Scarlett Clegg, Author at Blackpool Social Club

18 Sep

Preview: Brain Container

Scarlett Clegg0 CommentsVisual Arts & Exhibitions

Monday 22 September sees the launch of an exciting new installation for Blackpool Illuminations. Brain Container, the brain child of artist Jo Berry, will be switched on for the first time. Jo, originally from Lancashire, remembers the wonder she used to feel when, as a small child, she regularly visited the Illuminations. She was fascinated by the beautifully lit, moving, magical images. This has led to her producing artwork using light, digital drawings and animations for public exhibition for the past fifteen years. Her Fluted Pylons, sited near the Cenotaph during the 2012 Illuminations Centenary Celebrations, were actually inspired by…

01 Sep

Review: North Pier Live!

Scarlett Clegg0 CommentsMusic & Gigs

After a somewhat shaky start, this just got better and better as the show progressed. Due to the change of venue, there were some teething problems which involved a disgruntled audience having to stand on a draughty pier for around an hour. In spite of being cold, once inside we were given a warm welcome. Sound problems marred the early part of the show, the backing tracks were overloud and, in the case of Amy-Jo Clough, stopped mid song. Teenager Amy coped admirably with this stating, “No pressure on me then.” Her nervous giggles had the audience on her side…

01 Sep

Review: Magic of the Musicals

Scarlett Clegg0 CommentsMusic & Gigs, Theatre, Dance & Performance

Magic of the Musicals was the second event in a weekend of Illumination Switch On fun. Whilst not as packed as Friday night, there was still a sizeable audience in the arena for this exciting sounding show. The show opened with award-winning performer Leanne Jones. Leanne created the iconic role of Tracy Turnblad in the original West End production of the feel good musical Hairspray, a role for which she won the Olivier Award for Best Actress In A Musical. From her performance in Blackpool, it’s easy to see why. She performed three numbers from the musical including Good Morning…

25 Aug

A Grand Panto Launch

Scarlett Clegg0 CommentsTheatre, Dance & Performance

On a warm August day, with azure skies, it seemed a little strange to be thinking of pantomime with its connotations of winter and Christmas, but that is exactly what happened in the beautiful Stanley Park, as the Grand held the annual Meet The Panto Cast event as a prelude to this year's show, Sleeping Beauty. This popular and fun event was hosted by Radio Wave and featured a bouncy castle/slide for the little ones and an opportunity to attempt circus skills with Blackpool Circus School. Both had a steady stream of eager youngsters, and, in the case of the…

18 Aug

Preview: Meet the Panto Cast 2014

Scarlett Clegg0 CommentsTheatre, Dance & Performance

Let’s face it, it’s always nice to get something for free, especially when it will keep the kids amused for a couple of hours during the long summer break. To launch this year’s panto, Blackpool's Grand Theatre will be holding a free family fun day on Friday 22 August, at Stanley Park bandstand, from 1pm to 3pm. The event, which is hosted by Radio Wave, is a great opportunity to meet all the stars of the season's pantomime, Sleeping Beauty, presented by Martin Dodd for UK Productions. The day promises to be fun-filled and exciting for all the family. In…

13 Aug

North Pier Live!

Scarlett Clegg0 CommentsMusic & Gigs

The organisers of Lytham Live have had a few venue problems this year and the event has been moved to The North Pier, Blackpool, under its new title North Pier Live! From the amazing line up, it would appear that Lytham’s loss is to be Blackpool’s gain. This weekend of music takes place on Friday 22 and Saturday 23 August in the theatre on the iconic North Pier. Headlining Friday's show is the popular X Factor winner Matt Cardle. His debut single, When We Collide, was the 2010 Christmas number one and the second biggest selling single of the year,…

23 Jul

Matcham’s Masterpiece is 120 years old

Scarlett Clegg0 CommentsLocal News, Theatre, Dance & Performance

The beautiful gem of Church Street that is The Grand Theatre celebrates its 120th birthday on Wednesday, over forty years after it was almost demolished. What a devastating loss to Blackpool that would have been. The Grand was built by leading Victorian theatre architect, Frank Matcham, and is one of the few surviving examples of his work. It was commissioned by Thomas Sergenson at a cost £20,000 and took just nine months to build. Since its opening on 23 July, 1894, by Sergenson, who dubbed it ‘Matcham’s Masterpiece’, The Grand has hosted a multitude of stars, from Lily Langtree to…

22 Jul

Review: New Jersey Nights

Scarlett Clegg0 CommentsMusic & Gigs, Theatre, Dance & Performance

New Jersey Nights opened at the Grand on Sunday to a delighted audience. Direct from the USA, this international smash-hit show, produced by David King for Spirit Shows, is in town for four weeks. I loved it so much, I will be seeing it again before it moves on to the rest of its world tour. This show, which is a spectacular celebration of the music of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, delivers a back catalogue of the sensational sounds that put them at the top of the charts for forty years. After the overture, the show opened with…

27 Jun

Review: The Vicar of Dibley

Scarlett Clegg0 CommentsTheatre, Dance & Performance

A little bit of Oxfordshire is currently in Blackpool! Poulton Drama are performing The Vicar Of Dibley at The Grand Theatre until Saturday. Richard Curtis, the original creator of the television series, and Paul Carpenter and Ian Gower, who adapted it for the stage, have refused to take any royalties for the performance, requesting that all profits from this week go to Comic Relief, which was founded by Richard Curtis in 1985. Poulton Drama, who stage three shows a year at Thornton Little Theatre, have also appeared at The Grand for three out of the past four years. The group,…

30 May

Review: Sister Act at Blackpool Grand Theatre

Scarlett Clegg0 CommentsTheatre, Dance & Performance

As a big fan of the 1992 movie of the same name, and also a fan of Blackpool and Fylde Light Opera Company, I was keen to see how they would handle this production. Chairman/Production Secretary, Phil Chapman, was contacted by the theatre and music publisher Joseph Weinberger Ltd and asked to perform the musical. As only 35 companies nationwide have been offered this opportunity, it was a tremendous privilege to be one of them, and proves just how talented the company are. Wednesday night saw the opening night at The Grand Theatre. The show opens in the setting of…