Stephen Crocker

Across each year, we all have our own sense of when one 12-month period comes to a close and another one begins: when we are resting and reflecting, and then we are gearing up to start again. 

As we get into our adult life, we find our own individual collection of beginnings and endings that have meaning for us, and they give rhythm to our lives.

It is hard for any of us to avoid the calendar year, whether we see December 31 as New Year’s Eve or mark the old Norfolk custom of Old Year’s Night.

It’s also impossible to deny that, even more than ever right now, money is making the year go around, with the usual financial years presenting direct and indirect challenges for many.

Like never before, annual fixed interest rates and energy tariffs expiring are now sadly triggering new and often unwanted or life-changing endings and beginnings that are out of our control. 

I also love the wonderfully diverse range of ways that many people balance the rhythm that is forced on us and give their own set of openings and closings to their years through their passions and interests.

The annual seasons in lots of sports are frequent examples, but also in many areas of arts and culture, particularly in amateur groups and societies, which is a scene so thriving here in Norfolk.

So much joy is derived from this ebb and flow. At the level of personal beliefs, whether it is Advent Sunday or Summer Solstice, many religious faiths and spiritual belief systems also centre around this sense of renewal. 

Every year the August Bank Holiday heralds one such new beginning that is imposed on us all when we are young and which I don’t believe we ever shake off (I certainly haven’t!).

That wonderful sense of freedom and escape during the summer holidays gives way to the impending start of a new term, whatever combination of terror and excitement that sense of newness stirs in us.

Whether it’s having a new teacher or class, moving to a new school or college or even moving to a new city if you are embarking on a university course, this is a period of change and transition for many still within education.

For teachers and all those supporting people in education, I can only imagine it must feel like the first part of running a long race right now, and it’s definitely a marathon and not a sprint! 

At Norwich Theatre, to support this new beginning, we have recently announced our Take Part activities and workshops for this new autumn term.

These include a new series of Creative Matters: Climate Stories activities developed with Norfolk and Waveney Mind, a new choir, workshops to boost wellbeing for people of all ages and a huge range of opportunities for children and young people at school, college or university to attend shows or take part. 

Whatever beginning is most important to us in the year, what unites us all is that wish to ‘get off to a good start’.

As another academic year begins, here’s wishing the best of starts to all those preparing for ‘back to school’ in whatever way. For more information see norwichtheatre.org/take-part

Stephen Crocker is chief executive and creative director of Norwich Theatre