Rock Tour 2 - Norwich

After a fabulous day in Ipswich and a wonderful morning meeting, it was just a short journey over the border into Norfolk, to Norwich. Norwich is almost like a second home to Roger and Mary - they have been supported for years by Meadow Way Chapel, and the Southgate family.

After driving very slowly through Norwich Saturday shopping traffic, we finally arrived at the venue - the Salvation Army Citadel. This is the second time this venue has been used. For Wildfire six years ago we used the Norwich family church, and it was booked for Jail Break, but was burnt down a couple of months before the performance. The Salvation Army Citadel stepped in for Jail Break, and it was such a good venue we used it again for Rock.

Salvation Army Citadels make excellent concert venues, as there is almost always some permanent tiered seating at the front - ideal for choirs. The tiered seating at Norwich was not quite big enough for the large choir for Rock, so some of the sopranos were down on stage left, and some more above them in the balcony. The instrumentalists were up on the balcony on stage left - their beautiful tones drifting over the top of the auditorium.

After a delicious lunch organised by the local team (headed up by Jenny Osborne) we had a quick team meeting during which the choir started arriving for rehearsal ahead of the first performance of the day. The Norwich choir, trained by Jenny Osborne, was supplemented by a choir from Lowestoft, trained by Peter Winter. Together they made an excellent sound, which filled the 450 seater auditorium beautifully.

The first performance went well, and the audience seats were almost all filled. We were then able to share with the choir over tea before the second performance, which was great - while attempting to find out the news of qualifying for the first formula 1 grand prix of the season with very little mobile phone signal...

The second performance of the day went well too, although slightly interrupted by a lady in the choir fainting during Just as I am. After being led off the stage, she fainted again, blocking one of the two entrances to the stage so that the dancers couldn't get on ready for song 14 - the healing of the lame man. Martin, who's job it is to carry on one of the dancers to be the lame man instead grabbed the nearest person - Sally, who was still wearing her costume from the previous song. The lady that fainted recovered well, which is a relief. Days with both a matinnee and an evening performance can be quite challenging to choirs, sitting under the hot lights for so long.

Thanks so much to Jenny and Ruth and all the team in Norwich. Most of the touring party travelled to Meadow Way chapel for the following morning's service, with Ann, Annie, Marilyn and Helen augmenting their excellent worship band. It was a lovely service, with Roger preaching, and an excellent way to end the week's tour.