Lowestoft Town Council
Lowestoft Town Council, the Marina Theatre Trust and East Suffolk Council are pleased to announce that The Input Group have been awarded the contract to deliver the works to upgrade the Marina Theatre building in Lowestoft.
The project will see one of Suffolk’s leading venues for theatre, music and comedy be significantly upgraded with the creation of a new theatre entrance within a new link building between the existing Victorian Theatre and the more modern existing box office. The new link building will incorporate a lift to give access for all visitors to all floors of the Theatre, new toilets and a relocated and expanded box office facility.
Speaking about the project, the Mayor of Lowestoft, Cllr Nasima Begum said: “I am delighted that a contractor has been appointed to deliver these works. The improvements will bring significant upgrades to the Marina Theatre which I hope will improve the experiences for everyone who visits and works at the Theatre.”
Sam Vallerius, General Manager of The Marina Theatre said: “The Marina Theatre Trust are pleased to be moving forward with these plans that will improve the level of service we are able to offer our customers. The improvements, which were highlighted in an audience consultation, will see us become a more accessible and updated venue. We extend our thanks to Lowestoft Town Council and East Suffolk Council for their support on this project.”
Cllr Sarah Whitelock, East Suffolk Council’s cabinet member for Communities, Culture, Leisure and Tourism said: “We are pleased to see these improvements progressing, which are funded through Lowestoft’s £24.9m allocation from the Government’s Towns Fund, secured by East Suffolk Council. These works will further enhance the theatre and increase access for everyone, as well as complementing the major redevelopment work being undertaken by East Suffolk Council at nearby Battery Green.”
Throughout the year the Marina Theatre hosts a variety of shows including their monthly Comedy Club and their upcoming and ever-popular Christmas Pantomime. The theatre also offers cinema screenings, community classes and a café. The works will not impact on the Pantomime Season.
The Marina Theatre Project is a Lowestoft Town Council (as building owners) Project, in partnership with the Marina Theatre Trust and East Suffolk Council, with funding from UK Government’s Towns Fund.
Read more on Contractor Awarded Works For Marina Theatre Project
Following on from another successful Creative Writing and Visual Arts Competition to mark Black History Month, the winning entries and schools were invited to an awards ceremony at the Hotel Victoria last Friday.
The competition, organised by Lowestoft Town Council, encourages local schools and their students to think about the inspiring people of Black and Ethnic Minority heritage - past and present.
This year’s competition saw entries celebrating the likes of Bukayo Saka, Mae Jemison, Mary Seacole and Usain Bolt with entries coming in the forms of diary entries, fact sheets and raps in the creative writing competition, and African hand art and pointillism in the visual arts competition. For 2024, the age categories were expanded so that submissions could be judged more fairly against similar work.
In the overall school competition, the Creative Writing Category was won by Oulton Broad Primary due to the high quality and variety of entries that they submitted. For the second year in the row, Phoenix St Peter’s Primary School was awarded the Visual Arts Award thanks to their colourful whole school display.
The individual award winners were:
Creative Writing – Year 5-6
Winner – Matilda (for her rap about Rosa Parks)
Runners-Up – George and Edward (who both wrote about Bukayo Saka)
Creative Writing - Year 10-11
Winner – Samuel (who wrote a lovely reflection on how brave Mary Seacole was)
Runner -Up – Sophie (for her beautifully written piece about Mary Seacole)
Visual Arts – Nursery-Reception
Winner – Lena (for her drawing of a bus, depicting the story of Rosa Parks)
Visual Arts – Year 1-2
Winner – Harry (for the use of vibrant colours and shapes)
Runners-Up – Billie and Jashwika (for their use of different patterns)
Visual Arts – Year 3-4
Winner – Pippa (for her use of intricate details)
Runners-Up – Ethan (for his use of colour) and Jessica (for her use of different mediums to depict Mae Jemison)
Visual Arts – 5-6
Winner – Ozzie (for the use of delicate details and patterns)
Runners-Up – Yvie and Maisie (for their use of different mediums to portray Kamala Harris and Lewis Hamilton)
The awards ceremony also included a video message from Lowestoft’s Olympic Medallist Anthony Ogogo who shared his personal story of growing up in Lowestoft as someone with Black and Mixed Race Heritage, and a series of poems and short stories form the author Ivya Scott who also works with the Suffolk Windrush Community.
Speaking at the awards, Cllr Nasima Begum, Mayor of Lowestoft, said “Once again, we have been amazed by the number and quality of the artwork and creative writing that has been submitted. This competition is now in its fourth year, and I am proud to see that it keeps growing with more variety of entries.”
Read more on Awards Ceremony Celebrates Black History Month Competition
Thousands of people gathered at the War Memorial on Royal Plain to mark Remembrance Sunday on Sunday 10th November.
This annual service, organised by Lowestoft Town Council, pays tribute to the nation's brave servicemen and women who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in fighting for our freedom. The service was led by Revd Canon Simon Stokes with the Deputy Lieutenant Deborah Cadman leading the wreath laying. The two-minutes silence at 11am was marked with the firing of the 105mm (L118) Light Gun from F (Sphinx Parachute Battery, 7thParachute Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery.
Music for the occasion was provided by the English Brass Quintet.
Speaking about the service, the Mayor of Lowestoft, Cllr Nasima Begum, said “It was an honour to be a part of this poignant occasion. Thank you to everyone who attended and took part, especially to the standard bearers and everyone involved in the parade. Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day has a special meaning to so many within our community and it is a privilege to see so many gather together to pay our respects.”
On Armistice Day, two smaller services, also organised by Lowestoft Town Council, took place at the War Memorial, Royal Plain and at Lowestoft Cemetery which included short readings given by local schools.
On Sunday 10th November, Lowestoft will be marking Remembrance Sunday with its annual Parade and Service.
The service, taking place by the War Memorial on Royal Plain, will start around 10:50am following the parade which will make its way along the promenade from Claremont Pier. The parade is being led by soldiers of F (Sphinx) Parachute Battery Royal Horse Artillery, 7th Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery.
The two-minutes silence at 11am will then be marked by the sound of gun fire from the 105mm (L118) Light Gun from F (Sphinx) Parachute Battery Royal Horse Artillery, 7th Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery.
The wreath laying this year will be led by the Deputy Lieutenant for Suffolk, Deborah Cadman, OBE. Following the wreath laying, anyone wishing to lay a personal tribute at the War Memorial will be welcome to do so.
The service sheet is now available to download from our website for anyone wishing to follow the service on a digital device or print it off at home.
East Suffolk Council have kindly arranged for free parking to take place between 8am and 1pm on Sunday 10 November in Royal Green, Claremont Pier, Kirkley Cliff, Clifton Road, Belvedere Road and Britten Centre car parks.
On Monday 11th November, there will be two short services to mark Armistice Day. These will be taking place at the War Memorial, Royal Plain, and at Lowestoft Cemetery. Both will start shortly before 11am in time for the two-minutes silence.
