Events
BIG COUNTRY TO PLAY CLASSIC DEBUT ALBUM LIVE FOR 30TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR
Big Country, 2012.
Big Country, the cult Scottish rock band who formed in November 1981, kick-off their 30th anniversary celebrations by performing their classic 1983 debut album The Crossing live in its entirety during a thirteen-date tour of the U.K. in February 2012. This includes an appearance at the UEA in Norwich on February 13th.
An international best seller, The Crossing sold over 2 million copies in the UK, spawning 2 Top Ten hits and spending 84 consecutive weeks on the Music Week album chart. Scheduled for release on February 6th 2012, the deluxe edition of the album will come with a wealth of previously unreleased demos and mixes, available on 2CD, double-vinyl and digital download formats.
In announcing the ‘Crossing The Country Tour’, bassist Tony Butler says, “It’s typical to write an album and only play a few songs from it, so to get the opportunity to play an entire album is very cool. This tour will give us the chance to play songs never performed before alongside the well-known ones, songs that were written but didn’t make it on to the album, and the associated ‘b side’ material. We can’t wait.”
Big Country, who on November 19th will receive the inaugural ‘Pride of Scotland Award’ at the annual Nordoff Robbins Tartan Clef event held in Glasgow, reformed with The Alarm’s Mike Peters on lead vocal duties in place of the late Stuart Adamson, who passed away in 2001, for two sold-out UK tours and main stage festival appearances including The Isle of Wight Festival, T in The Park, Oxegen and V Festival during 2011. In addition, Big Country re-united with The Crossing’s producer Steve Lillywhite to release their first single in 12 years, ‘Another Country’.
The Crossing tour will also precede the release of a new studio album, scheduled for release in autumn 2012.
Big Country’s ‘Crossing The Country Tour’ dates are as follows:
Feb. 3: Academy, Manchester, U.K.
Feb. 4: O2 Academy, Liverpool, U.K.
Feb. 6: Barrowland, Glasgow, U.K.
Feb. 7: Alhambra, Dunfermline, U.K.
Feb. 8: O2 Academy, Newcastle, U.K.
Feb. 9: O2 Academy, Leeds, U.K.
Feb. 11: O2 Shepherds Bush Empire, London, U.K.
Feb. 12: Hexagon, Reading, U.K.
Feb. 13: UEA, Norwich, U.K.
Feb. 15: O2 Academy, Bristol, U.K.
Feb. 16: Rock City, Nottingham, U.K.
Feb. 17: O2 Academy, Birmingham, U.K.
Feb. 18: O2 Academy, Sheffield, U.K.
Tickets are on sale now priced £22.50 from www.ueaticketbookings.co.uk.
The Crossing (2 CD Deluxe Edition) is available to pre-order now on Amazon: http://zaphod.uk.vvhp.net/v-v/111031182341
WIN!
We’re giving away two tickets to the Norwich gig, plus a copy of the album, ‘The Crossing: Deluxe Edition’.
To be in with a chance of winning, simply email your name and address to contact@enjoynorwich.com, subject: ‘Big Country’ by 12Midnight on Tuesday 7th February.
Casting Confirmed For Lavish Musical, Oliver!
More details of the casting for the lavish production of Oliver! which is coming to Norwich Theatre Royal in the summer of 2012 are being revealed.
Cameron Mackintosh, in association with Southbrook Group Limited and Stage Entertainment UK, is taking Lionel Bart’s smash-hit musical on a major UK tour from December this year. It will reach Norwich for a five-week run starting on July 3 and feature the multi-talented stage and TV performer Brian Conley as Fagin.
Oliver! - Brian Conley as Fagin.
Now the producers are unveiling details of who else will star in the lavish production. Iain Fletcher – probably best known for the role of DC Rodney Skase in The Bill – will take on the role of Bill Sikes. He has a number of stage roles to his name including Sam Carmichael in Mamma Mia! in the West End, as well as a host of TV appearances in a range of shows including Casualty, Murphy’s Law, Doctors, Family Affairs and Band Of Brothers.
Distinguished stage performers Jack Edwards and Suzie Chard will play the roles of Mr Bumble and Widow Corney, while accomplished actor Stephen Moore reprises the role of Mr Brownlow which he also played in the West End. A highly experienced performer, Stephen’s other roles include Hector in the West End run of The History Boys, Colonel Pickering in the UK tour of My Fair Lady, and film appearances in Brassed Off, The Boat That Rocked, and A Christmas Carol.
Others in the cast making their return to Norwich Theatre Royal to star in the production include David Langham, who appeared in Spamalot opposite this year’s Norwich Theatre Royal panto star Hayley Tamaddon, and Victoria Hay, who starred in the critically acclaimed production The Witches of Eastwick opposite Marti Pellow.
