Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival Committee, Bridgwater Gangs and Features, and Bridgwater Town Council have joined forces to organise a special 2021 Variety Show.

The show, which will run from Sunday 31 October to Thursday 4 November, is one of the first live events to be staged at Bridgwater Town Hall since the start of the Pandemic, and is being held to thank the community for their patience and support over the past 18 months.

Featuring performances from the Bridgwater carnival clubs and a selection of front of curtain acts, the unique ‘one off’ 3½ hour long shows will take place on:

 Sunday 31 October 2021, 3pm
 Monday 1 November 2021, 7pm
 Tuesday 2 November 2021, 7pm
 Wednesday 3 November 2021, 7pm
 Thursday 4 November 2021, 7pm

The tickets, which have been kindly sponsored by Reflections (High Street, Bridgwater) are limited and cost just £5, and can be purchased either in person from the Carnival Centre, or by telephone 01278 428220 from Thursday 7 October. On Thursday 7 October, the carnival centre will be open between 09:00 hours and 17:00 hours, and between 18:00 hours and 20:00 hours. Tickets will not be available online.

Arthur Leigh, president, Bridgwater Gangs and Features, said: “Due to the pandemic and like many other events around the country, we have been unable to hold our annual carnival concerts and Old Folks Shows now for the past two years.

“This unique variety show gives everyone in carnival the opportunity to work together again, in a socially distanced and COVID secure way, and I am really looking forward to seeing our carnivalites back on the stage and entertaining the
public again.”

Mike Crocker, President, Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival, added: “It really is exciting to see us getting some sort of normality back again as these past 18 months have been extremely difficult for everyone.

“All being well, the much loved carnival concerts and Old Folks Shows should return in 2022, and on behalf of everybody associated with Bridgwater Carnival, I would like to thank Bridgwater Town Council for their support and for providing the town hall facilities free of charge”.

Cllr Leigh Redman, Mayor of Bridgwater, said: “After the Pandemic restrictions were eased, I recognised how important it was for the town to safely return to some sort of normality, and as a Bridgwater boy who had been involved with carnival for 20 years, I was also keen to find a way to support and boost fundraising for Bridgwater Carnival 2022.

“So with the approval of Bridgwater Town Council, and after discussions with the carnival clubs and committee, we were pleased to offer the town hall facilities free of charge to allow this special variety show to go ahead.

“All funds raised from the performances will go towards carnival funds, and as well as giving Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival a massive reboot, it will also be a great boost for our town and the local economy.

“Bridgwater Carnival means a lot to our town, it is a big part of our community, and as Mayor it gives me great pleasure to help in this way. I cannot wait to see the show, and I would like to thank all of the carnivalites involved for their tremendous efforts.

“Remember Bridgwater is open for business and the Town Council want to support it”.