Louise Ashcroft, Author at Blackpool Social Club

06 Jun

Theatre Preview: Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo

Louise Ashcroft0 CommentsGuide, Theatre, Dance & Performanceballet, Blackpool, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, LGBT, The Grand Theatre

Legendary all-male ballet company Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo arrive in Blackpool this June, bringing camp theatricality, classical brilliance and joyful queer subversion to the Grand Theatre stage. Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, the famous all-male comedy ballet company, affectionately known as the Trocks, will make their Blackpool debut at The Grand Theatre on Friday 12 June. The company is known for their sassy classical ballet spoofs, with flawless technique and comic timing. The Trocks’ unique blend of satire, subversion and slapstick is rooted in their love for, and deep knowledge of, Classical and Romantic ballet on which…

17 May

Solve-Along-A-Murder-She-Wrote comes to Blackpool

Louise Ashcroft0 CommentsGuide, Theatre, Dance & PerformanceBlackpool Pride, bootleg social, Murder She Wrote, Solve-along-a-murder-she-wrote, Tim Benzie

Kicking off Blackpool Pride celebrations in style, Aunty Social invites audiences to an interactive evening of cosy crime, camp chaos and audience sleuthing. Cult hit event Solve-Along-A-Murder-She-Wrote is being brought to Blackpool by Aunty Social, with an interactive screening of the classic episode Paint Me a Murder at Bootleg Social on Thursday 4 June. Jessica Fletcher is invited to the remote island hideaway of an artist friend (played by Cesar Romero), but soon there’s a murder that only she (or perhaps you!) can solve. Solve-Along-A-Murder-She-Wrote is a unique and hilarious night featuring games, prizes and audience participation, with special permission…

11 May

Film Preview: Moulin Rouge 25th Anniversary Sing-a-long screening at The Arc Cinema

Louise Ashcroft0 CommentsFilm, GuideBlackpool Film Festival, Electric Pink Voices, LGBT, Moulin Rouge, The Arc Cinema

Join Blackpool Film Festival and Electric Pink Voices to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Moulin Rouge with a special sing-a-long screening at The Arc Cinema on Friday 15 May at 7pm. The film has been selected by Blackpool’s LGBTQ+ and allies community choir Electric Pink Voices, who have been rehearsing the Moulin Rouge songs in advance to help encourage audience members to join in with the singing. This follows on from the success of their previous The Little Mermaid sing-a-long event earlier in the year. For the LGBTQ+ community, storytelling has always been an act of survival. By joining voices in…

26 Mar

Theatre Review: Come from Away

Louise Ashcroft0 CommentsTheatre, Dance & PerformanceCome from Away, Junction Four, Lowther Pavilion, Lytham St Annes, musical

It was a stormy evening in Lytham as Junction Four's production of Come From Away flew into town at Lowther Pavilion. Louise Ashcroft strapped in for a night of connection, human kindness and camaraderie. Not long since the success of their recent performance of Return to the Forbidden Planet, this local amateur theatre company continue to deliver professional standard productions of modern musicals. Led by an innovative production team, this also gives local performers the chance to work with more contemporary material and bring this to local audiences. Having previously had to travel to Manchester to see Come From Away,…

05 Jan

Props Workshop Participant’s Blog – The Old Electric

Louise Ashcroft0 CommentsTheatre, Dance & PerformanceBlackpool, Props Workshop, the old electric, Theatre

Helen Gore recently attended the Props and Parades sessions arranged by The Old Electric and wrote this blog about her experiences, which she has shared with us. Influenced by some of my favourite TV and stage shows, I have always had an interest in how the props were made in order to bring these real objects or extraordinary creatures to life. It’s in these moments of watching a rat puppet teach history or a malevolent ghost dismantle a living room on stage that inspire me to have a go at making these things myself. This interest led me to the…

05 Dec

Gig Review: Peter Hook and The Light

Louise Ashcroft0 CommentsMusic & Gigsgig, live music, Lowther Pavilion, Lytham, Peter Hook

Earlier this month Stephen Dunstan interviewed Peter Hook ahead of this gig at Lowther Pavilion, Lytham. (Stephen's chat with ‘Hooky’ can be found here). During this conversation he explained that the set in Lytham would be a full performance of the New Order album 'Get Ready', followed by the greatest hits of Joy Division and New Order. Nearly three hours of rock music performed by a 69-year-old frontman - How would that pan out? Superbly, it turned out. It would be remiss of me not to mention there were issues with the PA system during the 'Get Ready' part of…

02 Dec

Gig Review: Ash at Bootleg Social

Louise Ashcroft0 CommentsMusic & GigsAsh, Blackpool, bootleg social, gig, indie rock, review

There were a couple of big sell out events in town on Saturday 22nd November. Strictly waltzed into Tower Ballroom, meanwhile another full house were at Bootleg Social for the visit of Northern Irish rock veterans Ash. I arrived with support act Coach Party already in full swing and the venue already busy. Some attendees were clearly familiar with Coach Party as they sang along, those who weren’t were treated to a great set. Coach Party are supporting Ash on all their current tour engagements, and the Isle of Wight fourpiece are a fitting warm-up for the main act with…

09 Sep

Local band, Kind Hearted Thieves to host fundraising gig at Bootleg Social

Louise Ashcroft0 CommentsGuide, Music & GigsBlackpool, bootleg social, FUNDRAISING, gig

Blackpool independent folk-rock band, Kind Hearted Thieves, have joined forces with chart-topping singer-songwriter Frank Turner on a powerful new single, “Sublime”, which is out now on all streaming platforms. More than just a song, Sublime marks the launch of a charitable GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for two local children to receive private autism assessments — helping them bypass the long NHS waiting lists, supporting them to access life-changing support sooner. This release is another example of Frank Turner's and Kind Hearted Thieves’ commitment to using music for good — combining emotional storytelling, grassroots activism, and a genuine DIY spirit.…

21 Aug

Poetry Performance Workshops with The Old Electric

Louise Ashcroft0 CommentsLiterature & Spoken WordBlackpool, poetry, Spoken Word, the old electric, workshop

In the lead up to her upcoming workshops, local performer Liz Wilkinson shares her thoughts with us about performing poetry and how this can differ from character work in plays or singing, via her blog:- Speak the speech... trippingly on the tongue Reading your poetry aloud before an audience is terrifying. Poetry is unique in its ability to show the vulnerability of the author. In an art form where every line matters there is no space for spare words, no flannel, no obfuscation. Every single word signals your emotions and when you are brave enough to stand alone and share…

30 Jul

Theatre Review: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe

Louise Ashcroft0 CommentsTheatre, Dance & PerformanceBlackpool, review, Theatre, Winter Gardens

The West End production of the classic tale of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe arrives in Blackpool this week, as part of its UK tour. Whatever your age, it is likely you have some experience of this magical story. Some of us may be familiar as early readers, with late night promises of 'just one more chapter' before lights out, or sneakily reading with a torch under the covers. Others may remember the TV series from the late eighties, introducing us to the wonderful world of Narnia and the terrifying White Witch. A wider audience was further developed…