Horatio Nelson, Fever and Fire

Horatio Nelson, Fever and Fire comes to the Norwich Puppet Theatre on Friday 23 October, with a second night on Saturday 24 October. It's a one-man show written and performed by Adam Preston, and it's part of Trafalgar Week, so the timing fits the subject right on the nose.

The show follows the life of Norfolk's most famous son, Horatio Nelson, and doesn't just stick to the victory at Trafalgar. It weighs his triumphs and scandals against the psychological depths of Britain's greatest naval hero and his repeated brushes with death. It starts with his early years: the loss of his mother when he was nine and his status as an overlooked middle child, a drive the production says fuelled his relentless ambition. From there it traces his rise through the ranks, the fame, and the contradictions that sat alongside it.

Preston spent years researching the story before bringing the character to the stage, and the production comes to Norwich following sell-out runs at the Tabard Theatre in Chiswick. It's arrived with 100% positive reviews and a Standing Ovation Award nomination: London Theatre 1 called Preston's performance witty and insightful, and The Chiswick Calendar described it as a superb confluence of costume, character and context. The staging is rounded out by costumes from 2025 Primetime Emmy winner Dougie Hawkes and immersive sound design by Amanda Priestly.

Both nights run from 7:30pm to 8:30pm at the Norwich Puppet Theatre, Whitefriars, Creative Quarter Over the Water, NR3 1TN. Tickets are £17.50 for general admission and £11.50 for children.