This Spring Blackpool Grand is hosting Murmurations – a series of interactive sessions for women aged 18+ who are interested in connection and creatively
Through history, comedy and photography, workshops will explore what being a woman living in Blackpool has meant historically and what it means today. The first workshop this Saturday will explore the histories and folklore of the Women Who Built Blackpool & the Fylde, hosted by our favourite cemetery lady, Deborah Contessa and Blackpool Social Club contributor, folklorist Zowie Swan who gives us an insight into the histories explored here.
From boarding house to ballroom, it is no secret that Blackpool was built on the backs of hardy folk who flocked from all around the world to make their castles in the sand. The Fylde itself is far older, with a long and rich tradition of folklore, from witches to mermaids to ghosts. Be it the life of a Victorian chorus-girl or the 17th century court record of a falsely accused witch, their stories beg to be told.
This Saturday 21st March, Blackpool Grand Theatre is hosting a free workshop, exploring the lives of the women who helped shape the community we know today. The session runs from 10am to 1pm in the Theatre Studio and is part of a series of three creative workshops celebrating women’s stories in Blackpool.
Saturday’s workshop looks specifically at the women who raucously left their mark, as well as those whose voices have instead faded away like a whisper.
“You’ll meet landladies, miraculous healers, theatre performers, and scullery maids – women whose creativity and resilience feels familiar to us all and should not remain forgotten.”
Jointly hosted by Deborah Contessa (The Cemetery Lady) and me, Zowie Swan (founder of Fylde Folklore Society), this first session will guide participants through the astonishing history of local women using stories of those buried at Layton Cemetery and compelling folklore from across the Fylde. You’ll meet landladies, miraculous healers, theatre performers, and scullery maids – women whose creativity and resilience feels familiar to us all and should not remain forgotten.
Deborah has dedicated years of research uncovering the lives of Blackpool’s unseen women and is known for her celebrated cemetery tours and Blackpool Ghost Walk. I’ll bring my expertise and passion for Fylde folklore, storytelling and community engagement, helping people to connect with history through creative expression. Together, we hope to make history feel alive, relatable and surprisingly entertaining!
The session is interactive and inclusive, welcoming women from all backgrounds and experiences. You’ll be invited to share reflections, hear stories, and even take part in light creative exercises to connect with the past and each other.
This workshop is the first in a series, future sessions include:
25th April: Comedian Ruth Cockburn, performance artist and poet, explores humour as a tool for social commentary and mental wellbeing.
23rd May: Photographer Claire Walmsley Griffiths looks at identity, place and community through the lens of photography.
Previous participants have said the workshops feel warm, supportive, and inspiring, and that they loved meeting women from across generations to share their own experiences and stories.
Spaces are limited and registration is required. To book a free place, email [email protected]
