Theatre is woven into society's tapestry, with Shakespeare quoted in everyday conversations and songs from musicals played at key moments in our lives.
Yet to create new pieces of theatre, be that a musical, play or comedy, can be so difficult. Speaking about creating new work, Stephen Crocker, chief executive and creative director of Norwich Theatre said: 'There is such amazing talent in this country; we are so lucky, and it is exciting to see, but we have an infrastructure problem preventing new work from growing.'
Theatre requires investment, guidance, and much support. But above all of this, it needs both theatres and audiences to take a risk on the new and the untested.
This is why Norwich Theatre works hard to showcase brand-new shows on all of its stages. For Stephen, it is more than just having new work: 'It is our responsibility to encourage new work.'
Norwich Theatre already has a reputation for taking risks on the new and being the place to see the next big thing. The beloved and award-winning musical SIX had its world premiere at Norwich Theatre Playhouse before making its way to the West End and Broadway.
My Son's a Queer (But What Can You Do?) wowed audiences at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and transferred to the Garrick Theatre, but not before audiences at the Playhouse got to see it first. Cake: The Marie Antoinette PLAYlist visited Norwich last year to sell out audiences and recently had a run in the West End.
Now Norwich Theatre Playhouse is bringing you The Highwayman (August 14-18), a brand new British musical inspired by Alfred Noyes' classic poem. It submerges the audience in a unique, genre-busting sound world in which a live band joyously reimagines pub singalongs and folk ballads. Exploring love, loss and the light in the dark, The Highwayman tells the story of a doomed love affair between Bess and Duval, a self-confessed sociopath. Sexy, darkly funny and deeply moving, it is about longing for better while trying to run from the worst of our past.
Along with the fantastic shows they are renowned for bringing to the region, Norwich Theatre has big ambitions to originate and create more work and support creativity in a more impactful way.
Last year, it toured a co-production of Jake Humphrey's podcast High Performance and the beautiful musical The Land of Might-Have Been. 'We want to put Norfolk and East Anglia on the map as a place where international creativity and art are formed,' added Stephen.
And now they are working with the dance legend Carlos Acosta for a brand new dance co-production, Carlos Acosta's Nutcracker in Havana, which will open at Norwich Theatre Royal on November 1 before embarking on a UK tour, including a week-long run at London's Southbank Centre in December.
Nutcracker in Havana is a colourful Cuban take on the festive classic, set to an exuberant newly commissioned version of the magnificent Tchaikovsky score.
Featuring more than 20 dancers from Carlos' Cuban company, Acosta Danza, this traditional story is brought to life with ballet at its core but in Carlos' unique style, with dance traditions of Cuba carefully fused and woven throughout the classic tale.
'This is the next major step in Norwich Theatre's evolution as an originator of new work and creative force bringing the world to Norwich and Norfolk and taking Norwich and Norfolk to the world.'
Supporting new work can be an exciting new journey for those involved along the way, from the creators to audience members who get to say they 'saw it first'.
At Norwich Theatre, there are many ways you can get involved in supporting new work. Buying a ticket and watching a show in its earliest stages; right through to becoming an Ambassador and pledging your backing to the development of Norwich Theatre’s own productions and its wider charitable projects.
'Together, with your support we can inspire creativity, produce new work and show the world just how creative Norfolk is and can be,' said Stephen.
For more information or to book, visit norwichtheatre.org or call the Box Office on 01603 630000
