Showzam! is here again and it’s set to grace Blackpool’s iconic Winter Gardens and Tower Circus over the five day event from 14 to 18 February. The action isn’t all indoors however. The streets in Blackpool town centre will play host to other bizarre and exciting entertainers during the half term festival.
Amongst the globally recognised acts, from countries as far away as South America, Canada, and the USA, other acts from closer to home will make an appearance. Acts from the Netherlands, France, Sweden, Belgium, Portugal, and Germany as well as our very own UK acts.
“Adding such an international element to Showzam! creates even more excitement. There is always such a great buzz surrounding Showzam! and we’re looking forward to being part of what is the eighth year of this truly successful festival,” says Michael Trainor, artistic director of LeftCoast, the organisation commissioned to programme this year’s festival.
This year’s highlights of the Showzam! festival will include:
- Circolumbia – A Columbian-based circus troupe who work with street children and train future circus acts. They can be seen daily at Blackpool Tower Circus throughout the festival.
- Mysterieuse Coiffures – If you would like to have your hair stand on end and be transformed into an art piece, then Showzam! Central is the place to find this French artist.
- Close Act – Netherlands-based act bringing dinosaurs to life. Pre-historic monsters for all the family to enjoy,charging through the Blackpool streets in need of their next meal. (No need to panic, the ‘Sauruses’ are strictly vegetarian!)
- The Carnival Ball at Blackpool Tower Ballroom is back by popular demand and will feature bands and live entertainment.Keeping with the international theme, this year’s ball features:
- Abigail Collins (UK) who will perform her one-woman show of death defying stunts
- Magmanus (Sweden) a band of jugglers and teeterboard extraodinaire
- Kitty Bang Bang (UK), the princess of British Burlesque and fire breathing.
- Alongside these truly spectacular acts you will find Circolumbia (South American), Starfiz (UK), Hocus Pocus Theatre (UK), ‘Sideshow of Curiosities’, Lost in Translation Circus (UK), Mysterieuse Coiffures (France) to transform your hair-do, and variety super group from the UK: Barnard, Hicks & Jones.
- Throughout the evening there will be a Portuguese-based Balkan and Ska influenced band, Kumpania Algazarra playing their stuff.
- DJs, The Broken Hearts, will fill the dance floor with their amazing party sounds to round off the eveninh.
Please put 14 to 18 February in your diary and either book an event or visit the events held in the streets and enjoy the entertainment on offer for this year’s Showzam!
Councillor Graham Cain, Blackpool Council’s cabinet member of tourism and leisure, says of the festival, “It’s fantastic to have such an international flavour to Showzam! this year. We’ve got a range of very exciting talents from around the globe to entertain people. We hope to also have visitors from far and wide and put on a wonderful week for everyone to enjoy.”
To find out more about Showzam! please go to www.showzam.co.uk
For further information about LeftCoast, please visit www.leftcoast.org.uk
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