Stephen Dunstan, Author at Blackpool Social Club

19 Aug

Heritage Open Days Throw Open The Doors

Stephen Dunstan0 CommentsHeritage, Local News

Recently I wrote on here about the number of excellent small parks we have in town, eclipsed in the public imagination by the iconic Stanley Park but all delightful in their own way. I was reminded of this when the press release for this year’s Heritage Open Days running between 8 and 11 September came through. There is a mix of behind the scenes talks and tours at some our tourism jewels, and events at lesser known venues with their own unique charm. It is now over 20 years since the nation Heritage Open Day programme began in 1994. Ironically…

16 Aug

Dirty Dancing Goes Down A Storm

Stephen Dunstan1 CommentTheatre, Dance & Performance

Someone who knows these things told me there were 2,400 people due in the audience for the Dirty Dancing premiere. So when we entered the Winter Gardens auditorium it wasn’t surprising to see a packed and expectant house. But given the high expectations many would have brought from watching the film could this major production deliver? The short answer is yes. Briefly for those who don’t know – the action is set in 1963 America, in an age of relative innocence and economic prosperity. A girl on holiday with her family falls for a dashing dancing instructor from the wrong…

12 Aug

Park Life at Crossland Road

Stephen Dunstan0 CommentsLocal News

If you live in Blackpool and refer to ‘the park’ many will assume you mean Stanley Park as though there was only one in the town. Hopefully readers of this site will be aware we are blessed with a number of smaller parks that punch above their weight. Thanks to their loyal bands of Friends Groups some are becoming better known outside their neighbourhoods, for example Watson Road Park and Devonshire Rock Gardens. One of the newer organisations promoting a local amenity area is the Friends of Crossland Road Park. For those unfamiliar with this green space it is just…

12 Aug

Grand Theatre Unveils New Season

Stephen Dunstan0 CommentsTheatre, Dance & Performance

It was standing room only in the space at The Grand Theatre known as, erm, The Space for the launch of the 2016/17 programme. Hyperbole is often the order of the day at events like this, and it’s easy to get carried away when there are slick Ellie Goulding backed promos to watch. But it isn’t overstating it to say that the offer is probably the strongest and most diverse the theatre has ever delivered. Tony Stone, Chair of The Grand Theatre Board, set the scene with his opening remarks. He demonstrated the pride of everyone involved in securing dreamthinkspeak’s…

11 Aug

Fylde Coast Youth Dance Seeks Director

Stephen Dunstan0 CommentsOpportunities, Theatre, Dance & Performance

Are you passionate about developing local youth dance? Are you a Fylde dance practitioner looking to develop your career? Are you free on Sundays over the next year or so, or able to make yourself so for the right opportunity. An exciting position has come up as Director of Fylde Coast Youth Dance Company. But you need to get a quickstep on as initial expressions of interest have to be submitted within a fortnight. Fylde Coast Youth Dance Company needs a dedicated and experienced Company Director to guide the young dancers in developing excellent contemporary dance technique, creative skills, developing innovative…

04 Aug

Pub Poets Speakeasy

Stephen Dunstan0 CommentsLiterature & Spoken Word

Everybody loves the summer festivals. The scale, the diversity, the sunny days and nights memories are made of. But there comes a point where you’ve peaked, your voice is going, there’s something akin to tinnitus going on in your head and you want to use permanent toilet facilities. Above all, it becomes desirable to be able to hear yourself think again. If that’s where you are getting to we have something that may appeal – introducing The Pub Poets’ Speakeasy. The speakeasy is oganised by Lisa Bower. Lisa may be known to some of you as the presenter of the…

02 Aug

Nina Conti tickles the ribs at Lytham Festival

Stephen Dunstan0 CommentsTheatre, Dance & Performance

When I looked at the Lytham Festival Facebook trailer for Nina Conti’s visit to the Lowther Pavilion soon after it was posted there were four comments. Two of these were people tagging their partners (I assume) and suggesting they go together. The other two were responses from those partners saying they didn’t want to attend an event featuring a one trick pony. So clearly Nina is a performer who divides opinion – but is it fair to suggest she is limited, and if she is entertaining does it matter? The opening to Nina’s routine, an exchange with Monk the Monkey,…

02 Aug

Sister Sledge head to Lytham Festival

Stephen Dunstan0 CommentsMusic & Gigs

Friday night at Lytham Proms has traditionally been 80s versus 90s night. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, and everyone throws themselves into an unashamed nostalgia fest. This year the concept has been broadened into a 70s, 80s and 90s ‘Mix Tape’ night. And a recent change to the line-up has seen Philadelphia’s finest Sister Sledge added. Sister Sledge are a heavyweight addition to the new ‘Mix Tape’ for three reasons. They are undisputedly one of the most successful female groups of all time. Over the years, the group has amassed a string of Gold and Platinum records, accumulating total…

01 Aug

Punk, Post-Punk and Post-Previews at Blott

Stephen Dunstan0 CommentsVisual Arts & Exhibitions

I don’t know if it was deliberate planning or not, but I like it. Blott Studios latest exhibition celebrating 40 years of punk music and culture runs from 4 to 7 August. There is an open invite to the preview party on 5 August at their King Street studio. Have you ever seen anything more punk than that? If you are none the wiser you may want to read that again… Chiming in with the dates of the ever popular Rebellion music festival in the town the ‘Sugar and Spite’ exhibition features three artists. Dale Grimshaw is a leading artist…

30 Jul

Great Exhibition of the North could be headed to the seaside

Stephen Dunstan0 CommentsLocal News

What do Blackpool, Bradford, Newcastle* and Sheffield have in common? Well they all have football teams that were formerly in the top flight but are currently in lower leagues for one. In arts terms they all have at least one Grade one or Grade 2 listed theatre. Plus, as of yesterday they are all shortlisted in the race to host the Great Exhibition of the North. If, like me, you hadn’t heard about this before now here are some key details. The exhibition will be in 2018. It will run for at least two months and it will showcase the…