Grand Theatre Heritage Open Day

This Saturday 13 September at the Grand Theatre you are invited to take part in a very exciting back stage and heritage tour of The Grade II* listed building as it celebrates its 120th birthday year celebrations.

Starting at 10am, the Grand invites the intrepid and the curious to delve into the building’s past in a behind the scenes tour of the ‘hidden gem of the North’.

The Grand Theatre first opened  23 July 1894 and was built by the leading Victorian architect Frank Matcham. It remains one of the few surviving examples of his work. It has played host to an array of performers since its opening, from Lily Langtree to Michael McIntyre, Gracie Fields to Ken Dodd, Arthur Askey, Lee Evans and most recently Dawn French.  It has hosted a number of award-winning touring companies too, including the National Theatre, English Touring Theatre, the Royal Shakespeare Company, Opera and Ballet International and the Russian State Ballet.

The opening will give visitors the chance to explore the Grand for free, with opportunities to catch a glimpse behind the scenes of the theatre, investigate the archive collection and meander around the auditorium, taking in the charming décor and beautiful Matcham features.

‘Matcham’s Masterpiece’ is one of the few surviving examples of the work of Frank Matcham, the leading Victorian theatre architect. The theatre took just nine months to build and cost Thomas Sergenson, a local theatre manager, £20,000 to build.

It is also really sad to note that in the sixties theatres across Britain were closing due to the popularity of television. In July of 1972, the Tower Company, owner of the Grand at the time, applied for permission to demolish it to build a department store. Thankfully and following an application to the Department of the Environment, the theatre had been listed as a Grade II* building and there had to be a full public enquiry.

So here is your chance to get behind the scenes of one of Blackpool’s real gems and have an insight in to what goes on in a fascinating building that has played host to much of Blackpool’s culture, laughter and entertainment.