Openwide Coastal and Nigel Hogg Productions join forces to support struggling artists!
Leave a Comment‘Strictly Christmas’ show to bring some festive cheer to Cromer Pier!
Openwide Coastal Ltd, operators and custodians of Cromer Pier and Pavilion Theatre and producers of the Cromer Show have donated the Cromer Pier Pavilion Theatre on a ‘not for profit’ basis to Nigel Hogg Productions to help support variety artists left unable to work and earn an income through the Covid crisis. This generous gesture is allowing the artists to continue to keep the spirit of entertainment alive and is providing the acts with some income during these difficult times.
The theatre staged a summer show and took measures to ensure that they were Covid-secure, with audience numbers restricted to significantly below the 500 seat capacity of the venue. Whilst the reduced audience capacity makes it impossible to stage the usual Cromer Christmas show, Openwide Coastal Ltd and Nigel Hogg Productions, in association with North Norfolk District Council, are providing a venue and stage for variety acts to showcase their talents to try and support them through this difficult crisis. The artists then split the take from box office receipts to generate a small amount of income from each performance.
Nigel and his team have created a Christmas programme of entertainment called ‘Strictly Christmas’ which is a 90 minute variety show with a Christmassy theme and encompasses a mix of entertainment including 3 regular acts; Olly Day, Rob McVeigh the singer and a brilliant magic act called Amethyst. There will also be a different guest act at each performance. The first performance is on Friday 4th December and shows will run through until 1st January 2021
Nigel Hogg said: “We were absolutely thrilled with the support that we had for our Summer shows with most shows selling out at the reduced capacity of 100! The performers were delighted to be back on stage doing what they love most and being able to earn a small amount of money so we are really excited to be able to get them back on stage for Christmas! We really would encourage everyone to help us save the arts by booking a ticket to enjoy a safe, fun night out and let us bring some Christmas magic back to Cromer Pier!”
Rory Holburn, Director at Openwide Coastal commented, “We were excited to receive the wonderful news that we were successful in receiving an arts council grant which will help ensure we can bring the Cromer Pier show back in 2021 but as the current restrictions make it impossible to stage the Cromer Pier Christmas show this year, we are really pleased to be able to provide some support to the artists who have been struggling through this devastating time by donating the theatre space to them for a Christmas show”
The 90-minute show has been accredited with a ‘We’re Good to Go’ stamp of approval by Visit England and North Norfolk District Council is also supporting the venture which will continue the tradition of keeping variety alive this Christmas at the end of the pier in Cromer.
Face coverings must be worn during the show. Tickets are £15 for adults or £7.50 for children under 16. Booking is for unallocated seating, and audience members will be seated by the ushers in their social bubbles. Any unsold tickets will be available at the door. Ticket collection is only from the pop-up box office in the Pavilion Bar, no postage option is available. Click below for more information, show times and to book a ticket…
