A long established show in Bridgwater’s annual event diary returns to the town at the end of March after a two-year gap.
The Old Folks Show, which features the Bridgwater carnival clubs, will take place at Bridgwater Town Hall between Thursday 24 March and Saturday 26 March 2022.
The clubs first staged the free show back in 1962. It was the idea of Kelvin Foster, former chairman of Wills Carnival Club, and at the time it was designed to thank the pensioners of the town for their continued support over the year and for helping to keep the carnival spirit alive. To the current day, this overarching principle has remained, and every year the free tickets are highly sought after by the over 60s of the town.
The show is organised by local carnivalite, Wayne Anker, with support from the Bridgwater Gangs and Features members, and headed by president, Arthur Leigh, and his wife, Lynne, and a back and front stage army of volunteers and helpers who represent all of the clubs who perform on the stage.
Wayne said: “I’m sure I am speaking for everyone involved when I say how pleased and excited we are to be putting on an Old Folks Show in 2022.
“Like many events throughout the UK, COVID restrictions meant we could not stage a show in 2020 and 2021, and I am absolutely delighted for the town’s over 60s in being able to entertain them once again.”
During the three night show, the individual club performances are extremely entertaining, and although less serious with the content and stage setting than the annual carnival concerts held in October, the standards of singing and dancing remain the same.
“The show is really good fun for everyone involved and it’s a chance for us all to relax and get into the carnival spirit”, added Wayne. “As well as providing new carnival club members with some stage experience without the competitive pressure of being judged, it is also a very enjoyable and social event for us all.”
Tickets for the show are free and are available from the carnival centre, High Street, Bridgwater on Saturday 26 February between 10am and 12 noon. Thereafter any remaining tickets will be available from the carnival centre during normal opening hours.
