Drama, intrigue, comedy and tragedy, the Maddermarket Theatre has seen it all since the curtain first rose more than 100 years ago.
But never before has the Norwich venue witnessed such histrionics as the alleged "coup" that has thrown its future into doubt.
The melodrama began back in the dark days of lockdown. In a bid to bounce back from being closed for so long new general manager Elliott Wilshier opened up the stage to some different types of shows.
Whereas before the only residency handed out was to the well-established and respected Norwich Players now companies including On the Huh, Sound Ideas Theatre Company and Echo Youth Theatre were given the chance to tread the boards.
And unlike the Players, who favour the Bard, some of these companies preferred the bawdy.
Now more than 90pc of the staff have exited stage left after the theatre's recent annual meeting leaving many asking, what will Act II bring?
New chairman, John Dixon, said: "Members decided that they wanted a different team of trustees to take the theatre forward into 2024."
However, general manager Elliott Wilshier is among those leaving.
Mr Wilshier, who started in August 2021, said: “I was a theatre manager in Sydney, Australia, so I have lots of experience. I leapt at the chance to bring this great little theatre back to life.
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“When I started, I was the only member of staff and there were a few shows planned. Along with the board of trustees, we knew we needed to look at finances, clean everything up and broaden the programming to ensure it was a real community space.”
Following this, Mr Wilshier and the board recruited a technical, marketing and front of house team they were proud of.
But at the meeting earlier this month, a record number of proxy votes were lodged which resulted in Norwich Players members being voted onto the board.
Mr Wilshier said the most hurtful thing to come from the meeting was when some people were referred to as "infiltrators".
“The disregard for all the work they had done in calling them this reduced a few of the trustees to tears,” he added.
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Following the meeting Mr Wilshier resigned and behind him were 90pc of the workforce including the finance manager, technical manager, deputy technical manager, marketing coordinator, operations coordinator, administrator and the front of house staff.
As well as this, many promoters have pulled out of 2023 programming.
Mr Wilshier said: “Without a small team I think they will have a difficult time, I don’t wish them any ill but it looks pretty grim from where I'm sitting.”
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The new companies brought shows such as drag acts and adult pantomimes but these didn't prove popular with everyone.
Mr Wilshier said: “They really didn’t care for any drag acts, they particularly didn’t like the adult panto.
“I understand people don’t like all types of art but it's important we reflect all our community, the adult panto and Razzle Dazzle were the most lucrative things we did in the last 20 months."
With a new board of trustees, made up of mostly Norwich Players, a new era is starting at the Maddermarket.
New chairman Mr Dixon said: "The theatre is working on its schedule of future shows and with its excellent volunteer base, will be looking to deliver a programme of quality in-house and visiting productions just as it has always done.
"I would like to thank all the outcoming board members for their important contribution to keeping this much-loved community theatre going following the pandemic."
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