Category: 26 in 2026

26 in 2026 #17

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Cinema City Norwich.

The Last Guest of the Holloway Motel.

Our fifth visit to the cinema this year, it’s another documentary rather than a movie.

This was a last minute booking after realising yesterday’s Coldplay extravaganza was only the first outing of the month. Lots of animated films and rubbish on at the moment, so this was the best of a bad bunch.

The documentary is about an ex-Norwich footballer: Tony Powell.

Tony Powell moved to California after a successful football career to run the Holloway Motel. But his life was more complicated than that: broken marriage, estranged children, no contact with his siblings and behind all this his difficulties in being openly gay in the 1970/80s.

It was an interesting documentary although failed to really cover his life fully.

As much as it’s nearly impossible to rate all the cinema visits, and it feels a bit harsh, it goes in at number 5:

  1. Project Hail Mary
  2. Our Land
  3. EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert
  4. Hamnet
  5. The Last Guest of the Holloway Hotel

26 in 2026 #15

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Beans on Toast.

Thorington Theatre.

A really good evening. Thorington Theatre is a fantastic outdoor space, first time visit, but not the last.

It was a Beans and friends evening: Jack Francis, She Drew the Gun, before Beans himself (with Ten Sheds on the keyboard).

Loved it.

Fifth gig of the year, goes in at number two:

  1. Frank Turner
  2. Beans on Toast
  3. The Bug Club
  4. Los Campesinos!
  5. The RnR Show

26 in 2026 #13

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Heathers.

Platform Theatre, City College Norwich.

Tonight was the turn of the musical. Heathers. Iconic movie from the 1980s adapted for the stage. When I say ‘iconic’, I’d never actually heard of it, so had no idea what to expect.

It was a production by the drama students at City College in Norwich, ex-student invited us.

Great production, loads of dancing and loads of songs. Loads of killing.

The sound was a bit drowned out by the band at times, but all in all, the kids did well.

Seen a few good shows this year so far, so this only makes number 4:

  1. Romeo & Juliet
  2. Operation Mincemeat
  3. Top Hat
  4. Heathers
  5. 2.22: A Ghost Story

26 in 2026 #12

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‘The Bug Club’

Norwich Arts Centre.

Fourth gig of the year. A visit to the lovely Norwich Arts Centre for the fabulous The Bug Club.

Really good evening – they don’t mess around – it was song after song after song.

The Bug Club go in at number 2 in the gig chart:

  1. Frank Turner
  2. The Bug Club
  3. Los Campesinos!
  4. The RnR Show

26 in 2026 #11

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‘Los Campesinos!’

Epic Studios

The 11th evening of entertainment, but surprisingly, only the third gig of the year. I’m not a mega Los Campesinos! fan, but I have a friend who definitely is! So we were treated to a night out in Norwich to watch the band.

It was an entertaining evening, although I must admit it is strange going to see a gig when you don’t really know the words to any songs.

Having said that, album has been purchased and will be investing some time having a listen.

It makes number two in the ‘gig chart’:

  1. Frank Turner
  2. Los Campesinos!
  3. The RnR Show

26 in 2026 #10

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‘Our Land’

Cinema City, Norwich.

The fourth visit of the year to the cinema, not for an actual film this time, but a documentary.

This documentary is about the right to roam campaign, to give walkers the same rights of those in Scotland. To walk responsibly across and through any land.

The documentary was followed by a Q&A session with the director and other right to roam campaigners.

Overall, an entertaining evening.

As much as it’s nearly impossible to rate all the cinema visits, this goes in at number 2:

  1. Project Hail Mary
  2. Our Land
  3. EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert
  4. Hamnet