Sandra Mangan, Author at Blackpool Social Club

02 Sep

Preview: Concerted effort is a first for Blackpool

Sandra Mangan0 CommentsMusic & Gigs

Two of Blackpool's oldest established singing groups are getting together for their first ever joint concert. Blackpool Soundwaves a capella chorus and Blackpool Male Voice Choir will take 'A Journey Through the Ages' at Greenlands St Anne's Church in Blackpool on Friday night. Blackpool Soundwaves were founded 32 years ago and 2014 looks to be their busiest year yet. A successful Learn to Sing course run in January (and featured here on altBlackpool) resulted in numbers doubling and the now 40 strong chorus is preparing to compete in the Ladies' Association of British Barbershop Singers national convention in Harrogate in October.…

21 Aug

Preview: A sneaky peek at heritage events

Sandra Mangan0 CommentsHeritage

It is 20 years since a diverse range of normally closed landmark buildings were first encouraged to open their doors to the public each autumn. Heritage Open Days has gone from strength to strength since then. To celebrate its success across Blackpool and the Fylde Coast, a special exhibition is being held at the Stanley Park Visitor Centre. It will feature fascinating background and fabulous photos of some of the 54 architectural treasures in the 2014 programme and is a great way to get a sneak preview of what’s on offer and plan your own exploration of all the places…

14 Aug

Preview: Musicals take centre stage at the Grand

Sandra Mangan0 CommentsMusic & Gigs, Theatre, Dance & Performance

Toes will be tapping at Blackpool’s Grand Theatre on Sunday 14 September when the West End Experience hits town. Prepare to be dancing in the aisles and singing along as you are taken on a journey through some of the theatre’s greatest musicals. The West End Experience features hit songs from twenty sensational stage shows including Chicago, Phantom of The Opera, Les Miserables, Grease, Mamma Mia, We Will Rock You, The Lion King, Wicked, Dirty Dancing and Jersey Boys. Taking centre stage is Asa Elliott, probably best known for appearing in ITV’s smash-hit comedy Benidorm, who joins a cast of…

11 Aug

Preview: Switch on your tastebuds at food festival

Sandra Mangan0 CommentsLocal News

Here in Blackpool, we’re well known for making a meal of the annual Illuminations switch-on weekend – but this year they'll be serving up something especially tasty on August 29, 30 and 31. It’s called the Switch-On Food & Drink Festival, described by organisers, Citylicious Events, as ‘the biggest ever celebration of food and drink seen in the UK’, and will be held on the Promenade, alongside Central Pier. With a focus on locally sourced produce, the Chef’s Theatre will host top local chefs cooking their favourite dishes and inspiring the audience to recreate those meals at home. In the Drinks…

04 Jul

Review: Sophie Hannah at Wordpool

Sandra Mangan1 CommentLiterature & Spoken Word

The organisers of Wordpool have been trying to get internationally renowned, multi-award winning psychological thriller writer Sophie Hannah to come along for years. And 2014 is the year that wish came true - anyone who was at the Central Library to witness it will be talking about the event for weeks to come. Speaking without notes and with plenty of humour, Sophie is a born raconteur and the poet turned crime writer held the audience in the palm of her hand as she related the stories behind her stories - or the 'gossip' as she termed it. She is a writer who relies…

04 Jul

Review: Murder, Mystery and Martinis

Sandra Mangan1 CommentVisual Arts & Exhibitions

As we approached Stanley Park's Art Deco Café, strains of tuneful singing filled the midsummer air, as Rosie Harrison and Tom Kincaig performed. Inside, a hubbub of chatter gave me the first clue...This event was a sell-out. Clue two was the appearance of altBlackpool's own Clancy Mason. Why was she dressed in white socks and a short kilt, and brandishing a magnifying glass? I deduced it immediately; here was Nancy Drew brought to life. Or should that be Clancy Drew? The scene was set for a gala night of fun as Wordpool 2014 launched in grand style. We had best-selling…

27 Jun

Volunteers needed for summer reading challenge

Sandra Mangan0 CommentsVisual Arts & Exhibitions

Blackpool Libraries are gearing up for this year's Summer Reading Challenge, which has the theme of Mythical Maze and will preview at Wordpool's Family Day in Stanley Park on Saturday 5 July. The Challenge launches on 12 July at Central Library, with a performance by giant Chinese mythical beasts and a craft workshop for children aged four upwards. It will then run throughout the summer with events at libraries around Blackpool. Organisers are looking for volunteers aged between 16 and 20 to help children discover the pleasure of reading. It's a brilliant volunteering opportunity that could make a huge difference to…

27 Jun

Making light work of poetry

Sandra Mangan0 CommentsVisual Arts & Exhibitions

Ever fancied getting your name in lights? The winner of Wordpool's first National Poetry Competition will go one better - their poem will be up in lights instead! The competition, which launches on Friday 4 July, will take the theme of 'light' - and in addition to a cash prize, the winning work will be displayed in lights at Blackpool's world famous Illuminations. The competition is open to entries from poets from the UK and worldwide and all entries should be written in English. Award-winning poet Polly Atkins will judge the competition. Based in Cumbria, Polly's debut poetry pamphlet, Bone…

27 Jun

Preview: Make a brunch date with poet Terry

Sandra Mangan1 CommentLocal News

Due to the last minute cancellation of author Stephen May's visit to Wordpool, there was a brunch-sized hole in the programme. Not for long though - because up stepped poet Terry Caffrey to rescue the Friday morning event at Central Library. Poet in residence for England’s National Football Museum, Terry is just back from a poetry tour of Vietnam, Cambodia and Jordan. During the 2012 Olympics, Terry’s composition Chase Down the Sun, a collaboration with the Halle Orchestra, was sung by 80,000 children. Terry says he loves coming to Blackpool and can’t wait to scramble some words over brunch at an event with…

26 Jun

Win tickets for Wordpool’s gala launch event

Sandra Mangan1 CommentLocal News

It's entitled Murder, Mystery and Martinis, and anyone who attends Wordpool's gala launch night is sure to be shaken and stirred by what promises to be a brilliant night. All the ingredients are there. Take two best-selling crime writers (Ann Cleeves and Peter Robinson), add a fabulous venue in the shape of Stanley Park's Art Deco Cafe, throw in a dash of musical entertainment by Rosie Harrison accompanied by Tim Kincaig, pour over a concoction of quizzes, a Q&A session and book signings and you've the recipe for success. Tickets are £15 (£12 for library users), and include complimentary cocktails,…