Theatre and Dance

Memories include the legend, Barbara Windsor in the audience, to cheer on, or boo, the famous Ross Kemp, soaring across the stage as Captain Hook.  Current Corn Exchange manager Tom will never forget his cream pie to the face from Barry Chuckle, of the infamous Chuckle Brothers.

Performances from the English National Ballet, the Royal Ballet and international company Mergaliyev Classical Ballet have been highlights of the festive season with their Christmas shows.

‘As press officer at the Corn Exchange, I’d be involved in arranging photocalls, interviews etc. For a number of years, The Royal Ballet would come to the venue for a few days as part of ‘Dance Bites’... One year, we were lucky enough to have the company’s youngest ever Principal Dancer, Darcey Bussell, one of the most famous British dancers of her generation come to the venue.

While she was in Cambridge... it was quite a highlight to share a taxi with ‘Darce’, as her accompanying publicist and assistant would call her... But an even bigger highlight came several weeks later. A package wrapped in brown paper arrived for me... and inside to my delight and surprise, was a very battered pair of pale pink block ballet shoes; the satin and blocks rubbed and worn from hours of rehearsing...signed by her and sitting on my desk! Very precious to this day, the worn out shoes a uniquely personal testament to the talent of their owner.’ Christina McNally, former press officer at the Corn Exchange

For many children of Cambridge, the Corn Exchange has provided their first taste of performance to a live audience through ‘Battle of the Bands’ events and auditions for live shows.