Latest news with #NorburyTheatre
BBC News
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Droitwich Rik Mayall Comedy Festival boosts economy
The town that hosted the first Rik Mayall Comedy Festival has seen an economic boost with "best-ever" takings for businesses, a councillor has venues hosted 200 events in Droitwich, where the Young Ones star grew up – one of the most familiar faces on television in the 1980s and 1990s - but organisers said even the businesses that weren't hosting events have seen a record Morris, leader of Wychavon District Council, said the festival, which centred on Norbury Theatre where the performer first trod the boards, exceeded all expectations."It's been such a magnificent week," Morris said. "There's been such a buzz, such a great atmosphere, keeping Rik's memory alive. Antiques and pubs "It's 11 years ago to the day since he passed and as Greg Davies said, not enough was made of such an icon of comedy and we wanted to do that in Droitwich."Davies, one of the comedians who took part, had said Mayall "defined decades of comedy" and had not been celebrated told the BBC: "I think that him and his peers changed comedy totally. It moved it into an entirely different gear, a different arena, and I remember loving the fact that my parents didn't get it." Morris said he hoped the festival would become an annual event, adding: "Certainly, that's where we will be focusing on what have we learnt."Morris said there had been a big impact not only on Mayall's legacy, but also on the have not yet been compiled but the effect had been seen anecdotally, he said, adding: "Antique shops told me they had four times the takings they normally would, their best-ever takings."One of the pubs has said it's been their best-ever takings since they've been in operation."It's anecdotal and we've got to verify that, but if that's the feeling they've got, it's got to have had a really good effect." Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Accountancy firm joins line-up of partners for inaugural Rik Mayall Comedy Festival
A LEADING Worcestershire accountancy firm has pledged its support for the inaugural Rik Mayall Comedy Festival. Ormerod Rutter, one of the county's largest employers with 240 staff, has joined Nicol & Co as a community partner for the festival, which will run from Saturday, May 31 to Saturday, June 7. The festival, which is volunteer-led and supported by Rik Mayall's family, will feature a range of performances, screenings, and workshops at the Norbury Theatre and other venues across Droitwich. It will celebrate Mayall's legacy while attracting new visitors to the town. The firm will support the festival's final day event, Party in the Park, a community celebration featuring live comedy, music, and family-friendly entertainment. Tony Archer, a partner at the firm for almost 30 years, is leading the firm's commitment to the festival. He said: "At Ormerod Rutter, we are heavily involved in supporting our local community in any way that we can. "We're one of the largest employers in the area with over 240 members of staff – this is the community that our team are part of, and the community that have been our clients throughout our 40-year history. "We like to give back in any way we can. "We were made aware of the festival, and wanted to be involved, especially as many of the partners and team are huge fans of local legend Rik." Julian Powell, finance director of the festival, said: "We are incredibly grateful to Ormerod Rutter for their support as a community partner. "As a well-respected business in the region, their commitment to the local community is evident, and we're delighted to have them involved in the festival's closing celebrations." The firm, launched in Droitwich more than 40 years ago by Peter Ormerod and Garry Rutter, offers a wide range of accounting, audit, tax, and specialist advisory services. Mr Ormerod said: "A huge part of our culture is to give back to the local community. "We sponsor a variety of local grassroots sports teams. "We also raise money for various local charities throughout the year as well as organising volunteer days with them for our team."
BBC News
25-02-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Droitwich Spa: Rik Mayall mural unveiled in hometown
A mural dedicated to comedy legend Rik Mayall has been unveiled in the town where he grew up. The special piece of artwork has been created in an empty shop unit on Droitwich Spa's High Street and will help promote the town's first Rik Mayall Comedy Festival. Artist Milan Illustrator said it depicts Mayall as the king of comedy and features "five famous outfits from Rik's very famous characters".The community-run festival is taking place from 31 May to 7 June. Tickets for the headliners, who will play the Norbury Theatre, go on sale next month. Greg Davies, Peter Richardson, Shaparak Khorsandi and Helen Lederer have all been confirmed for the event. Mayall was one of the UK's most loved and best known performers when he died in 2014, aged 56. A pioneer of the 1980s alternative comedy scene, his work included The Young Ones, Blackadder and Bottom. Illustrator, an artist from Birmingham, told BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester he was familiar with Droitwich Spa and had included local references such as its radio mast. He added that one scene in the mural featured a sign for Droitwich Spa and Adrian Edmondson and Rik Mayall on their famous Bottom bench. He said his favourite part of his mural was the playing card depicting Mayall as the King of Comedy. Illustrator added he was "proud" to have worked on the design to honour the comedian and had spent hours working on it over the Christmas holidays. The artwork attracted a crowd when it was unveiled in the town on Monday. One shopper told the BBC it was "full of fun" and she loved it. "It's just what we need as well, something different," she said. And another passer-by said he liked the way it brightened up the street. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
