Winners of Theatre Star Trail are announced

The Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds and Our Bury St Edmunds BID have announced the winners of the Theatre Star Trail which took place over the summer in celebration of the theatre’s 200th anniversary year.

The winners were invited to the theatre to collect their prizes and have a photo taken together on the stage.

A total of 25 stars were placed around the town centre, each one with the name of a celebrity performer who has appeared at theatre including Joanna Lumley, Dame Judi Dench, Sir Ian McKellen, Sir Derek Jacobi, Julian Clary, Michael McIntyre and more.

Participants were tasked with finding all of them, noting the names down on an entry form and handing them in. The correctly completed entries were gathered up, and a random draw took place in the theatre in late November, the 10 winners were then invited to a prizegiving ceremony.

Mark Cordell, CEO of the Our Bury St Edmunds Business Improvement District (BID), said: “I was delighted to work in partnership with Theatre Royal to celebrate their 200th anniversary by creating the Star Trail, which proved a popular attraction in our town centre during this year. It was great to see some of the performers featured on a star, visit the theatre during 2019.

“The trail this year was a little longer to walk around than our previous Wolf and WW1 trails but I was delighted to receive so many correct entries and I hope all the winners enjoy their prizes.”

Julia Read, head of development at the theatre, added: “Theatre Royal is a registered charity and the Star Trail raised a really splendid amount of £10,500 sponsorship from some of our wonderful local businesses. Their collective sponsorship and generosity contributed significantly towards Theatre Royal’s annual £170,000 fundraising target which goes towards its operating costs.”

The trail’s sponsors in full Abbeycroft Leisure, Abbeyfields Clinic, Abbeygate Cinema, Angel Hotel, Ashtons Legal, Beckett Investment Management, Brancaster House, Century Logistics, Churchgates, Coastline Graphics, Ellisons Solicitors incorporating Gross & Co., Greene & Greene, Greene King, Jacobs Allen, J M Finn, Larkbridge, Oakes Barn, Our Bury St Edmunds BID, Sheridans, St Edmundsbury Wealth Management, The Arc, The Old Cannon, Troy and Vivien Gainsborough-Foot.

The conclusion of the star trail is the penultimate event in Theatre Royal’s 200th anniversary celebrations, with the pantomime Peter Pan forming a glittering finale to the year.

The theatre has recently announced its new spring 2020 season with another packed line-up of shows and events.

Full details can be found on the website – www.theatreroyal.org, or by collecting a brochure from the theatre or various information points around Bury St Edmunds.

Pictured above are the winners of the Theatre Royal Star Trail with Mark Cordell (left) and Julia Read (right).