Sandra Mangan, Author at Blackpool Social Club

02 Dec

Preview: Love is in the air for the Showzam Carnival Ball

Sandra Mangan0 CommentsLocal News

There's plenty to love about 2015's Showzam! Carnival Ball, which has 'Romantics' as its theme and is to be held on the most appropriate of romantic dates, February 14, at Blackpool Tower Ballroom. It promises to be an unusual, exotic and glamorous evening of entertainment, say event organisers VisitBlackpool, as tickets go on sale for the annual event. One of the highlights of the resort’s social calendar, the ball – strictly for over 18s only – will be compered by one of London’s most loved and original hosts, Jonny Woo. After making his name on the New York club and burlesque scene,…

30 Oct

Preview: Poet Pam airs her talent for rhyme at the Grand

Sandra Mangan0 CommentsTheatre, Dance & Performance, Visual Arts & Exhibitions

She's not averse to a rhyme or two, and it's a fair bet that comic poet Pam Ayres will have plenty of them up her sleeve when she visits Blackpool Grand Theatre for an early evening show on November 9. Entitled An Evening with Pam Ayres, the show will include odes from her new book of poetry, You Made Me Late Again!, as well as old favourites. Pam's work is funny and approachable thanks to her warmth of personality and accessible humour. Her lines of wit might sound simple, as though quickly dashed off, but behind these lie her skill and…

27 Oct

Preview: Relive the magic of Motown

Sandra Mangan0 CommentsMusic & Gigs, Theatre, Dance & Performance

They topped the charts decades ago, but the magic of those Motown tunes still lives on today. Hits like I Heard It Through The Grapevine, Baby Love, My Girl, and Dancing in the Streets are sure to have you tapping your feet and singing along. Hold that thought - because that's exactly what you can be doing at the Grand Theatre on Saturday, November 1, when the tour of London West End hit Dancing In the Streets arrives for one night only. It's a spectacular celebration of some the world’s most influential and enduring Motown music - and your chance to experience the…

21 Oct

PREVIEW: Poignant play about the horrors of war

Sandra Mangan0 CommentsTheatre, Dance & Performance, Visual Arts & Exhibitions

As we commemorate the start of the First World War, a timely production is stopping off for a night at the Lowther Pavilion. Bantams tells the story of men forced to stay out of the fight, due to illness, age, or infirmity, but who decided to 'do their bit' all the same. It is set in 1915, as the Great War rages on. Hundreds of thousands have already enlisted. Hundreds of thousands more want to and will. But not every man who wants to enlist can. Some are too old. Or too thin. Or have poor eyes. Or poor hearing. Or a…

16 Oct

Preview: Making music for a worthy cause

Sandra Mangan0 CommentsMusic & Gigs

Blackpool Sixth Theatre is the venue for a fundraising gig in aid of Amnesty International on Saturday night, kicking off at 7.45pm. The concert features local lads The Solid States, who formed more than two years ago and have been gigging ever since. Their own unique blend of contemporary and classic rock music has attracted a wide fan base. They will be supported by Poulton People’s Choir, a well-established local choral group who sing a variety of different songs selected from the realms of popular, classic and world music. Go along and be entertained - and support Amnesty International in its campaign for justice and…

16 Oct

Soundwaves aim for a vintage performance

Sandra Mangan0 CommentsMusic & Gigs, Visual Arts & Exhibitions

It's been a year of firsts for Blackpool Soundwaves. So far in 2014, the ladies harmony chorus have appeared on BBC Radio Lancashire, debuted on Stanley Park Bandstand, and even gave a surprise performance at the wedding of one of their members. But the biggest 'first' was a Learn to Sing course, held in February and featured here on altBlackpool. Before this took place, Soundwaves numbered 19 members - now they have a stunning 37! As any X Factor winner knows, with success comes headaches - and in the case of this a capella chorus, it's all about clothes! Previously, the…

15 Oct

Board? Help is on the cards at the Mount

Sandra Mangan0 CommentsVisual Arts & Exhibitions

There'll be more than a touch of sci-fi at The Mount Pavilion in Fleetwood this Saturday - the place will be overrun with cardboard robots! Artist Mark O’Brien will be in the space from 1-4pm to run a special workshop for all ages, where you can create your very own cardboard robot creation. The workshop is the latest in LeftCoast’s programme of family-friendly, free creative workshops in the venue - and over the coming months there is plenty to choose from. On October 25, the Mount is getting spooky with shadow puppets, and artist Sarah Hicks will be working with groups to create…

14 Oct

Petal power comes to Little Marton Windmill

Sandra Mangan0 CommentsLocal News

Bulbs and Blackpool go together like tea and biscuits – though they’re usually the electric kind, used to such fabulous effect in the annual Illuminations. Now the town is about to go green with bulbs of a different sort – you could almost call it petal power! LeftCoast in partnership with Avant Gardening and artist Rebecca Chesney are set to create a giant living artwork in the green space around Little Marton Windmill - and you can be part of making it happen. Residents and businesses are invited to roll up their sleeves and get involved with planting the 100,000…

09 Oct

Lightbulb moment could be a winner

Sandra Mangan0 CommentsLocal News

Whether you're a local or a visitor, now's your chance to make light work of photographing the Illuminations. The search is on for fun photographs and selfies - with the best snaps taking pride of place in next year's dazzling displays. The top five entries will have their face up in lights as part of Blackpool Illuminations 2015 Headlights display which allows people to buy their very own Illumination featuring a picture of their choice. And the snapper of the photo judged best in a public vote will win a short break in Blackpool, staying at the contemporary boutique Number One South Beach.…

08 Oct

PREVIEW: Curtain up on a varied Lowther programme

Sandra Mangan0 CommentsMusic & Gigs, Theatre, Dance & Performance

If variety is the spice of life, then they're serving up a veritable vindaloo at the Lowther Pavilion this month. For starters, Marton Operatics present Gilbert & Sullivan's The Yeoman of the Guard from October 7 to 11. Set in the Tower of London in the Tudor age, this popular work tells the story of a soldier under sentence of death, who is rescued by friends but unwittingly involves a travelling jester and his companion in his fate. Comic relief is provided by the jester, the jailer and the housekeeper of the Tower as they – and their attempts to…