1973
Marcel Marceau Performs
A fifteen day music festival, as part of a run of triennial events.
A highlight of the 1973 Festival came with the first performance in England of French mime artist Marcel Marceau at the Theatre Royal. Unfortunately, his props got lost on route to the theatre and as such, he had to improvise a whole new performance – a history of mime – and forced him to speak on stage for the first time in many years. The props were later found to have been delivered to the garage of the Festival organiser, although to this day, no-one knew how they got there!
A new fringe committee helped organise some of the free and non-traditional events, including live jazz, lectures, a themed banquet and a Punch and Judy show.
Festival Programme, Marcel Marceau, 1973. Image Courtesy of Norfolk & Norwich Festival archive.
Festival Programme, Marcel Marceau, 1973. Image Courtesy of Norfolk & Norwich Festival archive.
Festival club ticket from 1973. Image Courtesy of Norfolk & Norwich Festival archive.
Festival ticket from 1973. Image Courtesy of Norfolk & Norwich Festival archive.
Festival Report
In 1974 a report was written by G B Weeks, Chairman of the management committee.
“The most important point to be decided is whether (the Festival) should continue with the policy of trying to broaden the Festival with drama, exhibitions and fringe activities or whether we should concentrate on resources on an exclusively musical Festival in which the organisational and administrative problems (not to mention the financial risk) would not be nearly so great.”
He continued that he hoped the theatre and museums would provide ‘suitable’ shows at festival time with the festival funds offering only “some limited financial help.”
While considering working towards an Annual or Biennial Festival, he says “the idea has considerable merit especially because of the difficulties of continuity associated with a triennial event.”
Festival Report. Taken from the Norfolk & Norwich Festival archive.