Gorleston's Edwardian Pavilion Theatre was a traditional theatre which played host to concert party-style variety shows until the early 1960s. It was even the starting point for the career of the Dad's Army star Bill Pertwee who not only made his debut on that stage but completed a double whammy by meeting his wife in the 1955 season. It was television's Good Old Days recorded at the famous City Varieties in Leeds which led to the Yarmouth council deciding to move on from the ailing variety show and take an even bigger step back in time with music hall. So out went the rows of theatre seats and in came chairs and tables instead. Music hall has remained pretty much the staple fayre at the theatre ever since. In the early 1980s after the legendary Dick Condon ran the theatre for a season the council decided it no longer wanted to produce shows there. It looked like the end but a local community association stepped in. They weren't very successful but they did bring to the theatre local entertainer Carl Adams who took over running the show. Soon he took over running the whole place which he did for 10 years. That brings us up to 1995 when ill health forced Carl to stand down. Stuart Durrant and Kevin Lynch took over. Both had appeared at the theatre in amateur productions and they'd built up their own professional work in the area. They brought the popular Norfolk comedian Nigel 'Boy' Syer to the theatre. The rest, as they say, is history. Ten years on - and Stuart admits he thought they'd be there for five - the show is as popular as ever. Outside Blackpool it's the longest running summer show in Britain opening in May and running until early October. Its colourful mix of costumes and comedy have proved a winning formula. Not only that but the theatre goes out to local hotels to encourage regular party bookings and coach parties and that ensures the full house board is regularly to be seen in front of the theatre. The lineup for the anniversary show this season is Nigel 'Boy' Syer, Mr Douglas Gorin, Miss Jacqui Kelly Doddington, Mr Robert Wall, Miss Anna Stagg, Mr Paul Amer, Miss Felicity Rowan, Miss Karen Youngs, Miss Sam Carevell and Miss Tracy Parker-Harris. The chairman is Steve Ace. The season opens on Tuesday 3 May, 2005 and runs until mid October. For more information contact the theatre box office on 01493 662832. | 
