Theatre, 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,…

The audience was dressed for the sweltering conditions outside, though it was pleasant inside the theatre.  The lady in front of me had even brought a fan, and did a great job of keeping us both cool.  With the elegant surroundings of the Grand Theatre it all felt very genteel.  Until, that is, the death toll in Swap began to climb. The plot is essentially that a couple from Wimbledon and his brother go on a house swap holiday to a remote villa in Spain.   They have barely arrived when they stumble on a body which tumbles from a broom…

Absent is a unique, site specific experience which has been created by internationally acclaimed  theatre makers dreamthinkspeak, led by Tristan Sharp.  Small groups are invited to take a magical mystery journey through the hidden spaces of Blackpool’s iconic Winter Gardens into a modern hotel to experience the splendour of a bygone age. In 1958 a young woman wins the Premium Bonds jackpot and, to celebrate checks into the exclusive Pavilion Suite of Blackpool’s most fashionable establishment – The Winter Gardens Hotel.  Over fifty years later she is still living there, whilst all around her this world-renowned hotel has been crumbling…

Readers of a certain age may remember a popular TV action programme of the 1970s.  Return Of The Saint is perhaps most loved for its opening credits, a blend of rip roaring theme tune and a stick man precursor to Who Framed Roger Rabbit which you can access to this day at the bottom of this page.  If you are older still you may have a Harry Hill-esque view on which is better, Return Of The Saint or the series it spawned from (‘The Saint’, as you might have surmised). So where am I going with this?  Well almost 40…

The sparkling new production of this hilarious musical, based on the hit film, promises to be the biggest party in town when it comes to the Winter Gardens Blackpool next spring. The year is 1985, hair is big, greed is good and rock star wannabee Robbie Hart is New Jersey’s favourite wedding singer. However, when his own fiancée dumps him at the altar, Robbie sets out to ensure that every wedding is as disastrous as his own. Will sweet natured Julia and her best friend Holly manage to lure Robbie back into the limelight? Or is she going to head…

The Gruffalo said that no Gruffalo should ever set foot in the deep dark wood. However, today and tomorrow you can watch what happens as Tall Stories, the internationally acclaimed theatre company behind The Gruffalo, brings the captivating sequel to life, at the Grand Theatre, in this magical, musical adaptation. One wild and windy night the Gruffalo’s child ignores her father’s warning and tiptoes out into the snow. After all, the Big Bad Mouse doesn’t really exist… does he? Following hot on the heels of The Gruffalo’s sell out tour and his monstrous West End success comes The Gruffalo’s Child –…

A few weeks ago London’s National Theatre reveal that they will stop reviewers bringing guests. However, theatre bosses in Blackpool say they will continue to welcome reviewers with a plus-one following the announcement. It has been widely reported that from August the National Theatre will no longer give theatre critics an extra ticket enabling them to bring a friend or colleague with them to see a production. Hundreds of reviewers from both print and broadcast media are invited to the Winter Gardens myriad of shows and concerts each year and in all instances reviewers are welcome to bring a guest. Winter…

The sun was out the weekend before last on the Comedy Carpet, and so were the Northern Soul crowd. Fast becoming the place to gather for a massive celebration of music and dance people were out in force enjoying the weather and the tunes. altBlackpool's Jill Reidy was there and shares her shots below...

This Tony Award winning, comedy musical is back in Blackpool this week where it will surely delight audiences during its run at the Winter Garden’s Opera House.  Already a smash hit on Broadway and in the West End, it is bringing a host of fuzzy friends to Blackpool. Avenue Q is a musical about growing up, dreaming big and finding your purpose in life.  It features what are described as the naughtiest puppets in town, hilariously brought to life by an ensemble cast of 11 performers. Princeton, a bright eyed graduate, arrives in New York City with big dreams and a tiny…