blackpool arts scene Archives - Blackpool Social Club

22 Jul

Theatre Review: 9 to 5 The Musical

David Simper0 CommentsTheatre, Dance & Performance9to5, blackpool arts scene, dolly parton, musical theatre

A lifelong Dolly Parton fan and admirer of the 1980 film, David Simper heads to Blackpool Grand Theatre for 9 to 5: The Musical — and finds a witty, big-hearted stage adaptation that has the audience on their feet by the finale. As a keen Dolly Parton fan, and having been impressed by the 1980 film version of 9 to 5, I was delighted to be asked to review this show, which did not disappoint in any way. After dashing through the family meal after work, I caught the service 61 bus to Corporation Street and then on to Blackpool…

10 Mar

Exhibition review: Tea Amantes 2025 photowalks – A year on the Streets

David Simper0 CommentsGuide, Visual Arts & Exhibitionsart photography, blackpool arts scene, photographic exhibition

Having participated in another twelve months of the Tea Amantes photo walks and declaring his interest with three photographs in this exhibition, David Simper caught his usual service 61 bus to view his friends' work and generally catch the vibe. Big thanks go to Kenny McRae and team for coordinating the second Tea Amantes photo walks exhibition, showcasing 2025's work. It's no mean feat to gather work, select the pieces to be included, arrange the printing, sort the framing, do the hanging and put together the PR. Not to mention designing and printing the accompanying catalogue (on sale in the…

19 Feb

Theatre review: Single White Female

David Simper0 CommentsTheatre, Dance & Performanceblackpool arts scene, Blackpool Grand Theatre

With vague memories of the hit 90s film version of this psychological thriller, David Simper and his wife, hastened down to the Grand Theatre to catch the world premier stage production of this show. The performance didn't disappoint. This is a radical reworking of the original source material – a 1990 novel by American writer John Lutz and subsequent hit film. The audience finds recently divorced Allie, played by Lisa Faulkner (Holby City), moving into a new home, struggling with motherhood, running a business and worrying about money. She's faced with a new baby coming into former husband Sam's (Jonny…

26 Jan

The Old Electric showcase Blackpool’s emerging scriptwriting talent

Linda Hampton0 CommentsTheatre, Dance & PerformanceBlackpool, Blackpool and the Fylde College, blackpool arts scene, performance, the old electric, Theatre, workshops

Local actor and writer Linda Hampton was invited to take part as a reader for this live event hosted by The Old Electric, on a cold January night. Each year at the culmination of the annual scriptwriting course offered by The Old Electric performing arts organisation in Blackpool, participating writers are invited to show their work-in-progress to a live audience. Six Blackpool-based writers – George Bamber, Angela Murphy, Amanda Webster, Joshua Shaw, Lyndsey Barlow and Lydia Warrilow - have been developing their stories under the guidance of Melanie Whitehead, Artistic Director of The Old Electric. She has been helping the…

11 Jan

Photography Exhibition: Steve Webberley at Tea Amantes

David Simper0 CommentsGuide, Visual Arts & Exhibitionsarchitectural photography, blackpool arts scene, photographic exhibition, tea amantes

Despite the cold weather, David Simper caught the Service 61 bus to take in the opening of Steve Webberley's exhibition at the excellent Tea Amantes tea room and gallery. This was a treat for the architectural photography fan and lover of saturated colour. This small collection of high quality prints is a sample of Steve's work over several years, reflecting the exotic places he has been, including Santorini in Greece, Bay of Naples in Italy and Malta. Home locations include England's South coast and the North West region. Steve has used his phone and a Digital Single Lens Reflex camera…

02 Dec

Exhibition Review: Annemarie Farley – ‘Lament’ in Cyanotype

David Simper0 CommentsVisual Arts & Exhibitionsblackpool arts scene, cyanotypes, hive arts, photography

Monday 24th November 2025 saw David Simper catch the service 61 bus to the Church Street HIVE gallery, where Annemarie Farley was opening her show 'Lament' featuring her cyanotypes on glass. This event was extremely well attended, numbers being boosted by members of the Royal Photographic Society, there to view this unique show and to give Annemarie her certificate as a chartered member of the society. The pieces are roundels of glass carrying exquisite cyanotype images of flowers, some framed, others mounted on slices of tree trunk, which gives an interesting more 3D effect. The subject's detail is caught with…

15 Oct

Exhibition Review: It’s Not So Grim – Kenny McCrae at Tea Amantes

David Simper1 CommentVisual Arts & Exhibitionsblackpool arts scene, photographic exhibition, photography, street photography, tea amantes

A regular at the Tea Amantes photo walks, David Simper was keen to see his colleague's work. He caught the service 61 bus down to the town centre to view this exhibition. One of the Street Souls street photography group and a ring leader of the Tea Amantes photo walks, Kenny is overdue his own exhibition at the cafe and gallery. His work does not disappoint. The pictures revolve around a street photography ethos, mixed with opportunities for more formal portraits. Colour interchanges with monochrome for a pleasantly varied effect. I'm pretty sure I can remember watching Kenny take some…

25 Sep

Theatre Preview: Kym Marsh stars in Single White Female

David Simper0 CommentsGuide, Theatre, Dance & Performanceblackpool arts scene, Blackpool Grand Theatre, single white female

Get ready to become obsessed with TV favourite KYM MARSH as she looks for a SINGLE WHITE FEMALE in the spine-tingling new stage drama at Blackpool Grand Theatre from Tuesday 17 February to Saturday 21 February 2026. The 90s feels like a long time ago, but I do remember the film with Bridget Fonda and Jennifer Jason Leigh, which is the source material for this play. It was gripping, the tension building to a satisfying cinematic climax. This stage production promises to match and exceed that effect; I really do love cinema, but everything's better live on the stage in…

28 Aug

Art Exhibition Review: Zoe Siobhan and Mike Lang

David Simper0 CommentsVisual Arts & Exhibitionsart exhibition, blackpool arts scene, hivearts, painting

With a double-opening for two fine artists in the offing at the HIVE venue on 19th August 2025, David Simper hurried to catch the service 61 bus to review this event. He was not disappointed. Zoe Siobhan' work employs intense colour and yet can have a dark undercurrent. It includes 3D work and sculpture, together with painting. A number of themes run through the work, including hands, of which there are several examples here. A stylised face makes an appearance in several pieces and is the main focus in others. The work is original, moving and technically accomplished. There's a…

14 Aug

Photo Exhibition Review: HIVEArts PhotoPool 25 – Paul Berriff OBE and Albert Cooper

David Simper0 CommentsVisual Arts & Exhibitionsblackpool arts scene, film photography, photographic exhibition, rock photography, sports photography

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""] Following the build up to PhotoPool 2025 coordinated by the HIVEArts team, David Simper caught the service 61 bus to see what was on offer on opening night. On entering the gallery, I find the entry walls covered in large framed prints of very young looking rock and pop stars of early 1960s vintage, from the Rolleiflex of Paul Berriff OBE. Further into the gallery and on the gallery's window sills, are prints from Albert Cooper's library of sport photographs, including figures such as Jack Charlton, Alex Ferguson and Mohammed Ali. The gallery is full of exuberant people…