Variety acts from across Norfolk and East Anglia are having to change the way they perform for new audiences.

That was the message from Christine Payne, general secretary of Equity, the national body for all actors and entertainers.

Mrs Payne was one of the main guests at the annual summer meeting for the East Anglia Variety branch at the Cottage pub in Cromer this afternoon.

The East Anglia Variety branch was set up in November 1983 for performers in Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. It is a part of Equity.

Mrs Payne said: 'Variety is changing. It is about being flexible and adapting what we do for new audiences. More and more people want to be entertained.'

She added it was not being performed as much in the traditional venues, including pubs, holiday camps.

Peachy Mead, secretary of the East Anglia Variety branch, said the Cromer end of the pier show was the only remaining event of its kind.