Sandra Mangan, Author at Blackpool Social Club

24 Jun

Preview: Book a place for Wordpool extravaganza

Sandra Mangan1 CommentLocal News

Blackpool's very own festival of words begins on 2 July - and this year's Wordpool is jam-packed with events guaranteed to tickle the literary tastebuds. It opens on 2 July at 7pm with a unique launch event at Stanley Park's lovely Art Deco Cafe. Murder, Mystery and Martinis features best-selling authors Ann Cleeves and Peter Robinson in an evening of crime writing revelations. There is a full programme of entertainment, including singer Rosie Harrison, mystery themes quizzes and a book signing. Oh, and there will be complimentary cocktails and canapés too! Tickets are £15 - or £12 if you are a library member…

12 Jun

Preview: Murder and martinis at Wordpool launch event

Sandra Mangan2 CommentsLiterature & Spoken Word

Prepare to be shaken and stirred at this year’s Wordpool festival launch on Wednesday, 2 July. The venue is Stanley Park’s Art Deco Café, and the theme for the night is Murder, Mystery and Martinis as best-selling authors Ann Cleeves and Peter Robinson offer a fun-packed evening of crime writing revelations. Ann Cleeves has a string of awards to her name. In 2006, she was the first winner of the prestigious Duncan Lawrie Dagger Award of the Crime Writers’ Association for Raven Black, the first volume of her Shetland Quartet. In 2012, Ann was admitted to the Crime Thriller Hall…

29 May

Preview: Plenty of drama down Dibley way

Sandra Mangan0 CommentsTheatre, Dance & Performance

It was a hit TV series starring Dawn French. Now, The Vicar of Dibley is set to take to the stage at Blackpool’s Grand Theatre from 24 June. The production by award-winning Poulton Drama promises to be a riotous romp through rural village life. Life in the sleepy Oxfordshire village of Dibley is turned upside down when the ancient Rev. Pottle dies and the diocese sends new-fangled female Vicar, Geraldine Granger, as his replacement. “You were expecting a bloke with a beard, a Bible and bad breath. Instead, you got a babe with a bob cut and a magnificent bosom!”…

29 May

Preview: Blott Collective Summer Exhibition

Sandra Mangan0 CommentsVisual Arts & Exhibitions

The Blott Summer Exhibition 2014, which opens on Monday, 2 June at the King Street gallery, features new works from current artists at the Blott Studio and Artist Collective and also features the work of guest artist Keith Murdoch, a Newcastle-based colourist painter. The artists taking part: Corrine Streetly is an artist whose work is primarily rooted in the tradition of narrative. The founder of Blott Artist Studios, she graduated from the University of Central Lancashire with a BA (Hons) in Fine Art 1995, later completing a research MA at the same University, focusing her studies on the work of…

28 May

Preview: Choirs festival a first for Stanley Park

Sandra Mangan0 CommentsMusic & Gigs

This Sunday, 1 June, sees a first for Stanley Park Bandstand with the Six Choirs Festival. Tony Brindle-Wills is musical director of Poulton People's Choir (PPC) and runs a music and events company called Vocal Produce which has put the festival together. He has been involved in church and community music for more than 20 years, primarily as a church organist at various churches in the north of England. I chatted to him ahead of the event: What is going on at the Stanley Park Bandstand on 1 June? A choir festival day will take place with six community choirs performing. There…

22 May

Review: Following in the footsteps of Ol’ Blue Eyes

Sandra Mangan0 CommentsTheatre, Dance & Performance

What do I have in common with Frank Sinatra, Charlie Chaplin and the Beatles? The answer is: We’ve all stood on the Opera House stage. Granted, I just stopped and stared, open mouthed, at the 3,000 seats arrayed in front of me, but still, it’s something to brag about at my next swanky soiree (I wish!). My moment in the limelight occurred in the midst of a behind the scenes heritage tour of the Winter Gardens, led by the immaculately turned out and extremely knowledgeable Shirley Matthews – one of a team of guides who bring the history of the…

21 May

Preview: Come on over for Drifters classics

Sandra Mangan0 CommentsMusic & Gigs, Theatre, Dance & Performance

Their name has been synonymous with unforgettable chart-topping tunes for more than 60 years. Now you can make a date with the current line up of The Drifters at the Grand Theatre on Sunday, June 8 at 7.30pm. The R&B four-piece will be performing for one night only in their most spectacular live show to date as part of The Optimum Tour, featuring the honey-voiced talents of current line-up Pierre Herelle, Michael Williams, Ryan King and Carlton Powell. Founded in 1953, The Drifters brand has seen massive chart success across the world with over 114 million album sales and 214…

20 May

Preview: Lancashire Hotpots cooking up something Special

Sandra Mangan0 CommentsMusic & Gigs, Theatre, Dance & Performance

They've won the highest praise from the likes of DJ Steve Lamacq, funnyman Paddy McGuinness and even The Guardian newspaper, but the Lancashire Hotpots aren’t going to let it go to their heads. Instead of resting on their laurels, the boys are out on the road again with their Summertime Special tour. And on Friday, June 6, they’ll be stopping off at the Grand Theatre with a show that promises a reet tasty recipe of folk music, fun and irrepressible comedic songs. Since first taking to the stage in 2007, The Lancashire Hotpots have become the go to band for…

06 May

Four Seasons show set to be a summer sensation

Sandra Mangan0 CommentsMusic & Gigs, Theatre, Dance & Performance, Visual Arts & Exhibitions

Not content with bringing the highly acclaimed BLAM! and Avenue Q to Blackpool this summer, the Grand Theatre has announced another smash hit addition to the coming season's schedule. New Jersey Nights, which plays the Grand from Sunday 20 July to Saturday 16 August, arrives in town direct from the USA. The show is a spectacular celebration of the music of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, which promises to take the audience on a nostalgic musical journey through the career of one of the biggest selling groups of all time. From the back street studio in New Jersey where…

02 May

Friends to the fore as St Anne’s plans Festival

Sandra Mangan0 CommentsVisual Arts & Exhibitions

It isn't until July, but already plans are well under way for the 2014 St Anne's Festival. This year, it will be run by a committee called the Friends of St Anne's Arts, and the town council has donated £1,000 to the cause. But the Friends need a lot more cash if they are to create the festival of their dreams from 19 to 27 July, so fundraising is a priority. A few donations have already been made, and organisers are seeking sponsorship from local businesses as well as applying for grants. As part of the fundraising initiative, the Jubilee String Quartet,…