play Archives - Blackpool Social Club

29 Jan

Theatre Review: Murder at Midnight

Blackpool Social Club1 CommentTheatre, Dance & PerformanceBlackpool, play, The Grand Theatre

It’s New Year's Eve, and the tarot cards have foretold a clearing out of old energies, a breakup of relationships and secrets coming out of hiding before the clock strikes twelve, but who will survive the Murder at Midnight? Through a cocktail of murder, mystery, comedy, and farce, the audience is taken on a spiral of emotional twists and turns, thought-provoking in parts, funny in others. The Grand Theatre stage lies open before us. The layers of a luxury Kent mansion give the audience an unusual perspective on the characters' lives. Three beautifully designed rooms allow conversations to run simultaneously…

19 Jan

Theatre Review: The Constant Wife

Stephanie Cottle0 CommentsTheatre, Dance & PerformanceBlackpool, play, The Grand Theatre

The Constant Wife opened at The Grand Theatre as an elegant reminder of how classic plays can still feel relatable to audiences today. This RSC production of W. Somerset Maugham’s 1920s comedy, newly adapted by Laura Wade, balances sharp dialogue with a strong sense of style and wit. Set in a decade known for shifting social expectations and incredible fashion, this production leans fully into the glamour of the era. The costumes are a real highlight. From clean lines to rich fabrics, they help define each character early doors in the play. Constance and her sister Martha stand out most.…

30 Oct

Theatre Review: Blithe Spirit

Stephanie Cottle0 CommentsTheatre, Dance & PerformanceBlackpool, grand theatre, Noel Coward, play

Stephanie Cottle saw Blithe Spirit summoned onto The Grand Theatre’s stage, where Noel Coward’s mischievous 1941 comedy about life, death and love from beyond the grave charmed its opening night audience. Written in just five days during the Second World War, Blithe Spirit first appeared at a time when the country was in grief. To write a comedy about death during wartime was undeniably bold. Director Anthony Banks acknowledges the play’s origins in his programme note and I agree, it still gives the piece its power. Still, it has to be mentioned some of the gender politics are distinctly pre-war.…

18 Sep

Theatre Review: Kailey by Kerry Wright

David Simper0 CommentsGuide, Theatre, Dance & PerformanceBlackpool Grand Theatre, play, prisons policy, Theatre

This week, David Simper headed to the Grand Theatre studio's intimate surroundings to watch, Kailey, an original play tackling the impact of imprisoned parents on the family they leave behind. While the theme seemed grim, the play was presented in an engaging way. The set consisted of an illuminated square frame as a backdrop to a square table with three chairs. A small lighting rig was standing to each side. Music was playing as we entered the venue and music was to continue to play a strong role in the production. The subject is personal to writer and producer, Kerry…

26 Feb

Theatre Review: An Inspector Calls

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

David Simper reviews Stephen Daldry’s multi-award-winning National Theatre production of JB Priestley’s classic thriller after a record-breaking, sell-out tour in 2022. With its striking set and stunning performances, An Inspector Calls had a Grand Theatre audience of all ages rapt on opening night. The Blackpool Grand's stage is covered by a particularly heavy drape. The lights dim and a small boy wearing old-fashioned, possibly school clothing, enters the stage, followed by other children. This boy tinkers with a radio set and the theatre fills with the sound of a siren – are we in World War II? Finally the curtain…

29 Sep

Theatre Review: The Lodger

David Simper0 CommentsTheatre, Dance & Performanceblackpool arts scene, play, surreal, Theatre

David Simper bused it down to The Old Electric theatre to take in this double-handed, one act and somewhat surreal play. Entering The Old Electric's auditorium I headed for the comfy seats and noted the lead actor sat in the same row, the bare feet and shorts giving her away. With no raised stage and the seating on the very edge of the performance area, the audience gets an almost too intimate experience at this theatre. This is a particularly intense play. The set is at first a mystery, its components covered in dust sheets. As the performance begins, a…

16 May

Theatre review: What the Butler Saw!

David Simper0 CommentsTheatre, Dance & PerformanceBlackpool Grand Theatre, joe orton, play

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""] The Grand Theatre is presenting 'What the Butler Saw!' from the pen of radical '60s and iconic playwright, Joe Orton. David Simper travelled down to town to see how this play holds up after nearly 60 years. I had last seen a Joe Orton play at the Coventry Belgrade Theatre at the end of the '90s, 'Entertaining Mr Sloane', which I'd enjoyed and found intriguing. Therefore I was keen to catch this play at the Grand Theatre as a follow up, after two decades. Despite this and reading an introduction to the play, I was not quite sure…

04 May

Theatre Review: Pride and Prejudice (sort of)

David Simper0 CommentsTheatre, Dance & Performanceall female cast, Blackpool, Comedy, drama, grand theatre, play, pride and prejudice

There are a few more F bombs in this comedy musical version of the Jane Austen classic, says David Simper, but the core of the story remains. I read Pride and Prejudice some years ago and so was a little rusty on the phases of the plot. Recently I read Emma, a very different book, although with a somewhat similar ending, just to demonstrate my Austen-ista credentials. So I was fairly intrigued to see this production as I boarded my usual service 3 bus for the Grand Theatre. This was obviously a comedy musical take on a book that has…

20 Mar

Theatre review: Dracula, or The Undead

David Simper0 CommentsTheatre, Dance & PerformanceBlackpool, dracula, jonathan goodwin, Old Electric, old electric blackpool, one man show, play, Theatre, undead, vampires

Friday night and it was time to get down town to see this excellent one-man show at The Old Electric. I'd planned to get the more convenient Service 61 bus, but the app showed that to be very late, resulting in a rapid scuttle for the Service 3 instead. This all added early colour to a night that promised darkness. It's not too long since I read Bram Stoker's Dracula, so I was particularly curious about this production. I soon seemed to be ensconced in the stageless theatre space with my little can of water. The set consisted of two…

03 Nov

Review: Sherlock Holmes and The Valley of Fear

David Simper0 CommentsTheatre, Dance & PerformanceBlackpool, blackpool arts scene, conan-doyle, grand theatre, play, sherlock holmes

Having recently read Conan Doyle's first Sherlock Holmes mystery, The Sign of Four, I was keen to see this theatrical version of Sherlock Holmes and The Valley of Fear. The Grand wasn't the fullest I've seen on the first of this four-night run (until 5th Nov), but there were enough people for a good atmosphere and not such a long queue for the essential interval ice cream. This was a highly professional production with five fine actors covering a multitude of roles. It took little suspension of reality for Holmes to become a psychotic American gangster. The narrative, delivered mainly…