Beth Barker, Author at Blackpool Social Club

27 Mar

Theatre Review: Little Women

Beth Barker0 CommentsTheatre, Dance & Performance

Much like the hotly contested Die Hard, Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women is known to many as a Christmas story. As a result, stepping into Blackpool’s beautiful Grand Theatre from a balmy spring evening to see it brought to life on stage felt only slightly criminal. That being said, all thoughts of seasonal treachery were quickly forgotten as soon as the lights went down and the show began – a true-to-book authentic portrayal of one of the world’s most treasured pieces of literature. Set in 1860s Massachusetts during the height of America’s Civil War, the coming-of-age narrative of Little Women…

09 Aug

Author Q&A: Helen Palmer

Beth Barker0 CommentsLiterature & Spoken WordBlackpool, blackpool literature, book launch, helen palmer, pleasure beach novel, queer fiction

Helen Palmer grew up in Blackpool before heading to Goldsmiths to study literature. Now a creative writing lecturer, her academic career has taken her to the US and around Europe, where she now lives in Vienna. She tells Blackpool Social Club that although she left her hometown, the idea of writing about it never left her. Helen Palmer's debut novel Pleasure Beach (Prototype Publishing) unfolds on 16th June 1999 – a queer love story and spans multiple voices and styles in 24 hours. The interconnecting stories of three 19-year-old women are structured and themed in the same way as James Joyce’s…

07 Apr

Theatre Review: Miss Nobodies

Beth Barker0 CommentsTheatre, Dance & Performance

Ruth Cockburn performs a fragmented ode to the lives of Lancashire’s working-class women In Blackpool’s Grand Theatre studio space, the audience takes their seats. Before long, an energetic duo emerge from a curtain and we are suddenly transported, now making up the crowd of a fundraiser for the Old Tin Bath Shop. It is this seemingly mundane business that becomes the focal point of Miss Nobodies – a fascinating, time-defying look at working-class life in Lancashire. Written by Blackpool-born writer Ruth Cockburn, one half of comedy duo Black Liver, the play promises a century-long journey through one shop, beginning on…

09 Dec

‘Blackpool has always had an artistic energy’: Boston Manor

Beth Barker0 CommentsMusic & Gigs

They were made in Blackpool and its music scene in the back rooms of pubs, but Boston Manor haven’t played here to a live audience since they were signed in 2015. Frontman Henry Cox talks to Beth Barker about hometown pride, creative catharsis and the band’s long-awaited homecoming gig “I’ve always felt that Blackpool just has this immense potential, but that it’s never really had the support it needs. There’s so much going on here beneath the surface, it’s always had this artistic energy and underground culture that makes it completely unique.” Henry Cox’s frustrations are familiar to most Blackpool…

16 Jul

Story Trails: An immersive technology tour of Blackpool’s past and present

Beth Barker0 CommentsHeritage, Literature & Spoken WordBlackpool, heritage

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] For those both local and distant, Blackpool is undoubtedly one of the most distinctive locations in the UK. With a rich cultural heritage spanning hundreds of years, our town certainly has plenty of tales to tell. That’s where StoryTrails comes in: an immersive technology-driven experience that puts Blackpool’s unique identity on the map. This weekend, Central Library (located on Queen’s Street) will welcome guests of all ages to explore untold stories of the past and present. The two-day event is completely free to attend and offers residents of Blackpool the chance to experience their locale in ways never seen…

12 Jul

Women in Tattooing: Hannah Nickson, Lucidity Tattoo

Beth Barker0 CommentsVisual Arts & Exhibitionsindependent, tattoo, tattoo artist, women

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Blackpool has long been recognised as the hen and stag capital of the UK, breeding a culture of back-alley tattooing and even underage inking. If you’re a local, it’s pretty clear which shops are the ones to avoid if you want to leave with your skin intact – the most obvious ones to avoid being those donning signs where ‘tattoo’ is spelled incorrectly… [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]While our town’s reputation has been besmirched in the past, change is afoot. As a regular in the ink seat myself, I’m constantly in awe of the incredible creativity and innovation happening in the Blackpool tattoo…

22 Apr

Review: Robert Icke’s Animal Farm – A Contemporary Ode to Orwell’s Legacy

Beth Barker0 CommentsTheatre, Dance & Performancegrand theatre, performance, puppets, review, Reviews, The Grand Theatre

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] My first experience of Robert Icke’s work came in 2014 when his Olivier-nominated adaptation of 1984 took centre stage at Blackpool’s Grand Theatre. Almost a decade on, I settled into my seat alongside my Dad to watch Icke take on Orwell again, this time bringing his earlier novel, Utopian classic Animal Farm, to life. As committed readers of Orwell and his seminal works, we waited with glee to discover how the revolutionary story would play out.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/3"][vc_single_image image="34762" img_size="medium" add_caption="yes" alignment="center"][vc_empty_space height="45px"][/vc_column][vc_column width="2/3"][vc_column_text]The defining feature of this beguiling play is, of course, the puppetry. Some audience members may recognise…

14 Dec

Collective Joy and Political Parodies: The Return of Blackpool’s Pantomime

Beth Barker1 CommentTheatre, Dance & PerformanceChristmas, family, pantomime, review, Theatre

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] After the widespread disappointment of last Christmas which saw theatre productions cancelled all over the country, December marks the welcome return of Blackpool’s beloved annual pantomime. This year’s show is a well-known classic – Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs – produced by Martin Dodd for UK Productions. Here’s our review of the show. One of the greatest things about panto is that it truly is for everyone. Spanning back to the 16th century, this now-festive tradition is a must-have for millions of families at Christmas time. From our seats in the stunning Grand Theatre’s dress circle, we were…

18 Nov

Exploring Anthony Burgess’ Blackpool: Catch the Virtual Talk

Beth Barker0 CommentsHeritage, Literature & Spoken Wordheritage, history, showtown

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Anthony Burgess was one of the most renowned authors of the 20th century, famed for his exceptional wit, depth of thought and unrivalled writing talent. Born and raised in Manchester, he frequently visited our stretch of coastline and later wrote several novels inspired by it. Showtown and Heritage Blackpool will collaborate on a must-see event this December in celebration of Burgess and his connection to the town. Presented in the form of an online talk, the two organisations have come together to explore Anthony Burgess’ Blackpool for a virtual audience. The session will be delivered by Will Carr, deputy…

09 Feb

Preview: Flare Path

Beth Barker0 CommentsTheatre, Dance & Performance

The Grand Theatre is set to be shaken in February by a modern take of the classic production - Flare Path. Written in 1941 and first staged in 1942, this wartime love story promises to both thrill and intrigue enthusiasts of history, romance and drama as they witness such a prized play. The plot itself is one which has been enjoyed by several generations and will never cease to relate to audiences of many ages, the story following a group of RAF bomber pilots caught up in a love triangle. Heartache and emotion will drive the plot with Flare Path…