Sandra Mangan, Author at Blackpool Social Club

17 Apr

Pay as you Play

Sandra Mangan0 CommentsTheatre, Dance & Performance

Lowther Pavilion General Manager Roger McCann was so blown away by a company he saw perform at Edinburgh Fringe Festival a couple of years ago that he has decided to put his money where his mouth is. Roger is so sure that people will love Theatre Newfoundland Labrador and their play, With Cruel Times In Between, that he is inviting the audience to see the show and then pay what they think it’s worth. He said: “I believe in this company so strongly that I’m inviting you to come and see them and then pay whatever you think they’re worth.…

13 Apr

Book Review: Winter Gardens Blackpool

Sandra Mangan0 CommentsHeritage, Literature & Spoken Word

She may be from Morecambe but Professor Vanessa Toulmin has taken our fair town of Blackpool to her heart; cut her open and it’s probably running straight through her like the proverbial stick of rock. Professor Vanessa is the perfect person to take on the role of writing a book about our iconic Winter Gardens - and what a great job she does of it too! This has got to be one of the prettiest books around. With a rich blue cover, reminiscent of old style theatre programmes, and its large size, it’s an ideal candidate for a prime spot…

20 Mar

Survey set to uncover forgotten facets of Winter Gardens

Sandra Mangan0 CommentsHeritage, Local News

An £80,000 heritage grant is to be spent on creating a clearer picture of the Winter Gardens. The cash from English Heritage will help Blackpool Council understand more about the building, as well as pulling together more accurate information about its condition and structure. The Winter Gardens complex was bought by Blackpool Council in 2010, signalling the start of five years of repairs and renovations - but the work has revealed several undocumented closed up spaces which may delay some of the planned maintenance. Blackpool Council’s cabinet member for culture and heritage, Cllr Christine Wright, said, “Not knowing what’s behind a wall or where a lot of the drainage or…

17 Mar

£25,000 sows seeds for bolder future at rock gardens

Sandra Mangan0 CommentsLocal News

The future looks bright for Devonshire Road Rock Gardens following a £25,000 investment from Greenlands ward councillors Christine Wright and Chris Ryan. The cash will pay for a specialist gardener to look after the gardens for the next 12 months, carrying out maintenance on the grounds as well as engaging with the local community and working closely with the Friends group to develop the area further. A further £3,358.48 has also been donated to the councillors to provide an electricity supply to the newly revamped pavilion so that it can be used for events. An extra £1,531.34 to install and monitor CCTV equipment to prevent vandalism to…

06 Mar

Trio of top authors at sparkling book event

Sandra Mangan0 CommentsLocal News

Three top authors will be visiting St Anne's later this month for an event organised by the town's award winning bookshop, Storytellers Inc. Emily St John Mandel, David Whitehouse and Sarah Butler will be reading from their books, answering questions from the audience and featuring in a panel discussion chaired by a publicist from Picador. Shop owner Katie Clapham is excited about the March 16 event at the Pavilion Café in Ashton Gardens: "We hold five monthly book clubs and work with schools in our area and regularly host visiting authors – though this coming Picador evening is a particularly special event, with…

05 Mar

Jacqui and all that jazz

Sandra Mangan0 CommentsMusic & Gigs

Jacqui Dankworth is a performer with an unrivalled pedigree. The daughter of jazz royalty – Johnny Dankworth and Cleo Laine – she is a singer who is always pushing the boundaries. Jacqui began her professional life as an actor before succumbing to constant requests for concert performances following her appearance in Sondheim’s Into the Woods. Now recognised as one of the country’s finest vocalists, her musical influences include folk, soul and blues and she has appeared with groups as diverse as the Brodsky Quartet and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGXArH5KQGI The Sunday Times described Jacqui as ‘one of our finest singers, regardless of…

02 Mar

Top army band on the march to Fleetwood

Sandra Mangan0 CommentsLocal News, Music & Gigs

If brass bands are your thing, then march on down to Marine Hall in Fleetwood next month for a concert to remember. The Regular Army’s first professional brass band, The Band of the Kings Division, visits the venue on Saturday, March 21, for an evening of military and concert music to suit all tastes. The Band of The King’s Division is one of the Regular Army’s three full-time bands, alongside The Band of The Royal Corps of Signals and The Band of The Prince of Wales’s Division and was created in 2014. The Band is an amalgamation of the former King's Division…

27 Feb

All the fun of the Fairtrade Fortnight

Sandra Mangan0 CommentsLocal News

Happy snappers have a fair chance of winning a great prize during Fairtrade Fortnight, which runs until March 8. Come up with a photo showing the importance of using Fairtrade products and send them to the Blackpool Fairtrade campaign, and you could win a food hamper chock-full of Fairtrade prizes. There's a plethora of local events planned - including Fairtrade restaurant menus, taste tests and coffee mornings - all co-ordinated by Blackpool’s Fairness Commission. Highlights include: * A Fairtrade Photography Exhibition at Blackpool and the Fylde College’s University Campus until Thursday. * Tastings at Sainsbury’s on Bickerstaffe Square where people get to taste the difference of Fairtrade…

14 Feb

On course to spread the word about gospel music

Sandra Mangan0 CommentsMusic & Gigs

Top British Gospel music maker Tyndale Thomas is spreading the word with a day long workshop at Poulton Methodist Church on Saturday, March 7. The event, which runs from 10am to 4pm, aims to give participants a better understanding of the Gospel music tradition, its background and history and offers them the chance to develop their musical knowledge and skills in a relaxed, fun and supportive environment. There will be group singing activities and tuition and guidance will be given about breath control, vocal technique and harmony. A co-founding member of one of the first contemporary Gospel groups and choirs, The Challengers, and The Merry Bell Gospel…

12 Feb

Tommy’s Blackpool premiere has the X-Factor

Sandra Mangan0 CommentsMusic & Gigs, Theatre, Dance & Performance

X-Factor 2009 winner Joe McElderry will take the title role when a new stage adaptation of The Who's iconic rock opera Tommy opens at Blackpool Opera House on September 11. Joe, who shot to fame after winning the X-Factor in 2009, has sold over two million albums. In 2012, he took on a new challenge and won the TV series Pop Star to Opera Star. That same year, Joe played the title character in a one-off performance of Tommy the Musical. He said: “I am thrilled to bits to be asked to play Tommy as it’s a rock musical that is legendary - and I…