Thanks to our record breaking December, we’ve had to add an extra show for Germany’s self-appointed Comedy Ambassador, Henning Wehn on Thursday 16 February and another date for the show with mime, noise, stand-up with no talking and drama with no acting, The Boy with Tape on His Face, on Tuesday 28 February.

We look forward to welcoming you this year, have a great start to 2012.

Starting on Tuesday 20th of December and running until 6pm on the Saturday 31st of Dec (not including christmas day or boxing day), the bar is offering you the chance to try your hand at screen printing, origami, drawing and crafts, to join them for an evening of NOISE featuring The Neutrinos, Death of Death of Discotheque and more, to sit by firepits and hear stories, to play as much Ping Pong as your hands can handle, to watch a host of excellent films and much, much more culminating in a rawkus farewell to 2011 with the Guitar Noise Orchestra. To make it even more enticing, all the events are free!

Check out the Playhouse Bar Facebook page for regular updates on whats going on or grab a brochure from the bar.

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and see you all in 2012!

Hightlights include:

SPRING AWAKENING – The first UK tour of the award winning West End musical based on the controversial 1891 German play by Frank Wedekind.

BARRY AND STUART LIVE! – A chance to see the World Magic Awards Best Comedy Illusionists.

Fabulously surreal shadow puppets in the form of STICKS, STONES AND BROKEN BONES fresh from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

And the TIME GENTLEMEN PLEASE causes traditional English dance to meet hip hop live on stage!

Additionally we have several of our old favourites including JASON BYRNE, ONE MAN STAR WARS TRILOGY, and BUG#7 to name but a few.

Call our box office on: 01603 598598 or visit www.norwichplayhouse.co.uk for more information or to book tickets.

Marvel at the Royal Family of freaks, led by Circus of Horrors undead ringmaster Doktor Haze, with Captain Dan, Mongolian Laughing Boy, the sword swallowing of Hannibal Helmurto and the return of the legendary Garry Stretch – Guinness World Record holder for attaching the most clothes pegs to his face.

The circus elements of the show promise to reach new heights of seductive glamour. Aerial performers hang from hoops, chains and their own hair, while at ground level there are acts of contortionism, blade walking, acrobatics and fiery limbo, and of course all the shocks and surprises that are the trademarks of the Circus of Horrors.

You can also catch hunchbacked horror and ex-Norwich IT student Daniel Endresz, and, for one night only (Thursday 16 December), local performer Mr Remarkableman joins the troupe to attempt to blow up a hot water bottle while standing on his head!

Imagine if Quentin Tarantino had directed Cirque du Soleil, and you would only be halfway there…

“Bloodthirsty and burlesque” The Independent

“Circus without a condom” The Daily Telegraph

Catch the Circus of Horrors at the Playhouse from Thursday 16 to Sunday 19 December. Click HERE for more…

Every month at Norwich Playhouse we have a new visual art exhibition in our Upper and Lower galleries.

This month you can enjoy work by Vanna Barlett. She is exhibiting a selection of delicate and intricate watercolour and acrylic paintings, with subjects taken from the English countryside.

You can find out more about Vanna on her website – www.vanna-art.co.uk

We have been sent a message by the lovely Mr Murray, which he has asked us to pass on to you…

Dear Loyal Fans of Norwich Playhouse – I am really sorry but I have been taken ill and won’t be able to do a show for you tonight.  I know this is short notice, but we would like to reschedule the show for you later in the year.  I’m as gutted as you are as the last show I did at the Playhouse was great.
Best wishes and sorry to disappoint
Al Murray

The show has been rescheduled for THURSDAY 1 JULY. If you have tickets for the original date, they will be valid for the new show. If you can’t make the new date, then you can get a full refund by calling our box office on 01603 598598 – and please do give them a bell if you have any other questions.

Many apologies for the inconvenience – and we will hopefully see you all, along with a fully-recoved Al, in July.

On Tuesday 27 April it will be fifty years to the date since THE CARETAKER’S opening night back in 1960. Pinter’s compelling study of power games and loneliness still has the capacity to amuse, to shock and to fascinate. Tickets and bookings 01608 598598 or via our main website.

Yahoo! The next installment of music video brilliance from the good BUG Music Video people is heading our way. BUG#4: The Evolution of Music Video will be at the Playhouse on Thursday 10 June at 8pm.

BUG is a show made up of screenings of amazing and innovative music videos from around the world, punctuated with chat from host Adam Buxton (The Adam and Joe Show), interviews with directors and some very amusing comments from YouTube users. BUG can only be seen at the BFI on London’s South Bank, or here at Norwich Playhouse!

Occasionally Adam screens one of his own comedy films. Have a look at this, which was shown at the last BUG event…

Stuart Organ

One of Britain’s best-known TV teachers is taking the lead in the next production from the Norwich Theatre Royal Actors Company.

Stuart Organ, who played Mr Robson for 15 years in the iconic children’s series Grange Hill, will star in the explosive new play Blackbird which runs from October 13-17 here at Norwich Playhouse.

He plays Ray, who had a disastrous affair fifteen years ago. His former lover Una tracks him down at work unannounced and forces him to confront his past.

The role of Una is being played by Nicola Harrison, who started her acting career at the Norwich Theatre Royal Arts Course.

To book tickets call the Box Office on 01603 598598