The new Norwich Theatre Friends scheme launches today, Wednesday 1 June 2022, with simplified levels that open the scheme to anyone wanting to support the arts in Norfolk and enjoy discounts and priority booking.
I have mentioned the Friends scheme many times over in the last few years, as a mum of seven and all of the family HUGE theatre enthusiasts, the money I have saved over the years by being a friend has paid for my yearly cost ten times over.
Plus it’s meant I have been able to bring more children along to the shows, due to the cheaper cost, and it also means we get to see the fantastic dramas on the first night and let everyone know just how amazing they are!
It also for the first time covers all three Norwich Theatre venues, with discount on shows and at the bar of Norwich Theatre Playhouse, as well as Norwich Theatre Royal and Stage Two, all of which offer amazing shows and performances, we saw Six The Musical for the first time at the Playhouse back in 2018, before it became the phenomenon it is now, this year we saw Fantastically Great Women Who Changed The World which I predict will go on to be just as successful.
The entry level into the scheme costs £25 a year, (rather than the personal friend previous banding at £35.50) with benefits including priority booking, half price first night dramas and discounts on up to four tickets per show, plus 10% discount off food and drink. It is a lower entry price than any other theatres in the region.
For those looking for further offers and a closer connection to Norwich Theatre, the Best Friend tier at £50 a year includes invitations to Friends Nights at the Theatre, double the discounted ticket allocation at eight per show and half price first night on drama and more.
The scheme retains its top tier – Gold Friend – at £150 a year, for those who want a deeper relationship with Norwich Theatre, supporting the charity’s creative community work in Norfolk and engagement projects with local people. The extra tangible benefits include an extra day priority booking and invitations to exclusive Gold events.
Both Best Friend and Gold Friend will have exclusive or early access to digital content on Norwich Theatre’s Digital Stage, such as behind the scenes footage, interviews with actors and update messages from Norwich Theatre staff.
Chief Executive and Creative Director of Norwich Theatre, Stephen Crocker, said: “The income raised by our Friends Scheme ensures we can provide the best service to our customers, providing a high-quality digital service as well as over the phone and in person, at a time when many theatres are closing their box office counters. I really enjoy meeting all our friends and would like to thank all who support us in this way.”
Dramas coming to Norwich Theatre, including Private Peaceful later this month and Agatha Christie’s The Mirror Crack’d in November, have top band seats at around £35 a ticket. This means that taking advantage of a half price first night drama for two tickets effectively covers the cost of joining as a Friend.
The new tiers and benefits within each have been informed following surveys of Friends. Major drives to join the scheme were the tangible benefits including priority booking (77%) and ticket discounts (61%). More than two thirds (69%) of those previously in the Friends scheme had joined to support the theatre.
Details of how to join the scheme are on Norwich Theatre’s website at norwichtheatre.org or via the Box Office on 01603 630000.