This summer, the volume is going up as the Potters Theatre Company prepares to launch its newest production.
Set to debut from mid-June as part of the early summer season, AMPLIFIED! will take centre stage at Hopton-on-Sea and Five Lakes. Bringing with it a soundtrack that spans generations, it’s a high-energy celebration of the greatest pop and rock anthems ever recorded.
Replacing the much-loved Totally 80s (though not without giving that unforgettable decade a starring role of its own), AMPLIFIED! promises to be bigger, bolder and louder than ever. From classic rock and roll and epic ballads to arena-filling anthems, glittering glam and soulful medleys, this is a show designed to make you sing, dance and relive the soundtrack of your life.
Creative Producer Roxy Yarnold describes the production as a true celebration of music that shaped the world: “AMPLIFIED! is about those songs that instantly transport you back to a moment in time,” she explains. “Whether it’s the first riff you ever fell in love with, the song that filled a dancefloor, or an anthem that still gives you goosebumps, this show is packed with music that will really resonate with guests.”
The show opens exactly as it intends to continue. Loud and proud! Setting the tone with three huge anthems in the world of rock — We Built This City, I Love Rock ’n’ Roll and We Will Rock You — audiences will feel the energy surge from the very first beat.
AMPLIFIED! then continues to take you on a journey, from early rock and roll featuring hits from Elvis Presley, Little Richard and Chuck Berry to a British invasion with music from the likes of The Kinks, The Rolling Stones, Small Faces and more, capturing the raw rhythm and rebellion of some of the genre’s biggest British stars.
Classic rock follows, with iconic tracks from Led Zeppelin, Thin Lizzy, AC/DC and more, before a Fleetwood Mac medley — all delivered with that trademark Potters Theatre Company panache.
For Roxy, every show is about balance: “We want the show to feel like a rollercoaster,” she says. “Yes, there are moments where it’s full throttle. But also sections where things move slower so you can really connect with the music. That contrast is what makes it exciting, but with the glitz and glamour that you see in every PTC show!”
That sense of spectacle is in full flow by the time the glam rock section arrives, where glitter, attitude and showmanship take over. From David Bowie and T. Rex to Sweet, Alice Cooper and Suzi Quatro, this part of the show is unapologetically fun — a visual and musical feast that brings larger-than-life energy to the stage.
The journey then heads stateside, blending storytelling and big choruses in country and American rock. Music from legends such as Bruce Springsteen, Eagles, Bob Seger, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Bryan Adams all feature, and will have you picturing the heartlands of the U.S.A. as your journey through rock continues.
Creative Assistant Saskia Dean says: “AMPLIFIED! is not just about big hits. There are moments when the audience gets a chance to really listen, reflect and connect. I expect the atmosphere in our theatres to change throughout every section.”
Fans of the departing Totally 80s can rest assured that the decade still has a starring role. Not least in the next section, which covers classic ballads from Cher, Phil Collins, Meatloaf, U2 and Madonna.
There’s no better way to finish than with some of the biggest stadium fillers from Whitesnake, Bon Jovi and Journey. A grand finale packed with songs that bring the house down and send you back to your room (or The Garden Bar for more fun!) on a high.
Rehearsals for AMPLIFIED! begin next month. And the PTC are ready to pour their trademark dedication into every detail — from vocals and choreography to lighting and staging.
“There’s been a real buzz in rehearsals,” Saskia adds. “The cast can feel that it’s a special production that everyone will love. And every time we rehearse, it gets more exciting. We can’t wait for opening night.”
Set against the stunning backdrops of The Atlas Theatre and The Glade Theatre, AMPLIFIED! is a pulsating celebration of music, memories and the unmistakable magic of live Potters Theatre Company productions at Potters.
So get ready, because summer nights at Hopton-on-Sea and Five Lakes are officially turning up the volume.
AMPLIFIED! is expected to launch at Hopton-on-Sea from Friday 12th June, and at Five Lakes from Monday 22nd June. Make plans for your summer getaway below…
