Scarlett Clegg

It's a much asked quiz question, but many are surprised at the answer when told that one of the world's favourite films was based on a novel by James Bond creator Ian Fleming. But that isn’t the only link to the 'shaken not stirred' secret agent as the film was actually produced by Albert. R. Broccoli, the regular co-producer of the James Bond series of films. I wonder if that is why there are similarities between Bond’s 'Q' and 'Chitty's' Caracatus Potts? But there is another name in the credits of the film that I must admit I didn’t know, and…

Blackpool and Fylde Light Opera Company are well renowned for producing quality shows with professional performances, so it should come as no shock that this year’s offering, Me and My Girl  was a treat for the audience from start to finish. First performed in London in 1937 and featuring a score by Noel Gay, the show has been given many revivals, but I doubt if many could have surpassed tonight’s performance at Blackpool’s Grand Theatre. From start to finish the performers provided the audience with quality, high energy song, dance, comedy and tinges of sadness. The plot revolves around 'common'…

Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Jekyll and Hyde is a phrase often used to describe a person who is somewhat temperamental and has a tendency to mood swings, but of course the origins of the phrase began way back in 1885 when the novel of the same name was written by Robert Louis Stevenson. Since then, the gothic thriller has been presented in many films, TV series and stage shows, and now it is the turn of Blackpool’s Grand Theatre to present a stage adaptation of this story next week. Starring Phil Daniels, Jekyll and Hyde is a twisted tale of…

This weekend saw The Russian State Ballet of Siberia make a very welcome return to the Grand Theatre Blackpool as part of their 2017/18 tour.  This year’s offerings were The Snow Maiden, The Nutcracker and Swan Lake. I was fortunate enough to be present at the performance of the ever popular Tchaikovky’s Swan Lake.  Internationally acclaimed as the greatest romantic ballet ever written, Swan Lake tells the story of Prince Siegfried and his discovery of and ensuing love for Odette.  The age old story of a beautiful girl transformed by treachery and a spell to be broken unwinds with evocative…

It was advertised as ‘First Encounters With Shakespeare For Younger Audiences’ so I suppose the clue was in the title, but nothing could have prepared me for the sheer quantity of school children thronging the foyer at Blackpool Grand Theatre.  I was surprised by how young some of them appeared and half expected to be sat amongst a very noisy audience.  I could not have been more wrong.  The children, hundreds of them, weren’t just well behaved because their teachers were watching them, they were completely enraptured by the performance and quiet as the proverbial mice.  If only the same…

If I had a pound for every person who has said to me “I hate Shakespeare, it’s so boring” then I would be a very wealthy woman.  However it's often the case that their only experience of the Bard’s work was many years ago in a classroom at school.  So it is fantastic to see that Shakespeare is being brought to life for the school children of today, by the efforts of the RSC, local theatres and schools. The latest play to be given the 21st Century treatment is one of my favourites, The Tempest, a story of treachery, injustice, revenge,…