Meanwhile producers are set to unveil the identity of the performer who will take on the iconic role of Nancy for the Norwich arm of the tour in the weeks ahead.
John Bultitude, of Norwich Theatre Royal, said: “Cameron Mackintosh and his team have assembled some of this country’s finest stage performers to take on the lead roles in his highly-anticipated production of Oliver!
“Their undoubted experience and on-stage ability coupled with the performing flair of Brian Conley will make this show a must-see for 2012.”
Oliver! recently completed a two-year run at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London where it opened to rave reviews, sell-out business and the biggest advance sales of all time for a West End show.
Last year, Oliver! celebrated its 50th birthday having premiered in the West End in 1960.
Oliver!, Tuesday July 3-Saturday August 4 at 7.30pm, and Thursday and Saturday matinees at 2.30pm.
Tickets £6.50-£47.50. Discounts for Over-60s, Under-18s and Groups.
Audio described performance on Saturday July 14 at 7.30pm. Signed performance on Friday August 3 at 7.30pm.
BOX OFFICE 01603 630000. For more info or to BOOK ONLINE www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk.
Wells Christmas Tide 2011 is just around the corner (Friday 25th, Saturday 26th & Sunday 27th November) – a little earlier this year due to the tides – (hopefully back in December for 2012!).
The event, which is run by the volunteer Wells Carnival Committee, is a packed weekend of events from a Christmas Cocktail evening on the Friday; the spectacular arrival by sea, of Father Christmas in the harbour on the Saturday through to a festive film showing at the Granary Theatre on the Sunday. Further information on events, times, dates etc is available by visiting www.wellschristmastide.org.uk.
As Father Christmas will be arriving a little later in the day than in previous years, events on the Saturday will kick off at 12 noon with the bells of St Nicholas ringing in Christmas Tide and the start of the spectacular Christmas Market & Cafe. Once again the Living Nativity will be on their pilgrimage around Wells – and this year as well as the return of ‘Wonky Donkey’ we hear there are a few additional characters to the menagerie…!
Also from 12 noon there will be a synthetic skating rink set up behind the Maltings on the Sackhouse car park – cost is £3.00 per session with skate hire included in the price. If you wish to book your slot prior to the event please email: wellscarnival@live.co.uk – the sessions will run every 20mins starting on the hour. Organisers advise that you arrive at the rink at least 15 minutes before your allocated slot to check in and to allow for skate fitting (arrival after this time may result in your slot being re-let).
Mother Christmas will be welcoming visitors to ‘her home’ during the afternoon while she awaits her husband’s arrival. Father Christmas is due to arrive in the harbour around 6pm when the Illuminated Welcome Parade – accompanied by Thundermental – will greet him at the Quayside along with a fantastic firework display by BOOOM. After his arrival children (and grown ups) can then pop along to Santas Workshop (min donation of £3 per child to cover costs) and create Christmas goodies while they wait to see Father Christmas and receive a gift.
The event is funded partly through money raised during Wells Carnival week but also relies heavily on donations and sponsorship from businesses and individuals. We have been fortunate enough to receive an amount from Island Shipping, who are currently providing support service to Scira on Sheringham Shoal, to help towards the cost of the rink hire, for which we are extremely grateful.
This year the Committee are encouraging all businesses and individuals to purchase a bauble which will hang on the Christmas Tree in Staithe Street, prior to and during the event. Baubles are a minimum donation of £5.00 and can be purchased by donating securely online through the Wells Carnival website: www.wellscarnival.co.uk or by sending a cheque made payable to Wells Carnival Ltd c/o 46 Waveney Close, Wells, NR23 1HT – don’t forget to include the name of the person/business you would like included.
Finally the Carnival Committee each year manage to ‘persuade’ (and occasionally ‘bribe’) friends and family to dress up and join in, but more helpers are always needed. If you would like to be involved in the event, from fundraising for your group/charity to helping the committee with the organisation the Committee would love to hear from you. There are a limited number of pitches available (inside and out) – call Gail on 07876 771917, alternatively if you can spare an hour or so to help then please call Fran on 07920 065363.
- 11/02/2012 - Love Looks: An Exhibition of Nudes plus sensual poetry and images February 11, 2012
- 11/02/2012 - Signs of Spring Week at Fairhaven Garden February 11, 2012
- 10/02/2012 - Coaching for a Great Life! Weekend Break in Norfolk February 10, 2012
- 09/02/2012 - A Beginner's Guide to Stargazing February 9, 2012
- 09/02/2012 - SCIENCE MUSEUM LIVE ON TOUR February 9, 2012