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Contractor Awarded Works For Marina Theatre Project

19 November 2024

Lowestoft Town Council, the Marina Theatre Trust and East Suffolk Council are pleased to announce that The Input Group have been awarded the contract to deliver the works to upgrade the Marina Theatre building in Lowestoft.

The project will see one of Suffolk’s leading venues for theatre, music and comedy be significantly upgraded with the creation of a new theatre entrance 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 to give access for all visitors to all floors of the Theatre, new toilets and a relocated and expanded box office facility.

Speaking about the project, the Mayor of Lowestoft, Cllr Nasima Begum said: “I am delighted that a contractor has been appointed to deliver these works.  The improvements will bring significant upgrades to the Marina Theatre which I hope will improve the experiences for everyone who visits and works at the Theatre.”

Sam Vallerius, General Manager of The Marina Theatre said: “The Marina Theatre Trust are pleased to be moving forward with these plans that will improve the level of service we are able to offer our customers. The improvements, which were highlighted in an audience consultation, will see us become a more accessible and updated venue. We extend our thanks to Lowestoft Town Council and East Suffolk Council for their support on this project.”

Cllr Sarah Whitelock, East Suffolk Council’s cabinet member for Communities, Culture, Leisure and Tourism said: “We are pleased to see these improvements progressing, which are funded through Lowestoft’s £24.9m allocation from the Government’s Towns Fund, secured by East Suffolk Council. These works will further enhance the theatre and increase access for everyone, as well as complementing the major redevelopment work being undertaken by East Suffolk Council at nearby Battery Green.”

Throughout the year the Marina Theatre hosts a variety of shows including their monthly Comedy Club and their upcoming and ever-popular Christmas Pantomime.  The theatre also offers cinema screenings, community classes and a café.  The works will not impact on the Pantomime Season.

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

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Marlon Davis to headline November Marina Comedy Club

**Update 06.11.2024 Jack Skipper has been replaced with Marlon Davies**

With Marlon Davies, Radu Isac, Richard Spalding and hosted by Stephen DiPlacito!

Marlon Davis is a talented comedian, improviser and actor whose TV appearances include Live at the Apollo, Live From The Comedy Store, Stand Up Central, The Stand Up Sketch Show and Don’t Hate The Players.

Marlon made the final of two national competitions Laughing Horse New Act of the Year and So You Think You’re Funny? at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe the following year, very quickly and firmly cementing his status as a rising star on the comedy circuit.

Marlon has supported Kevin Bridges, Michael McIntyre and Alan Carr on tour and is performing at clubs, arts centres and theatres all over the UK. Marlon’s act is inspired from his upbringing, exploring urban Britain and tackling its social issues with skillful characterisations.

Opening the show is Radu Isac! Radu was a professional stand up comedian in his former home of Romania and was known as Romania’s “comedians’ comedian”. Shortly after moving to London, he was a finalist in the English Comedian of the Year competition. He’s made a name for himself as the king of the misanthropes, setting out his bleak world view one gag at a time. His sugar-coated depravity forces laughs out of those who should really know better – venomous but twinkly, like a snake dipped in glitter. His stand up has featured on multiple BBC and Comedy Central programs such as Stand Up Express (Comedy Central), What Makes The World Laugh (BBC World Service), Fresh From the Fringe (BBC Radio 4) and The Arts Hour (BBC World Service).

With Richard Spalding! Rich is an award winning, mild mannered and polite (or so he says) comedian from the Midlands. His immaculately crafted material and impeccable comedy timing ensures very well delivered jokes. Richard is one of the best acts breaking onto the circuit currently.

Hosted by Stephen DiPlacito!

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.

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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.