Blackpool’s No.1 Pantomime Sleeping Beauty Breaks All Records!

Blackpool Grand’s sensational family pantomime Sleeping Beauty is a real record breaker with an incredible 30% increase in group bookings and 10% increase in revenue!

Blackpool Grand Theatre is starting the New Year with a bang having welcomed record-breaking numbers of delighted customers to take their seats for Blackpool’s No. 1 pantomime Sleeping Beauty!

The smash-hit family show has also received rave reviews from both critics and customers alike throughout its phenomenal 51 performances and we are sad to say goodbye to this year’s incredible cast – the irrepressible stand-up star Steve Royle (Britain’s Got Talent); Dancing on Ice champion and Emmerdale star Hayley Tamaddon; celebrated playwright and top soap screenwriter Philip Meeks (Emmerdale, Heartbeat, Doctors); award-winning actor and director Daniel Taylor; top theatre stars Josh Belward (Skin Deep, Top Hat, Thoroughly Modern Millie) and Christina Meehan (Stepping Out, Around The World In 80’s Days) and the marvellous Maisie Sellwood making her professional debut as the beautiful Princess Rose – all put together by the talented creative team from Martin Dodd of UK Productions Ltd.

The theatre is delighted to celebrate a record-breaking year with an 89% increase of local families taking advantage of the special family deal. Not only does Blackpool’s No.1 panto contribute to the local economy, but with 49% of its audience coming from the surrounding region, this also contributes to the Blackpool economy – including restaurants and bars, transport and increased visitor experiences to Blackpool’s newest Christmas attraction, Christmas by The Sea.

Delighted customers have left five-star reviews, saying of Sleeping Beauty’s fun-packed festive show: ‘Fantastic panto for all ages, cast are BRILLIANT, you MUST SEE this’, ‘BRILLIANT as usual.’ ‘Extra special being a matinee and seeing the happiness in the young children’, ‘EXCELLENT production… Enjoyed every minute.’ ‘My child said it was the best she has seen. Great for both adults and children’, ‘A show that brings pure festive joy, everyone left the theatre feeling upbeat and happy’.

The Blackpool Grand pantomime is so renowned it always receives a wealth of celebrity visitors too. This year’s have included the likes of comic genius Peter Kay (who took a festive break from his national sell-out tour, having not toured for 12-years) and Hi-de-Hi icon Su Pollard, to name just a few. Many famous celebrities attend Blackpool’s No.1 pantomime every year but stay under the radar to enjoy the experience with their families… shhh!

Adam Knight, Grand Theatre Chief Executive, said: “We are thrilled so many local and regional families joined us to create such a milestone and a record-breaking year for pantomime at Blackpool’s Grand Theatre this year. This helps the theatre to develop its programme further for children and families throughout the year. Over 10,000 children engaged with the show this year including a 28% increase in schools’ attendance.

“This year’s programme for families includes Around The World in 80 Days, Tales From Acorn Word, Tin Man, Fireman Sam, Northern Ballet’s Ugly Duckling, Unexpected Twist, Breakin’ Convention, Ministry of Science, Winnie the Pooh, Pop Princesses, and, of course, next year’s incredible pantomime Aladdin from Martin Dodd and UK Productions starring panto legend Steve Royle.

“I’d like to personally thank Martin Dodd and his team at UK Productions for their continued support of the Theatre, providing Blackpool’s No.1 Pantomime year-after-year.”

Martin Dodd, UK Productions Producer said “I’m delighted that our pantomime production of Sleeping Beauty has once again created a record-breaker for Blackpool’s Grand Theatre this Christmas. The team at The Grand put a huge amount of effort to promote the show all year round and deliver an experience second-to-none. Together we’ve created the best family experience in the town at Christmas with thousands of families attending year on year. Huge thanks must go to the families, schools and groups that attend every year. One family said to me that this was their 20th year bringing three generations! It’s a delight to know we’ve be entertaining them for so long. I’d also like to send my huge thanks to all the cast, front of house team, creatives, musicians and crew who make the production what it was”.

And there’s a whole new world of festive family fun coming to The Grand for next Christmas! Book EARLY to grab your favourite seats for the magical tale of Aladdin. Tickets are already flying out!

Aladdin is already seeing huge success being the FASTEST selling panto of any previous panto already 20.3% ahead of record-breaker Sleeping Beauty! Blackpool Grand also reports an incredible 35.4% of customers have rebooked from 2021/22, and 36% from pre-covid in 2019/20. Oh yes they have!

Next year’s must-see pantomime Aladdin will star Britain’s Got Talent Finalist and family favourite Steve Royle as Wishee Washee from Friday 1 December 2023 to Monday 1 January 2024 with further star casting to be announced…

Join our hero Aladdin, his madcap mother Widow Twankey and his delightfully daft brother Wishee Washee as they embark on a marvellous magical adventure to try to defeat the evil Abanazar and stop his cunning plan to become master of the world. With a little help from the Genie of The Lamp and the Spirit of The Ring of course…

Will Aladdin save the day, will he marry the beautiful Princess Jasmine? Will the Genie be freed? There’s only one way to find out!

Make a resolution to help everyone’s festive dreams come true and book great seats NOW for the fabulous family pantomime Aladdin at The Grand in 2023. It’s just the ticket!