There will be an evening of family entertainment at the Marine Theatre, Lyme Regis on Friday 30th March to celebrate the life of Norman Barns, a great friend of the theatre, who died in October.   Entitled ‘I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles’, it promises to be ‘a merry miscellany of music and theatre’ – an evening that Norman himself would have loved.   

Norman was well-known in East Devon and West Dorset for his passions for the natural world and the theatre.   He first came to live in Lyme Regis in 1951 when he began teaching at Axminster Secondary Modern School, where he stayed for some 30 years.   On retirement he became Warden of the Undercliffs for English Nature and led so many natural history walks that – much to his amusement - he was once described as ‘legendary’.

His daughter, Monika, who is arranging the event said:  ‘My Dad had a lifelong love of theatre, beginning when he joined the League of Nations Youth Theatre when he was 11.  He performed in many plays and musicals and also directed.   I spent many happy hours with him at various theatres, including the Marine Theatre – he was always keen to see anything that was on.  Tony Langford, a great Marine Theatre favourite, will be presenting the show and singing.   Others taking part include Rene Wyndham – too rarely heard singing on the stage, and Jane McKell, a regular visitor to Lyme with her own Company.  LYT Unleashed will be presenting a one-act melodrama ‘The Vampire’.   The evening will finish with a good old singalong!  ‘I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles’  is also raising money for the theatre and Lyme Youth Theatre.

I hope that lots of people will come on March 30th – everyone, whether they knew Dad or not, will be very welcome.’

Seating will be cabaret style. The Bar and Coffee Bar will be open before, during, and after the performance which begins at 7.30.  Tickets are available from the Box Office at the Lyme Regis Tourist Information Centre – 01297 442138