Theatre, Dance & Performance Archives - Page 40 of 72

05 Oct

Ghost Hits All The Right Notes

Stephen Dunstan0 CommentsTheatre, Dance & Performance

Devotees of late 80s / early 90s chick flicks have been spoiled at the Winter Gardens this autumn, with the extended run of Dirty Dancing followed this week by Ghost – The Musical. It was clear from discussion around me that many people had decided to attend both. As someone who associates Ghost largely with a slow burning Righteous Brothers track and a potters wheel I was pleased to share the views of those around me that this production was enjoyable and worthwhile. One thing that rather surprised me from fairly early on in the proceedings was the fairly strong…

04 Oct

It’s Grand to be Young

Elizabeth Ward0 CommentsTheatre, Dance & Performance

Blackpool Grand theatre are hosting two free taster sessions on Mondays 10 and 17 October 6,30-8.30pm, to recruit for budding actors and actresses to join their new NT Connections Young Company. Connections is the National Theatre’s Youth Theatre programme that each year provides a platform for young people to perform brand new plays and to network regionally and nationally with other young people aged 14-19. The aim of Blackpool Grand Theatre's Young Company is to produce a piece of theatre which will be performed in the Grand Studio, as well as at their Regional Partner venue, alongside other youth theatres from…

03 Oct

Walk Like A Man at the Grand

Stephen Dunstan0 CommentsTheatre, Dance & Performance

It was recently announced that Frankie Valli & The Four Season will be coming to the UK on tour in the spring of next year, including a Manchester date on 27 April. What better way to get in the mood then than to visit the Grand Theatre this month to see one of the best Frankie Valli tributes, Walk Like A Man. If you don’t know Frankie Valli’s songs, you will definitely recognise his falsetto voice. With the Four Seasons his canon of hits includes Sherry, Let’s Hang On, Big Girls Don’t Cry, Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, My…

27 Sep

FORM Offers Theatre Training Experience

David Simper0 CommentsOpportunities, Theatre, Dance & Performance

Move quickly to grab one of seven places on this exciting opportunity for theatre aspirants living within roughly eight miles of Blackpool centre. FORM, LeftCoast, Grand Theatre Blackpool and Arts Council England have combined to present, FRAMEWORK, a new theatre development programme. FORM, for those of you who don't know, is a network of people interested in showing, making and supporting performance in Blackpool. Originally established by LeftCoast and now led by local creative Angelica Burrill the group set out to secure the funding for FRAMEWORK and has done so. This programme supports experimenting and playing with ideas rather than…

26 Sep

Preview: Nobody’s Perfect

Stephen Dunstan0 CommentsTheatre, Dance & Performance

Blackpool has a long and proud history of men masquerading as women in the arts. From the Tower Circus and pantomimes at the theatres to drag acts at Funny Girls and other clubs there has been a lot of entertainment to be had from cross-dressing. Upholding this tradition is Nobody’s Perfect, the latest Talking Scarlet production which comes to Blackpool Grand Theatre Tuesday 4 October to Saturday 8 October 2016. Harriet Copeland runs a feminist publishing house called ‘Love Is All Around’ and is holding a competition to find new romantic fiction written by women only. Leonard Loftus is desperate to…

23 Sep

Travel to the Grand… With Your Aunt

Stephen Dunstan0 CommentsTheatre, Dance & Performance

When the lights went up on Travels With My Aunt at The Grand I was a little surprised to see the set was essentially a pub. I wasn’t clear how this was going to reconcile with a journey around the world. And I suppose the answer to that is it didn’t, but it never really mattered during an unusual but generally very absorbing and rewarding production. For those who are unfamiliar with Graham Greene’s novel, now approaching its half-century, it features the recently retired and very straight-laced bank manager Henry Pulling. He grows dahlias in his garden and otherwise leads…

20 Sep

Kick Off Your Sunday Shoes at Footloose

Blackpool Social Club0 CommentsTheatre, Dance & Performance

The four-time Tony nominated musical Footloose has made its way to Blackpool by way of the Sell a Door Theatre Company’s touring rendition. Filled with hits like; ‘I need a hero’, ‘Let’s hear it for the boy’ and the title track ‘Footloose’, this musical extravaganza brings a lot of fun to the table. Following the adolescent years of Ren (played by Luke Baker) moving from Chicago to Bomont, he soon realises that the town has banned dancing, in a spectacular rock ‘n’ roll escapade he makes it his mission to bring the groove back to the town. The cast sees…

20 Sep

Preview: Tale of Two Cities

David Simper0 CommentsTheatre, Dance & Performance

Suffice to say in prelude that I am something of a Dickens nut and am therefore really looking forward to seeing this Touring Consortium Theatre Company and Royal and Derngate Northampton production. The book is adapted by Mike Poulton who reworked Wolf Hall for the RSC and is directed by James Dacre (previously at the New Vic Theatre and Theatre503), and will be performed with a score by Oscar-winning composer Rachel Portman (soundtracks for Cider House Rules and Beloved). It’s quite a book these renowned professionals have to work with. Tale of Two Cities is a good introduction to Dickens…

19 Sep

Let Your Conscience Guide You to HipHop Theatre

Melanie Whitehead0 CommentsTheatre, Dance & Performance

'POPNOCCHIO', is a hip-hop version of classic fairytale Pinocchio which has been produced by Skool of Street and WingZ Theatre works; a collective of urban arts practitioners based in Blackpool. It previews at Blackpool Sixth Form Theatre on Saturday 24 September, then plays for just one night at Blackpool's Grand Theatre on Wednesday 28 September (there’s a third showing at Blackpool & The Fylde College Theatre on Friday 30 September which is not open to the public). I was lucky enough to attend one of the first run-throughs of this production and to see the cast of young people; all…

13 Sep

On The Ball at the Lowther

Stephen Dunstan1 CommentTheatre, Dance & Performance

For the football fan, a live match is not ninety minutes of intense excitement, there are peaks and troughs. As long as their team shows endeavour and produces memorable moments of skill they are generally happy, providing the result goes their way. Ball Of Fire at Lytham’s Lowther Gardens this Thursday was a bit like that, there were ups and downs but overall it was a heart warming tribute to a great footballer and everyone went home happy. In the preview of the show I highlighted Alan Ball’s career at Blackpool FC, culminating in the ultimate honour of a World…