Stephen Dunstan, Author at Blackpool Social Club

13 Sep

Queer Habits

Stephen Dunstan0 CommentsTheatre, Dance & Performance

People of Blackpool are no strangers to drag culture but the recent popularity of ballroom culture and shows including Pose and Re Paul’s Drag Race have launched it into the mainstream. In January Blackpool will be blessed with a new drag show, not in Funny Girls but sashaying onto hallowed stage of the Grand Theatre – with a divine twist. Death Drop: Back In The Habit is described as a delightfully daft drag murder mystery – Dragatha Christie, if you will. It arrives on the back of three sold-out West End runs. Rob Evans’s script features a gaggle of glamorous nuns…

25 Mar

Ensuites Available: Fancy fonts on the seafront

Stephen Dunstan0 CommentsVisual Arts & Exhibitionsbook, hotel, photographer, photography

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] When Sarah Horn began photographing hotel frontages in Blackpool, little did she know that her collection would result in a unique archive of coastal architecture, vernacular typography and unconscious poetry. [/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Sarah has made a mission of photographing the B&Bs and independent hotels of Blackpool. The results of her efforts have now been published in En-Suites Available. The title is an affectionate nod to the fact that rooms with their own bathrooms are seen as a selling point, when it might be expected they’d be standard in a hotel stay in the twenty first century.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_column_text]Other than an index of…

06 Nov

New junior parkrun off to a flying start

Stephen Dunstan0 CommentsSports & WellbeingAnchorsholme, park, sport, Stanley Park, young people

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Since February 2017 the parkrun has been a hugely popular and successful activity in Stanley Park. There is now a junior event in Blackpool with the launch last month of an event for four to fourteen year olds at Anchorsholme Park. For the juniors parkruns take place Sunday at 9.00. Their event is two kilometres, rather than the 5k of the adult event. Unlike the open age parkrun the junior event begins with a warm up routine which at Anchorsholme takes place in the performance area in front of Brew café. Anchorsholme was selected as the venue for the…

04 Oct

Blackpool Reading Challenge Launch

Stephen Dunstan0 CommentsLiterature & Spoken Word, Local Newsliterature, reading

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] We just love reading at Blackpool Social Club, so it was a privilege to be invited to the launch of our town’s literacy strategy, which took place last Thursday in the spectacular Spanish Hall in the Winter Gardens. [/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Frank Norris MBE was the first speaker in his capacity as Chair of the Blackpool Education Improvement Board. Frank is keen on embracing new technology and stressed that reading ebooks and using tablets was still reading, and to be encouraged not criticised. He also talked about the impact of literature on his personal development, including when he raided a copy of The…

27 Jul

Garstang Walking Festival: A festival with a difference

Stephen Dunstan0 CommentsSports & WellbeingGarstang, Garstang Walking Festival, Green Space, Hiking, Walking

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] During the pandemic two things many people have taken solace from have been increased appreciation of their local area and doing more walking. At the end of next month there will be an opportunity to combine both of these by getting involved with the nearest event of its kind to Blackpool – the Garstang Walking Festival. The festival runs for five days from Saturday 28 August to Wednesday 1 September. The detailed programme is still to be confirmed to ensure it meets any covid related requirements. It will undoubtedly include a range of walks for all abilities and a…

06 Jul

New Normal Nature: Butterfly Bounty

Stephen Dunstan0 CommentsColumns & Opinion, Environment and Nature, Heritagebutterflies, environment, heritage, nature

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] As we reach the height of Summer, sunny weather will see many butterflies on the wing - even in a dense urban area like Blackpool. They are a very accessible form of nature – some are very distinctive and recogniseable, you don’t need to get up early or stay out late to see them and with a modest amount of effort you can attract them to you. You also don’t need special equipment as most species are quite approachable. There are several ways to summarise the likely suspects you would see locally, I am going to tackle it by…

30 May

New Normal Nature: Dolphin Delights

Stephen Dunstan0 CommentsColumns & Opinion, Environment and Naturebeach, dolphin, environment, nature, porpoise, seal

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] As we leave lockdown behind this follow-up series to Lockdown Nature will consider how we can continue to appreciate the nature around us. Perhaps you have resolved to stay local more going forward, perhaps you are just more attuned to nature from time on your hands whilst furloughed. We are starting with the sea mammals of Blackpool – seals, porpoises and dolphins. We are on the cusp of the peak season for cetacean (whale and dolphin) sightings in the seas off the Fylde, for two reasons. Firstly quite simply the species that occur all year round, Grey Seals and…

24 Apr

Pollution Patrol

Stephen Dunstan0 CommentsEnvironment and Nature, Local Newsbeach, Beach clean, environment

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] As we gradually return to normal, and hopefully a bumper summer for visitors to the Fylde coast, it’s easy to assume that beach and seawater quality is someone else’s concern. The Beach Patrol team, Street Cleansing, the RNLI, Coastwatch – all people who would notice such things wouldn’t they? Well if you are a regular beach user you might be first to pick up on an issue, and LOVEmyBEACH is asking for your help in identifying and reporting signs of coastal pollution. [/vc_column_text][vc_column_text] Concerted efforts by volunteer beach cleaners have helped ensure Blackpool and other north west beaches are…

02 Apr

Lockdown Nature – Eyes To The Skies

Stephen Dunstan0 CommentsColumns & Opinion, Environment and Nature, Heritageenvironment, heritage, nature

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] For the latest in his Nature In Lockdown series Stephen Dunstan looks at visible bird migration along our coastline. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]It’s often said that shared interests help keep the spark in relationships. Jane and I have never really managed mutual pastimes, but of late we’ve got half way there. Before work, and before the lockdown crowds increase, we’ve been going to Rossall Beach. Jane combs the pebbled beach looking for sea glass, with much success, and I traverse the slightly elevated Promenade looking for birds on or over the sea or in the grounds of the neighbouring private school.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Today we…

26 Feb

Lockdown Nature: The Greatest Show in Town

Stephen Dunstan0 CommentsEnvironment and NatureBlackpool, murmurations, nature

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] In his latest instalment of Blackpool Social Club’s series on lockdown nature and our interaction with it, Stephen Dunstan casts his eyes skywards to the one show that always goes on. “See the artistry of nature displayed for your delectation and delight! Take your seats for the greatest show in town! Never the same performance two nights running! A miraculous demonstration of timing and synchronisation in such numbers as to take your breath away! Watch these masters of the air as they perform their mysterious dance only inches from disaster!”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]So says the circus ringmaster on North Pier at the…