About

The Show

The Summer Show has been entertaining audiences of all ages in it’s current format since 2016. The ethos of ‘family, friendly variety entertainment’ sits at the very heart of all our productions. With nostalgic nods to the past whilst keeping a firm eye on the future, our cast and creative teams, strive to deliver an outstanding theatrical experience the whole family can share.

Our high-quality production values, enthralling performances and imaginative set pieces ensures The Summer Show delivers a fast-paced feast of family entertainment for all.

The Theatre

Situated in Clacton on Sea, the 585 seat West Cliff Theatre can trace its beginnings back to 1894. Offering a year-round programme of shows and productions, the West Cliff Theatre is a unique jewel in Clacton’s crown. Run entirely by a charitable trust and volunteers, a warm and friendly welcome is guaranteed on every visit. Many famous names have played the venue over the years but at the heart of what they offer is their co-productions of The Summer and Christmas Shows.

The History

The history of the West Cliff Summer Variety Season can be traced back to 1894 when Bert Graham, a 22 year old former Civil Servant from London, together with his sister and a few friends, formed a variety company, known as the London Concert Company, and staged an open air concert party season on a patch of waste ground in Agate Road, Clacton-on-Sea.

After several moves of location in the following four years, the company finally moved to an open air theatre on what was then the West Cliff Recreation Ground in 1899 and made this their permanent home.

In 1902, a small wood and canvas theatre was built to house the show and then, in 1928, the present theatre was built.

During this period, Bert Graham and his co-producers, Bernard Russell (who sadly died in 1910) and Will Bentley, continued to put on a Summer Variety Season. After 40 years of producing the Summer Season, Graham & Bentley retired in 1934 and the Theatre was bought by William Hinds. Under Hinds, the Summer Season continued until his death in 1957.

Following Will Hinds’ death, Clacton Urban District Council bought the West Cliff so that the tradition of the Summer Season could continue. The Council brought in guest producers to stage the show, including Bunny Baron and Francis Golightly, whose spectacular Cascade Revues are still well remembered today.

The History

In 1995, the West Cliff (Tendring) Trust bought the theatre from the Council and, from 2002, when Francis’s contract came to an end, took on the running of the Summer Show, using producers such as Paul Holman, John Warwick, Chris Gidney and Michael Wooldridge.

In 2016, for the first time since Will Hinds’ death, the West Cliff Theatre itself, in co-operation with AJL Theatrical Ltd, produced the show, which proved to be the most successful for many years.

In 2017, with the success of the Summer Season, the West Cliff, together with AJL, staged a Christmas Variety Season. This too proved to be highly successful and has also continued to the present day.

Over the years a number of star names have headlined the shows, names such as Stanley Holloway, Frankie Howerd, Tommy Trinder, Norman Collier and Don Maclean. It has also been responsible for unearthing talent making their first stage appearances, who went on to become star names themselves, including Ruthie Henshall and Gary Wilmot. But, whether star names have appeared or not, the show has always been noted for its Glitz and Glamour and top class family entertainment.

The fact that we can date our show back to 1894 and that in all that time, apart from the Second World War, we have only missed three seasons (one through COVID in 2020), makes our Summer Show the longest running continuous Summer Variety Season staged anywhere in the United Kingdom. Something the West Cliff is extremely proud of and intend to continue producing for many years to come.