Since the launch of the scheme, our Ambassadors have been integral to our mission, supporting our education, creative engagement and artistic development activities on stage and in our communities.
Launching in November 2023, our Ambassadors scheme is for those who are passionate about theatre. It’s an opportunity to get to the heart of what we do, with special events, exclusive benefits and behind-the-scenes access, whilst making a vital donation to Norwich Theatre.
Together, our community of Ambassadors has contributed more than £30,000 to date. Norwich Theatre is a registered charity that uses creativity to bring joy, improve wellbeing and create togetherness, however we receive no regular public funding. Our supporters have always been fundamental to our ability to continue to have a wide-reaching positive impact and the last 12 months have been no exception.
In December, Sleeping Beauty, The Fairy’s Tale featured some of the West End’s biggest musical stars and proved to be a festive treat that delighted young and old alike. More than 50,000 people saw the show, making it our most successful pantomime ever, with 17% of people visiting Norwich Theatre for the very first time.
We continued to evolve our support for local artists and creatives, through our Artist Network. In April, we hosted our first networking day with a full Stage Two takeover, giving members the chance to showcase their work, forge connections, and foster collaboration within the industry.
Our Family Festival returned in July with lots of free and low-cost activities and plenty of fun for families. We want everyone, regardless of their financial situation, to have the opportunity to enjoy these experiences. Inspired by its success and to ensure that everyone can take part, we introduced a Pay What You Can approach to some of our school holiday activities for families, from devising a piece of theatre through our Play in a Day for young people aged seven to 15, to our Sensory Stories for SEND, where a group of disabled and neurodiverse children and their grown-ups are guided through a journey of imagination and play in a relaxed environment.
In September, we teamed up with Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures to bring free performances to schools. Children were treated to a world-class performance by the dance company whilst they were touring the UK.
Friends and Supporters Manager, Hannah Crouch, appreciates how important our Ambassadors are:
“We are so grateful to our Ambassadors for their loyal support. Through their membership they help us make a difference today and to plan for our future too. Not only do they get to enjoy the impact of their membership, but we were lucky to create some very special memories together over the past year.”
Arnold and Caroline are long-time supporters of Norwich Theatre and Norwich Theatre Ambassadors. They enjoy the opportunities that their membership offers:
“As Ambassadors, we were recently invited to a performance of Theatre Re’s Moments at the Playhouse. The ways in which the actor, the composer, and the lighting designer, all on stage, in dialogue with the sound engineer at the back of the theatre, related their own experiences to their unfolding creation of a theatrical event about fatherhood from birth to death was profoundly moving and remarkably illuminating. There were several school groups present, and their total focus on the performance, silent, still, and completely engaged, was wonderful to witness. We had not thought to book tickets, but we were so pleased to be there.
“We are Ambassadors because we are wholly in support of Norwich Theatre’s values. The commitment to creativity means that we are both challenged and inspired by the many performances we enjoy in our venues. And Norwich Theatre’s positive impact on a wide range of people, including the less privileged in our community, encourages and gladdens us.”
Our Ambassador scheme makes supporting the charity easy and effective from just £25 a month. Theatre lovers can choose to join that a level that suits them and the difference they want to make, along with the membership benefits they value.
For more information and to become an Ambassador, click here, email development@norwichtheatre.org or call us on 01603 630 000.