Theatre, Dance & Performance

Bringing the play Britannia Waves The Rules to Blackpool & the Fylde College Studio Theatre is a brave move by LeftCoast and one which has a long-term audience development objective in mind and, since the show has now moved on to other venues on the Arts Council funded strategic tour, it’s worth reiterating some of the context of this production and just how important that is in the trajectory of arts activity in the town. This play won The Bruntwood Prize in 2011. To give some context for this; Bruntwood is the UK’s biggest playwriting competition. Since its inception in…

To quote Simon Beaufoy, writer of both The Full Monty film and play scripts; “Who would have thought a film in which there is impotence, unemployment, despair and suicide attempts would be described as ‘feelgood’?” But a night at the stage version at Blackpool Grand Theatre really does leave you with a smile on your face and spring in your step, and we are reminded why this story of unemployed Sheffield steelworkers, which hit our cinema screens in 1997, has become a British Classic. The original film cast have become some of our most highly respected and best beloved actors,…

Skool of Street is an urban arts collective which provides workshops in arts derived from urban culture, for young people aged 7-19 in the Blackpool and Wyre area. Workshops include, street and breakdance, acting and physical theatre, graffiti, rap, Djing, beatboxing and film making. They take place during school holidays and attendance is absolutely FREE. Skool of Street has successfully delivered four courses over the past year and to celebrate they are hosting their very own festival of urban arts which takes place at the Marine Hall on 13 September 2015, from 12-4pm. The festival is free to attend and…

Great news for Michael Jackson fans, this October, direct from London’s West End and in its 6th record breaking year, Thriller Live which is a spectacular celebration of the career of the world’s greatest entertainer arrives in Blackpool. Seen by over 2.5 million people in over 26 countries, Thriller Live continues to moonwalk around the world, taking you on a visual, audio and electrifying journey through the magic of Michael’s 45 year musical history. The show features an amazing experience of two hours of non-stop hits from pop to rock, soul to disco in a show that pays homage to Jackson’s…

On entering the small room in St Christopher’s Church, on Hawes Side Lane, Blackpool, I knew the play would be an intimate affair. What the audience of approximately twenty, or so saw will most likely stick with them a life time. The play, which is based on real life events, and characterised with Dan, and Jess as the soul partners cast into a chaotic, and tumultuous sequence of events which tell the unfortunate story of a heroin addict’s life. The names are changed for dramatic reasons. Dan, and Jess are lovingly close and inseparable, as lovers often are, unfortunately there…

Hot on the heels of Circolombia’s sell-out run at The Blackpool Tower Circus Arena earlier in the year, LeftCoast are thrilled to announce top French circus company Akoreacro, as the headline act for Showzam! 2016. The festival which is set for its ninth incarnation from 13-20 February 2016 has been a regular highlight for locals and visitors alike since it began and the programme for next year is shaping up to be the best yet, with the UK debut of Akoreacro’s show 'Klaxon'. The company are currently touring Europe to sell-out crowds and their performance at The Blackpool Tower Circus…

Do you have a child who still can't 'Let it Go'? Well here's a new way for you to enjoy the songs and story of the Disney blockbuster. Earn the title of coolest parent/aunt/grandparent ever, by taking your children to this special event. Blackpool’s Grand Theatre hosts Sing-a-long-a FROZEN – a unique, interactive screening of every child’s favourite Disney film. This screening of the smash-hit film is complete with lyrics on screen to help you sing along with Elsa and Anna, together with a live host. In the established Sing-a-long-a tradition, there will even be a fancy dress competition, so make sure…

Inspired by the smash hit, multi-million selling album series, which now boasts seven double compilations and a myriad of one off special releases, Dreamboats and Miniskirts swings into Blackpool’s Grand Theatre this September to showcase some of the greatest hit songs of the 60’s. Produced by Bill Kenwright and Laurie Mansfield in association with Universal Music and written by Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran, the team behind Goodnight Sweetheart, Birds of a Feather, Shine on Harvey Moon, Save the Last Dance For Me and of course Dreamcoats and Petticoats, the show is the sequel to Dreamboats and Petticoats, which premiered…

Aldous Huxley’s enigmatic novel, Brave New World, is set to be performed live at the Grand Theatre, Blackpool this November. Showing from Tuesday 18 to Saturday 24 November 2015, this futuristic and somewhat coercive brain washing, and fascist novel will be performed by The Touring Consortium Theatre Company, and Royal & Derngate, Northampton, in a world premiere. Huxley’s novel, Brave New World, was inspired by the character Miranda, in Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’, and was written in 1931, and is set in a futuristic London in 2540 AD. O wonderHow many godly creatures are there here!How beauteous mankind is! O brave new…

I was fortunate enough to be present at the opening night of the fantastic, all singing, all dancing extravaganza that is Puttin' on the Ritz at the Grand Theatre, Blackpool. When we arrived, the foyer was bustling with people, as was the bar. Once seated, I looked around the auditorium and it was pretty packed too. This may have been fuelled by recent trends towards anything nostalgic, or it could just have been because people are aware of the high quality of Spirit Productions’ shows and their excellent director, David King. As a small child, my parents always watched the…