s Barn Pancake restaurant. Bernie also appeared in the line for Norwich Theatre Royal’s 225th anniversary. The Royal Gala Variety Show featured not only Bernie but also magicians Paul Daniels and David Copperfield. Princess Margaret was due to attend the Gala that night but was unwell, so instead, Princess Alexandra and the Duchesses of Kent attended in her place.
Disappointed you missed out? All these legends are back on the Norwich Theatre Royal stage in Legends of Variety on 30 May. They will all be bringing their experience and years of honing their craft for a show that is set to be full of nostalgia and fun.
For more information or to book, head to norwichtheatre.org or call the box office on 01603 630 000.
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