f you like your theatre with a little darkness, plenty of humour and a family that has never quite followed the rules, there is something suitably spooky heading to Norwich this autumn.
Sound Ideas Theatre Company is bringing The Addams Family musical to Norwich Theatre Playhouse from 30 September to 4 October, offering audiences the chance to step into the wonderfully strange world of one of popular culture’s most recognisable families.
Based on the characters created by cartoonist Charles Addams, the musical puts a fresh spin on the familiar family. At its centre is Wednesday Addams, who has grown up and fallen in love with Lucas Beineke, a young man from a completely ordinary family. The problem is that Wednesday’s idea of normal is rather different from everyone else’s.
For the Addams family, the strange is familiar and the macabre is part of everyday life. Lucas and his parents, meanwhile, come from a much more conventional world. When Wednesday decides to invite them to the Addams home for dinner, the evening quickly becomes anything but ordinary.
The situation becomes even more complicated when Wednesday asks her father, Gomez, to keep a secret from Morticia. Gomez finds himself caught between his daughter and his wife, something that proves particularly difficult when the entire family is brought together for one very revealing evening.
What follows is a story of family, love and the awkwardness that comes when two very different worlds collide. Beneath the eccentric costumes, dark humour and larger than life characters, The Addams Family is ultimately about growing up, falling in love and learning to accept people for who they are.
For audiences familiar with the television series, films and distinctive characters, there will be plenty of recognisable names and personalities to enjoy. Gomez, Morticia, Wednesday, Pugsley, Uncle Fester, Grandma and Lurch all play their part in the family chaos, while the arrival of the Beinekes provides the perfect contrast to the Addams household.
The musical also brings plenty of energy to the stage, combining comedy and music with the slightly gothic style that has made the Addams family so enduring. Rather than simply relying on its dark aesthetic, the production explores the relationships between the characters, particularly the bond between Wednesday and her parents as she begins to make her own choices.
That balance between humour and heart is part of what makes the story appealing to more than one generation. There is the eccentricity and theatricality that younger audiences can enjoy, alongside the family dynamics and familiar characters that will be recognisable to those who grew up with the Addams family.
Sound Ideas Theatre Company’s production comes to Norwich Theatre Playhouse for a limited run, with evening performances throughout the week and selected matinees. The production is suitable for audiences aged seven and above, making it an option for families looking for something different to see together during the autumn.
The Norwich Theatre Playhouse itself provides an intimate setting for the production, allowing audiences to get close to the action as the Addams household comes to life on stage. With the show running for approximately two hours and 20 minutes including an interval, there is plenty of time to settle into the strange and wonderfully chaotic world of the family.
Tickets are priced at £26.50, with performances taking place between 30 September and 4 October. While the story may be filled with secrets, eccentric relatives and a little darkness, at its heart The Addams Family is a celebration of being different and finding your place within a family.
So, if you are looking for a theatrical night out in Norwich with a generous helping of comedy, music and gothic charm, this could be one to add to the autumn calendar. Just remember to snap your fingers.
Location: Norwich Theatre Playhouse, St George’s Street, Norwich
Website: https://norwichtheatre.org/whats-on/sound-ideas-presents-the-addams-family/