The Pavilion Theatre, Cromer Pier is located on Cromer Pier

Cromer Pier

Cromer Pier is a seaside pier in the civil parish of Cromer on the north coast of the English county of Norfolk, 40 km due north of the city of Norwich in the United Kingdom. The pier is the home of the Cromer Lifeboat Station and the Pavilion Theatre...

, Cromer

Cromer

Cromer is a coastal town and civil parish in north Norfolk, England. The local government authority is North Norfolk District Council, whose headquarters is in Holt Road in the town. The town is situated 23 miles north of the county town, Norwich, and is 4 miles east of Sheringham...

, Norfolk

Norfolk

Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...

.

History

The pier as we know it today was opened in 1901. To celebrate its official opening The Blue Viennese Band played in an open bandstand

Bandstand

A bandstand is a circular or semicircular structure set in a park, garden, pier, or indoor space, designed to accommodate musical bands performing concerts...

. In 1905 the bandstand was covered to form an enclosed pavilion

Pavilion (structure)

In architecture a pavilion has two main meanings.-Free-standing structure:Pavilion may refer to a free-standing structure sited a short distance from a main residence, whose architecture makes it an object of pleasure. Large or small, there is usually a connection with relaxation and pleasure in...

 and the following season the first ‘concert parties’ were performed. Throughout the 20s and 30s the Cromer Protection Commission toured the South Coast looking at potential shows. In 1936 one of the theatres most famous shows appeared-Ronnie Brandons Out of the Blue.

At the outbreak of World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

 the Royal Engineers

Royal Engineers

The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....

 removed the middle section of the pier and shows ceased for the rest of the war. The devastating gales of 1953

North Sea flood of 1953

The 1953 North Sea flood was a major flood caused by a heavy storm, that occurred on the night of Saturday 31 January 1953 and morning of 1 February 1953. The floods struck the Netherlands, Belgium, England and Scotland.A combination of a high spring tide and a severe European windstorm caused a...

 destroyed the pier and the pavilion. Compensation was granted by the Government

Conservative Government 1951-1957

The Conservative Party came to power in the United Kingdom after victory in the 1951 general election. This was the first purely Conservative government since Stanley Baldwin's 1924-1929 administration. Winston Churchill became Prime Minister for a second time. The administration saw several...

 for the rebuilding of the pier and was ready for the start of the 1955 season.

In 1978 changes were made to the theatre and at the same time a partnership with Irish

Irish people

The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...

 Impresario

Impresario

An impresario is a person who organizes and often finances concerts, plays or operas; analogous to a film producer in filmmaking, television production and an angel investor in business...

 Richard Condon

Richard Condon (impresario)

Richard Condon , was an impresario and theatre manager.Condon, affectionately known as Dick was made theatre manager of the Theatre Royal, Norwich in 1972. During his tenure, the genial Irishman transformed the theatre into one of the most popular in Europe...

. From this partnership the popular Seaside Special was created which won the National Piers Society

National Piers Society

The National Piers Society is a registered charity in the United Kingdom dedicated to promoting and sustaining interest in the preservation and continued enjoyment of seaside piers....

 Pier of the Year Award 2000. The pier was once again severely damaged in November 1993 by a break away rig barge

Barge

A barge is a flat-bottomed boat, built mainly for river and canal transport of heavy goods. Some barges are not self-propelled and need to be towed by tugboats or pushed by towboats...

. In 2001 a new partnership was formed between North Norfolk District Council

North Norfolk

North Norfolk is a local government district in Norfolk, United Kingdom. Its council is based in Cromer. The council headquarters can be found approximately out of the town of Cromer on the Holt Road.-History:...

 and Openwide International to extend the season and increase economic growth for the pier and the town. By 2004 the theatre was redeveloped to include; increasing the capacity to 510, adding a restaurant named Tides, a new shop Footprints and a new extended bar. In 2005 Christmas Seaside Special was introduced and proved popular.
Over the years many well-known artists have appeared at the Pavilion Theatre including - Ken Dodd

Ken Dodd

Kenneth Arthur Dodd OBE is a British comedian and singer songwriter, famous for his frizzy hair or “fluff dom” and buck teeth or “denchers”, his favourite cleaner, the feather duster and his greeting "How tickled I am!", as well as his send-off “Lots and Lots of Happiness!”...

