Colin Davies, Author at Blackpool Social Club

24 Jul

Dan Leno: A Royal Jester

Colin Davies0 CommentsTheatre, Dance & Performanceentertainment, Theatre

Tonight I had the pleasure of watching the latest offering from Fylde playwright David Slattery. Dan Leno: A Royal Jester tells the story of the music hall entertainer. The man who created so many of the comedy tropes we have enjoyed over the years, not only in pantomime, where he practically redefined the part of the Dame, but also comedy in general. The likes of Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel sited Dan as a favourite performer. I don’t want to say too much about how the story unfolds, only that Slattery’s ability as a writer really shines here. He has found…

17 Jul

Dan Leno: A Royal Jester

Colin Davies0 CommentsTheatre, Dance & Performance

There are many traditions in the theatre, some have been there since the beginning, some have come in because of certain events that happened; others are established because of great performances. In Blackpool, the Grand Theatre pantomime has become a tradition for many. My partner and our son go every year and love it. This is due, in the main, to the great performances of Steve Royle. Year in, year out, his madcap antics elevate the production from brilliant to amazing. So, when I heard that this pantomime performer extraordinaire would be playing the part of a music hall and…

03 Feb

Album Review: Rae Morris – Someone Out There

Colin Davies0 CommentsMusic & Gigs

The Blackpool songstress is back with 'Someone Out There' the follow up to her successful début 'Unguarded' (2015). I have been following Rae's career for years through local performances, EP releases and collaborations with Clean Bandit. Her first Album was a culmination of this journey. A mix of songs I had heard with some new ones written in the studio with cleaner production. They say the second album is 'Difficult'. Do you gamble on something very new, or pander to your existing audience? So what to expect from this new record. Well to start with, it's not a…

04 Aug

Elvira & I

Colin Davies0 CommentsTheatre, Dance & Performance

The life of Giacomo Puccini is one full of scandal and passion. His relationship with Elvira one of volatile jealousy and love. A couple that were as bad for each other as they were good. Puccini the maestro with his “Rock 'n' Roll” status and life style. Elvira, considered common and not good enough for Giacomo, see as the almost Yoko Ono character by the opera set. Elvira and I, a new play by the highly respected playwright David Slattery Christy. Based on the research David has done for a Puccini biography, the play documents the life of these 2…

23 Mar

Pub Poets: Big Charlie Poet Interview

Colin Davies0 CommentsLiterature & Spoken Word, Music & Gigs

Cometh the month, cometh the 1st Sunday, cometh the Pub Poets Speakeasy, for another night of wonderful words. April's guest is definitely no fool. Big Charlie Poet is one of the most respected poets on the scene with some big names from the world of spoken word professing to being fans of his work. AltB's Colin Davies managed to catch up with the host of Working Title in Lancaster, for a quick chat. Colin Davies: So how did you get into performance poetry? Big Charlie Poet: I can tell you that it was October 2012. I've always written stuff and shared…

25 Jan

Interview: Steve Stroud Introduces MiKo Berry

Colin Davies0 CommentsLiterature & Spoken Word

Blackpool and Fylde College is a bastion of education. Not only does it teach the next generation academic knowledge, artistic expression, and vocational skills, it also lays the foundations of altruism, critical thinking, and social responsibility. Combining all these facets is no easy tasks and takes quality tutors backed up with extra curricular events to truly expanded the minds of students. This is why on January 26 at 6:30pm in the Gallery building at the Palatine Road site, B&FC will be hosting a night with European Poetry Slam Champion Miko Berry to help raise much needed funds for the Blackpool…

16 Jan

Enter Wonderland At The Winter Gardens

Colin Davies0 CommentsTheatre, Dance & Performance

'Wonderland', Frank Wildhor's magical musical adaptation of 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' and 'Through the Looking Glass', is coming to Blackpool as part of its UK tour. The stellar principal cast features Wendi Peters, much loved for her acclaimed portrayal of Cilla Battersby-Brown in Coronation Street, as the Queen of Hearts. Musical theatre star Dave Willetts, of 'Phantom of the Opera fame', also steps out as the White Rabbit. They will be joined by Stephen Webb, Natalie McQueen, Kayi Ushe, Dominic Owen, Ben Kerr, Naomi Morris and Michelle Pentecost. But what about Alice? Who is going to play the pivotal character, that of a a…

07 Jan

Interview: Monkey Poet

Colin Davies0 CommentsLiterature & Spoken Word

Spoken word is on the rise. Advertisers are starting to notice that those who have been laying down words on the ears of audiences in the know, have become more renowned, outside the usual Edinburgh Fringe and art festival goers. Last year, the Pub Poets, who meet the first Sunday of every month down at The Bootleg Social on Topping Street, started bring amazingly talented spoken word artists to Blackpool.The first Pub Poets night of 2017 is on January 8 and they have an incredible guest in store for you. Monkey Poet (aka Matt Panesh) has been treading the spoken word…

14 Nov

LGBT Literary Talent Heads To Blackpool

Colin Davies0 CommentsLiterature & Spoken Word

London’s award winning LGBT literary salon, Polari, has been given Arts Council of England funding to tour the UK. On 18 of November it arrives at The Grand. It's creator and host, author Paul Burston bring together on stage some of the best in established and emerging LGBT literary talent. For Polari Blackpool he has got Jonathan Harvey, Rosie Garland, Karen Mcleod and Paul Burston. I managed to get Paul Burston and one of his guests Rosie Garland in to an internet chat room to ask them some questions. Colin: Good afternoon Paul and Rosie. So tell, what is Polari? Paul: Afternoon!…

04 Nov

Sara Hirsch at the Pub Poets

Colin Davies0 CommentsLiterature & Spoken Word

When it comes to spoken word performers Sara Hirsch is as big a talent as you can get. UK slam champion 2013; Winner - Farrago award for best slam performance 2013; European slam semi finalist 2014; 3rd in the world slam championships 2014; runner up in the Hammer & Tongue national slam finals 2014 and winner of best survival solo show - PBH spoken word awards 2015. Now she has a book out. “Still Falling” is a wonderful collection of work that celebrates people, positivity and the power of perspective. Her writing is strong, witty and honest and covers all of life's little stumbles…