The Maddermarket Theatre opened its doors to the public for the first time in September 1921. Originally a Roman Catholic Chapel, the building was discovered, derelict and abandoned, by Nugent Monck whilst searching for a permanent home for The Guild of Norwich Players, a troupe he had founded in 1911. The conversion of the Chapel, into a working, Elizabethan style theatre took six weeks and the opening production of ‘As You Like It’ was a great success, with even the playwright George Bernard Shaw sending his best wishes. By 1933 the Norwich Players had become the first amateur company to produce all of Shakespeare’s plays under one director.
Almost one hundred years after our foundation the Maddermarket Theatre and the Norwich Players continue to produce a full programme of high quality and engaging theatre for audiences throughout the region.
2019 sees us staging ten main house productions from family favourite The Secret Garden to the regional premier of Tristan Bernays modern, brutal telling of Boudica; and a double-bill of plays for solo performer from the visionary theatre-maker Samuel Beckett performed in the intimate setting of the Emmerson Studio.
In addition to the Norwich Players programme, the venue welcomes a variety of touring professional shows ranging from popular music tribute acts to celebrity speakers, and provides a performance space for other local companies.
Through the Mad Red Theatre School, our education programme, we aim to provide the opportunity to experience, participate and be trained towards live performance.
Sponsorship Opportunities
An ongoing challenge for us at the theatre are the costs involved in producing each play. From performance rights to wardrobe expenses, the costs are in the region of £3,000 per play.
With this in mind, we are reaching out to you and the business community, to share our creative journey, and support on a local, regional and national level. With your support you are helping us continue to offer a rich, diverse cultural showcase, and we in turn offer a sponsor package that we believe is excellent value combined with corporate responsibility.
We would love to welcome you as a sponsor so please contact Alice Wright (General Manager) on 01603 62650 to start the process.
Our Sponsors Experience
You and up to thirty guests will be met in the foyer by your host and escorted to The Emmerson Studio where refreshments will be available and the Theatre Trustees will be available to answer your questions.
For the performance you will take your seats in the upstairs gallery which will be closed for your exclusive use. (Up to 50 tickets worth £600)
During the interval pre-ordered drinks and ice creams will be served in the Emmerson Studio and you will have a chance to meet the theatre’s professional staff.
After the show members of the cast will be available to meet the members of the Sponsorship group in the Emmerson Studio.
Marketing Package
- Your logo in our twice yearly theatre brochure (48,000 printed annually, 14,000 direct mail)
- Inclusion on our Sponsors leaflet rack for a year
- Your logo on our external Sponsor’s board.
- Your logo on every poster and leaflet for the Sponsored Show.
- Programme adverts for the run of the Sponsored Show
- Your marketing materials at the theatre from the first night of the Sponsored Show to the start of the next play
- Two promotional posts on our social media channels (6K Twitter followers, 3K Facebook likes, 1.2K Instagram followers)
- Inclusion on our promotional emails for the Sponsored Show (10K subscribers)