Stephen Dunstan, Author at Blackpool Social Club

29 Mar

Make The Arts Summer With LeftCoast

Stephen Dunstan0 CommentsLocal News

If you have ever wanted to get involved in delivering arts events on the Fylde Coast now is your chance as LeftCoast launch their new ‘Makers’ scheme. LeftCoast is an arts consortium which successfully delivered a three year programme of work on the Fylde Coast, and the Arts Council have provided funding for a further three years. The volunteer involvement is being refreshed, but expect the usual LeftCoast trademarks of exciting opportunities at large scale events. If you haven’t experienced LeftCoast’s output it has included: As The World Tipped, the thought provoking piece on climate change in 2014 using a…

17 Mar

Car Share Gives Resort A Lift

Stephen Dunstan0 CommentsVisual Arts & Exhibitions

This March, Blackpool's favourite garlic bread-loving comedian will be heading back to town, and this time, he's coming by car! Car Share was always likely to be a massive hit, given Peter Kay’s involvement, and when it arrived, the critical and public reception to the first series was hugely positive. In March 2015, faithful followers were given a sneak preview in charity screenings at the Winter Gardens. If you kicked yourself for missing the series 1 preview, you now have the chance to put that right. Episodes from the upcoming second series of this classic British sitcom are given their first…

15 Mar

All The Fun Of The (Art) Fayre

Stephen Dunstan0 CommentsVisual Arts & Exhibitions

Fancy taking in five art exhibitions in one, free to enter with over 400 participants and something for everyone? Then get your skates on and get yourself down to The Grundy before the Blackpool Art Fayre closes at the end of this week. If you are still unsure and wondering what makes up the quintet read on:- Blackpool Open An eclectic mix of submitted work from local artists. Some of the exhibits are available for sale if what you would look good on your wall. Blackpool Art Society The society has a 130 year tradition, making it one…

10 Mar

Anita And Me Take You On A Bittersweet Rollercoaster

Stephen Dunstan1 CommentTheatre, Dance & Performance

Any production which starts with a Raleigh Chopper on stage gets my vote every day of the week, so Anita And Me had me on side from the word go. What followed was a roller coaster couple of hours which at its heights and depths was very moving, as it ranged from the ephemera of childhood friendships to racist violence. The first half was a slow burner, but following a few widely appreciated jokes got into full stride with a musical number that brought spontaneous applause from an appreciative audience. The mood kept changing throughout, from saucy humour to serious…

24 Feb

The Change Will Do You Good

Stephen Dunstan0 CommentsTheatre, Dance & Performance

What do orcas, short-finned pilot whales and humans have in common? No? Well uniquely among animals the females of the species stop reproducing, and go through ‘the change’. There won’t be any cetaceans in the audience but the Grand Theatre promise a whale of a time when they bring the fabulously successful ‘Menopause – The Musical’ to Blackpool on 24 March. MTM began as a small scale production debuted in an Orlando theatre in 2001. As word spread It quickly became a must see and has been staged across the world for the last sixteen years. It is estimated that…

24 Feb

Grundy Film Club Returns

Stephen Dunstan0 CommentsFilm, Local News, Visual Arts & ExhibitionsFilm, film festival, filmmaking

There’s been a lot going on at The Grundy recently, including the acclaimed Neon exhibition and now the ever-popular show of local residents’ work. What some altBlackpool readers may have missed is the return of the film club, supported by the Institute of Contemporary Arts. The next instalment is this coming Monday and features the work of Basim Magdy. The series got underway on 13 February with three short films by award winning cinematographer Ben Rivers. Like all Grundy film events this was compered by artist and filmmaker Chris Paul Daniels. Chris always gives enthusiastic and extremely knowledgeable introductions at…

02 Feb

A Grand Family Event This Saturday

Stephen Dunstan0 CommentsLocal News

It’s that in between time when it comes to keeping the younger members of the family artistically busy. The excitement of Christmas and panto season has receded (oh yes it has…), but it’s still a little while until half term and the delights of Showzam! and the like. Step forward The Grand, who this weekend are staging a Family Fun Day on Saturday. Recent panto stars Steve Royle and Hayley Kay will preside over an afternoon of entertainment. They will be judging a jungle character fancy dress competition with a prize including tickets to forthcoming show Running Wild. So, get…

01 Feb

Jill Gets A Kick Out Of Seaside Towns

Stephen Dunstan0 CommentsLocal News

Renowned local photographer Jill Reidy has recently launched a kickstarter campaign for her latest project, using her 40 years of Blackpool experience to now photo-document several other English seaside resorts. I caught up with her this week to talk about what the project involves, and how altBlackpool readers can get involved. SD: Why seaside towns? JR: I was born and grew up in London, so the seaside always held a special magic for me. Every year we used to visit our cousins in Margate and I can still feel that excitement as we came over the brow of a hill…

05 Jan

Laugh Off The January Blues At The Grand

Stephen Dunstan0 CommentsTheatre, Dance & Performance

It’s generally accepted to be the most depressing week of the year, with the return to work after and extended break for many and long dark nights and short wet and windy days for all. So if you fancy some respite why not get yourself down to the Grand this Friday for the latest incarnation of the Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club. Topping the bill is Dan Nightingale, who may be familiar to many from his appearances on John Bishop’s Only Joking on Sky. His observational comedy includes energetic characterisations and he has been on the circuit since 2002 as…

21 Dec

It’s (Nearly) Carnival Time

Stephen Dunstan2 CommentsLocal News

The February Showzam! Festival has varied in duration and format over the years, but the ever present has been the Carnival Ball in the fabulous Tower Ballroom. And, if you would never miss the night, or are looking for late Christmas present ideas, now is the time to snap up tickets before the price increases. Cogniscenti will know there is always a theme to the ball giving the opportunity for party goers to dress a little flamboyantly. Or perhaps a lot flamboyantly in the 2017 incarnation, with Mardi Gras the order of the day. Expect purple, green and gold to…