The new owners of Felixstowe’s Spa Pavilion are celebrating after it was revealed thousands have flocked to see shows at the recently re-opened venue.
NRG Theatres bought the 913-seat seaside theatre from Suffolk Coastal District Council last year after the authority decided it could no longer afford the annual £250,000 subsidy paid to operators.
Three years after the curtain last came down at the century-old Spa, it opened again in November with a sell-out sneak preview of the Stars from the Commitments 25th anniversary tour. This was followed in January by the return of the Dennis Lowe Theatre Company with Cinderella.
In the first three months, nearly 14,000 people visited the venue – the previous annual audience used to be around only 35,000. Some 7,500 watched the pantomime, compared to 3,600 in 2012/13. Projected audience totals for its first year are 50,000, with the hope the figure will rise to 60,000 in year two.
Work is now taking place to increase the bar, restaurant and café capacity by opening up space downstairs.
Ray Anderson, Spa Pavilion director, said: “Our first months have been better than we might have initially hoped with audience numbers and the general support for the theatre and café remaining constant. Customers seem to want to support us on all levels and have been extremely appreciative of our efforts.
“However, we don’t intend to rest on our laurels as it’s a case of continually booking the shows people want to come out to see and providing them with a first class service while here which will ensure the future is secure.”
More big names are set to perform later this year with 10cc playing on November 4, The Stars from the Commitments returning on November 12 and The Osmonds performing their Andy Williams Christmas Spectacular on December 16.
Before that, Kytsun Wolfe stars in Bobby Socks and Blue Jeans. As seen at The London Palladium, it features hits from the 1950s-1960s with music from the likes of Elvis, Roy Orbison, Mick Jagger, The Bee Gees, Gerry and The Pacemakers and more. Wolfe will be joined on April 30 by all-girl group The Pony Tails and The 5 Pennies band.
Visit www.felixstowespa.co.uk for more details.
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