Stephen Dunstan, Author at Blackpool Social Club

08 Aug

Fancy Clowning Around?

Stephen Dunstan0 CommentsTheatre, Dance & Performance

Ever wanted to be the next Charlie Cairoli or Mooky? Now is your chance to release your inner clown with a free workshop at Blackpool's Central Library. 'An Introduction To Clowning' takes place on Saturday 18 August in the Brunswick Room. Blackpool Museum Project has commissioned Dr Barnaby King to deliver a taster clowning workshop for adults. This workshop provides a short introduction to the art of clowning through practical exercises that encourage participants to play openly, live in the moment, and to revel in their own ridiculousness. No previous experience is required. Clown work can offer a powerful and…

07 Aug

Air Show The Place To Go This Weekend

Stephen Dunstan0 CommentsLocal News

There can't be many locals who don't know, but just in case you didn't Blackpool’s two-day Air Show is back this weekend with a fantastic programme of aerial entertainment. The spectacular free event will take place on Blackpool Promenade on Saturday and Sunday August and will include a breathtaking finale by everyone's favourites, the world-famous Red Arrows. The event, which is being sponsored by Northern, will showcase the very best in British aviation with a whole host of amazing flying machines and some of the country’s most talented pilots. The programme will begin shortly after 1.30pm on both days, with the…

05 Aug

Fleetwood Parkrun Off To Flying Start

Stephen Dunstan0 CommentsLocal News, Sports & Wellbeing

Last year we promoted the new parkrun in Blackpool's Stanley Park. That event is now well over a year old, and firmly established. This weekend saw the start of the Fylde's third* parkrun - Fleetwood Promenade. If you aren't familiar with parkrun it is a weekly free 5k run open to the whole community. Anybody who can walk the distance can take part, there is no requirement for running ability. The events are staffed entirely by volunteers who give up an hour or so of their Saturday morning. There is no requirement for parkruns to be in parks - one…

03 Aug

Cybele Velo – A New Cycling Space In Layton

Stephen Dunstan0 CommentsLocal News, Sports & WellbeingBlackpool, cafeculture, health

Recently AltBlackpool's editorial team met, and wanting to avoid the town centre we went to the new Cybele Velo facility on Coleridge Road. We were so impressed we agreed we would do a piece on it, and here it is. Primarily Cybele Velo is a training facility for keen cyclists and triathletes. There are fixed 'bikes' where member and visitors can take part in a wide programme of classes where the machines are set to the ability of the user. Clips from the Tour de France and other cycle races on the giant screen add an air of authenticity to…

05 Jul

Have A Grand Laugh This Friday

Stephen Dunstan0 CommentsLiterature & Spoken Word, Music & GigsBlackpool, Comedy, community, entertainment, performance, The Grand Theatre

Whilst most of the country is in an upbeat mood until Saturday afternoon at least, how about getting down to the latest Laugh Out Loud Comedy club at The Grand. Steve Shanyaski has appeared on ITV's Jason Manford’s Comedy Rocks, with more TV work on the way catch him whilst you can. A very charismatic and silly performer with a natural talent for storytelling, Steve never fails to entertain. Steve Day describes himself as Britain’s only deaf comedian, if there are any others he hasn't heard. A disabled performer, Steve is more concerned with success in the mainstream comedy circuit, but…

24 May

Punk Rock Cartoons – Shaws

Stephen Dunstan0 CommentsLocal News, Visual Arts & Exhibitions

I had seen David Worth's rock and pop cartoons in HMV in the past. I hadn't really appreciated he was a local artist until I saw he was the latest to exhibit at Shaws. The opening night was today (Thursday) so I went and had a look. David started doing his cartoons in 2010 and is self-taught. The first cartoons he drew were of Public Image Limited and these were published on johnlydon.com and also on pilofficial.com. Although his repertoire does indeed include a large number of punk rock icons there are many other rock and pop acts included. I…

09 May

Review – Jungle Book

Stephen Dunstan0 CommentsTheatre, Dance & Performance

It was great to arrive at The Grand on a sunny spring evening and see large numbers of young people waiting to get in. The reason - Jessica Swale's adaptation of The Jungle Book, a co-production between the Children's Touring Partnership and Royal and Derngate, Northampton. The fundamental story will be familiar to many through the Disney animated feature film. Mowgli the man cub battles for survival in this heart-warming coming-of-age story about a child raised by wolves in the jungle. With the help of Mowgli’s animal friends, including Bagheera the panther, Baloo the bear and Kaa the python, Mowgli…

05 Apr

Review – The Way Things Are (And Friends)

Stephen Dunstan0 CommentsVisual Arts & Exhibitions

The Grundy recently launched its new trio of exhibitions. Given their distinctly seaside theme it was appropriate to make my way there on a sunny half term Thursday with the town feeling vibrant. Following the friendly welcome and a copy of the spring brochure at gallery reception first up was The Way Things Are by Roy Voss. This poplar wood construction stretches through the Grundy’s two ground-floor gallery spaces. It's a little disconcerting to pass notices advising caution to avoid the work falling over, but hopefully that's a remote risk! Personally I'm a sucker for anything the gallery does that…

22 Mar

Marvel-lous new features at Madame Tussauds

Stephen Dunstan0 CommentsLocal News

This evening saw the launch event for the exciting new elements in the Madame Tussauds experience this season. AltBlackpool were among the crowds there for the big unveiling. This isn't a minor refresh of the experience, a large new extension on upper storage floors has brought a far greater range of activities for all the family. The first of the two new elements is the Sporting Hero Academy. Interactivity is the name of the game here, with football simulation and a climbing wall among the activities. The big draw for most people in the added elements however is probably the…

21 Mar

Hats Off* To Museum Laurel Bowler Acquisition

Stephen Dunstan0 CommentsHeritage

An iconic Stan Laurel bowler hat has rejoined other rare showbusiness artefacts which were all once part of the same private collection. Blackpool Council is now hoping that a Heritage Lottery Fund bid for a new museum, the first in the country set to be devoted to the history of popular entertainment in the UK, will give the hat a home worthy of its cultural significance. The black bowler was originally given to local magician Cyril Critchlow in 1947 when Laurel and his comedy partner Oliver Hardy played the town’s Palace Theatre as part of their British Tour. When he discovered…