UK VARIETY
This month we feature a few pieces of news and information on the nationwide variety and touring theatre show scene. Compiled by Mark Ritchie.

TORQUAY
It is not certain who dubbed the Devon coast as The English Riviera, but genteel and picturesque Torquay, once to the fictitious Fawlty Towers hotel has a great new venue. Arena Torquay is set to open its doors this coming spring, with performance spaces for music comedy and cultural events. The venue wad formerly used to house a nightclub complex and the main auditorium will be able to house up to 1200 patrons.
CROMER
The famous Cromer Pier has become a hot-bed for successful summer seaside shows, with some amazing business being done. The format of the show is to put a full cast of all-singing- all dancing stars on the bill and augment the show will comedians and comedy Compere figures who come and go in rotation. The 20205 offering promises to be bigger than ever.
COVENTRY
Being sent to Coventry holds an entirely different meaning, provided ace entertainer and producer Andy Eastwood has sent you there. The Belgrade Theatre in Coventry is again staging large-scale matinee variety shows, produced by and featuring the man himself, during 2025.
BLACKPOOL
We can never feature a UK Variety page without giving Blackpool a mention. There is much current activity at the masterpiece of architecture that is The Winter Gardens complex. Recently part of the complex was converted into a £30m conference space. The Empress Ballroom and many other auditoria exists within this magnificent building. On the variety front the 2800- seater Opera House is the jewel in the crown. Like so many seaside theatre venues, tribute bands and acts form much of the format, but during 2025 stars such as Paddy McGuinness Jason Manford and Jimmy Carr, as well as singing star Gabrielle will also be popping up on the magnificent and historic stage.
CHAPEL ST LEONARDS
The Club Tropicana is operated by a large caravan holiday company on the Lincolnshire coast and the main auditorium now operates successful as a large-scale family cabaret operation. The venue now books tribute acts, band’s and all manner of family orientated entertainment. Instead of operating a small and intimate space for the adult-only cabaret business, the venue is now presenting large-scale variety shows in their main venue, but staging them in the afternoons. The clubs executive booker Chris Merry is currently setting out staging a number of such shows during the 2025 season after successfully piloting the matinee shows for adult-only audiences throughout last summer.