Theatre, Dance & Performance

The plot of this musical may be about an attempt to stage a Broadway flop, but this musical was certainly no flop when it took Broadway by storm in 2001 followed by similar success in The West End in 2004. This Academy Award winning, hilarious musical has wowed audiences ever since and now it’s here in Blackpool courtesy of Blackpool Operatic Players and The Grand Theatre. Producer, Max Bialystock recruits timid accountant Leo Bloom to help him pull off Broadway’s biggest scam. Bialystock, impoverished by a string of theatrical flops, needs to persuade his admiring string of elderly, widowed backers…

A little bit of magic and a smidgeon of mischief were in the air as the Royal Shakespeare Company, Poulton Drama and children from Larkholme School took to the stage on Tuesday at Blackpool’s Grand Theatre in Midsummer Night’s Dream: A Play for the Nation. This ground breaking production, directed by the RSC Deputy Artistic Director, Erica Whyman, saw a company of 18 professional actors working alongside amateurs, who played the Mechanicals and local school children playing Titania’s Fairy Train.  The performance, which celebrates Shakespeare’s timeless legacy in the 400th anniversary of 1616, the year when the bard took his extraordinary talents…

Blackpool Grand Theatre has recently announced a new commitment to providing open access to families. It’s three objectives are: To provide a big smile. To offer family friendly shows. To make it easier for families.  Alongside improved baby changing facilities, a new buggy park area, a range of healthier drinks and snacks, a Family Friendly Guide plus a live performance feed into the Stage Door Bar, they are now also offering a more flexible family ticket and a great new line-up of family favourite shows beginning in March and continuing throughout the year! The hi-light of this season for many…

The wind was howling, the sky was overcast, the Easter Parade had been cancelled as the gazebo wouldn’t stay up, but this didn’t deter the intrepid participants of the latest local flashmob, organised by Mimi of Urban Dance Project fame. This was the third flashmob I have been in, and, as always, there was a great sense of camaraderie and shared secrecy, as we mingled with the Easter weekend crowds at Freeport in Fleetwood. Radio Wave bravely battled the elements, whilst behind a fence, one of Mimi’s helpers ducked down and distributed bunny ears from a large sack, whispering instructions…

Due to audience demand, this popular hit musical is to extend its run when it comes to The Winter Gardens Blackpool this autumn. This new musical production, based on the much-loved movie masterpiece, begins its run on Monday 3 October. It was originally scheduled for six nights but, due to huge demand for tickets, it has been decided to extend the run by a further five nights between the 11 and 15 October. Winter Gardens Managing Director, Michael Williams said “The demand for tickets to see Ghost the Musical has been incredible since we went on sale last month such…

Congratulations go out to Lea Milesi aged 8, from Thames Primary Academy on winning the competition to design a poster for the upcoming production of The Dream in conjunction with the RSC. As part of the RAC’s year-long season of events to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death, The Dream is the children’s reimagining of Shakespeare’s magical play A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Playing their part in the celebrations, young people from nine schools across Blackpool have been preparing their performance of The Dream – which re-tells Shakespeare’s timeless story of magic, mischief and love. As part of the experience,…

Ed Byrne is one of the UK’s leading comedians, it is no surprise that after over 20-years on the comedy touring circuit, he continues to sell-out venues across the UK. After filling Blackpool Grand in February, we are excited that he is returning to the area to Lowther Pavilion, Lytham St-Annes on Friday 15 April 2016. In his new show: Outside Looking In, Ed reflects on everything from life as a father and husband to feminism and transgenderism. As an observational stand up, Ed Byrne is unrivalled.  Wherever he performs, be it the Edinburgh Festival, on the International Circuit or…

Following on the success of their recent powerful and acclaimed performances of Regeneration (2014) and Brave New World (2015), The Touring Consortium Theatre Company and Birmingham Repertory Theatre will bring this adaptation of the much loved and much studied novella to the stage at Blackpool Grand Theatre. Based on John Steinbeck’s 1937 novella, Of Mice and Men, this classic tale of humanity, friendship and dreaming big is still as topical today as when it was first written. It tackles what it means to be human against a backdrop of economic turmoil and migrant labour in Depression-era America. Displaced and fighting…