; Cannon and Ball

Cannon and Ball

Cannon and Ball are an English comedy double act consisting of Tommy Cannon and Bobby Ball. The duo met in the early 1960s while working as welders in Oldham, Lancashire...

; Joe Brown, The Searchers

The Searchers (band)

The Searchers are an English beat group, who emerged as part of the 1960s Merseybeat scene along with The Beatles, The Fourmost, The Merseybeats, The Swinging Blue Jeans, and Gerry & The Pacemakers....

; Jimmy Tarbuck

Jimmy Tarbuck

Jimmy Tarbuck OBE or Tarby is an English comedian. Growing up he was a schoolmate of John Lennon.His first television show was It's Tarbuck 65! on ITV in 1964. He has also hosted numerous quiz shows, including Winner Takes All, Full Swing, and Tarby's Frame Game...

; Paul Daniels

Paul Daniels

Paul Daniels, born Newton Edward Daniels on 6 April 1938, is a British magician and television performer. He achieved international fame through his television series The Paul Daniels Magic Show, which ran on the BBC from 1979 to 1994.-Early life:...

; The Barron Knights; Marty Wilde

Marty Wilde

Marty Wilde is an English singer and songwriter. He was among the first generation of British pop stars to emulate American rock and roll, and is the father of pop singers Ricky Wilde, Kim Wilde and Roxanne Wilde.-Career:Wilde was performing under the name Reg Patterson at London's Condor Club in...

; Vince Hill

Vince Hill

Vince Hill is an English traditional pop music singer, songwriter and record producer.-Biography:...

; Max Bygraves

Max Bygraves

Max Bygraves OBE is an English comedian, singer, actor and variety performer. He appeared on his own television shows, sometimes performing comedy sketches between songs...

; Val Doonican

Val Doonican

Val Doonican is an Irish singer. From 1965 to 1986 he was a regular fixture on the BBC Television's schedule with The Val Doonican Show, which featured his own singing performances and a variety of guest artists...

;Raymond Froggatt

Raymond Froggatt

Raymond William Froggatt was born in Bordesley Green, Birmingham, UK on 13 November 1941, and is a British songwriter and singer....

.

Bradley Walsh and Darren Day

Darren Day

Darren Day , is an English actor, singer and television presenter, well known for his West End theatre starring roles.-Early life:His paternal grandfather was a support and warm-up act for George Formby...

 have both appeared in Seaside Special in their early careers.

Today

The theatre produces a wide range of entertainment. Acts lined up for the 2011 are Barbara Dickson

Barbara Dickson

Barbara Ruth Dickson, OBE is a Scottish singer whose hits include "I Know Him So Well" and "January February"...

 and Neil Morrissey

Neil Morrissey

Neil Anthony Morrissey is an English actor, media personality and businessman. He is best known for his role as Tony in Men Behaving Badly....

.

Seaside Special 2008 saw the return of Peter Piper who featured in the previous year's production .
The Christmas Seaside Special 2008 starred Johnny Laff and Mark Worgan with a special guest appearance by Norfolk's own Keith Loads. Supported by the Broadland Youth Choir.

The Seaside Special 2009 featured Simmons and Simmons along with Andy Eastwood

Andy Eastwood

Andy Eastwood is a vaudeville entertainer and ukulele player.His interest in the ukulele and banjolele began when his grandfather gave him his first instrument as a child, and after reading music at the University of Oxford, where he also studied violin and piano, he graduated as the historic...

who starred in Christmas Seaside special in 2007 and the winner of the 2008 Norfolk find a star Luke Cook.
Summer Seaside Special 2011 saw Comedy Ventriloquist Steve Hewlett return to Headline the show after big success in Seaside Special back in 2007 and Christmas 2006.

The Summer of 2011 also starred Vocalist Rob McVeigh ( BBC TV Series Any Dream Will Do)
Christmas Seaside Special 2011 will see Norfolk Comedian Olly Day return as headline act after big success in the 2009 and 2010 Christmas Shows. The Show will also star a Full Supporting Cast.

External links

• Pavilion theatre
• For further information see Christopher Pipe, The Story of Cromer Pier (Poppyland Publishing, 1998).ISBN 094614852X