Enjoy The Grand’s New Season!

The Grand Theatre’s New Season, the first programme under the direction of new Chief Executive Ruth Eastwood, features incredible  highlights including Irving Berlin’s Annie Get Your Gun starring Jason Donovan, the international smash-hit BLAM! , Olivier Award-nominated 1894, and Tony Award-winning Avenue Q.

Not to mention icons of the stage Lee Evans, Dawn French, Ken Dodd, and for the young at heart, the Sparkling pantomime Sleeping Beauty starring Jennifer Ellison, Steve Royle, and Hayley Kay!

The Grand’s New Season will allow for audiences old and new to enjoy and take part in something they love here at The Grand.

Ruth Eastwood, Chief Executive said,

“This season the team has worked harder than ever to bring you a massive choice of arts and entertainment at prices that we believe won't be beaten.  Go on, take the plunge – treat yourself and your friends to a great night out.”

For musicals lovers, The Grand has musicals for all tastes; classic, comedy and just down right good fun! For those with a cheeky sense of humour and a love of all things funny and furry, look no further than the laugh-out-loud musical Avenue Q.  Or, for a great night out with music by Frankie Valli and The Four seasons, why not try New Jersey Nights – prepare to be wowed!

The classic musical Annie Get Your Gun brings the heart of Broadway to Blackpool’s Grand Theatre starring Jason Donovan, and Barry Manilow’s Copacabana adds that hint of glamour to The Grand’s Stage.

Drama highlights include Olivier Award-winning production of George Orwell’s 1984 by Headlong, Nottingham Playhouse and Almeida Theatre Co-Production, English Touring Theatre’s Twelfth Night, The return of Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap and Touring Consortium’s incredible production of Pat Barker’s Regeneration.

The Grand’s Arts Council funded dance programme continues into the New Season with the hip-hop martial arts spectacular The Five and The Prophecy of Prana by Boy Blue Entertainment. The Grand has also announced that in March 2015, the prestigious choreographer Wim Vandekeybus will be bringing his company Ultima Vez to Blackpool with a reproduction of his famous piece What The Body Does Not Remember.

For families, the hit monster show The Gruffalo  direct from a West End Season and of course, the Grand Theatre’s incredible pantomime Sleeping Beauty, produced by Martin Dodd for UK Productions. This year’s panto stars Jennifer Ellison (Chicago The Musical, Phantom of The Opera, Brookside), Grand Theatre panto veteran and BBC Radio Lancashire Presenter Steve Royle, Radio Wave’s very own Hayley Kay and dancers from Barbara Jacksons Theatre Arts.

Steve Royle appears for a second time in the season in his stand-up show The L.O.L Tour in the Grand studio and will be joined by comedian Phil Walker. Other comedy highlights include the record-breaking Lee Evans, comic legend Ken Dodd and the Queen of comedy herself Dawn French in her first ever UK tour!

Music fans are spoilt for choice with The Simon and Garfunkel Story, The Johnny Cash Roadshow, The Osmonds, Over The Rainbow- The Eva Cassidy Story and The Magic of Motown. Don’t miss our fabulous Grand Christmas Concert in December, hosted by Fr Geoff Bottoms and performed by Poulton-le-Fylde Band.

It is important for The Grand Theatre to support and encourage local talent and this season is no exception. Hundreds of School children will be performing in the annual Au Revoir Review, dozens of Lancashire Schools will compete in The Lancashire School Games Festival of Dance, talented performers will perform in Phil Winston’s The Works and a whole host of young talent will display their skills in Skool of Street.

Finally, The Grand is excited to host a UK exclusive- the international smash-hit BLAM! this summer. Die Hard meets The Office in this explosive show that combines jaw-dropping action sequences, slapstick comedy, awe-inspiring stunts and heaps of attitude to make one of the most high-energy physical theatre shows ever seen in Blackpool.

So, why not come and see what The Grand Theatre’s New Season has on offer for you…

Enjoy Your Theatre!

The Grand has introduced a fantastic Season Saver offer which saves you…

5 shows £35 off
4 shows £25 off
3 Shows £15 off

 Shows included in the offer: On The Piste, Regeneration, Twelfth Night, The Five and The Prophecy of Prana and 1984.

 For more information about The Grand’s new Season or to book for any shown call Box Office on 01253 74 33 39 or visit blackpoolgrand.co.uk

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Blackpool Grand Theatre – Arts Council England, National Portfolio Funding

In April 2012 the Grand Theatre became an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation and secured £120,000 per year over three years to become a regional centre of excellence for contemporary dance. The Grand was one of 1,333 organisations applied to be part of the new portfolio.

Blackpool’s Grand Theatre – Heritage and History

The Grand Theatre was opened on July 23, 1894 by Thomas Sergenson who immediately dubbed the theatre 'Matcham's Masterpiece'. This title is even more merited now that there are few surviving examples of the work of Frank Matcham, the leading Victorian theatre architect. The theatre took just nine months to build and cost Sergenson £20,000.

By the early 1960s theatres across Britain were closing due to loss of audience to television and in July 1972 the then owners, the Tower Company, applied for permission to demolish it. In its place they proposed to build a department store. However, by then, following an application to the Department of the Environment, the theatre had been listed as a Grade II* building and there had to be a full public enquiry. Early in 1973 the Friends of the Grand was formed and after legal and financial wrangling, they, together with EMI and the local council, put together a deal involving leasing the theatre for £10,000 per annum and final purchase for £250,000.

For further information on Blackpool’s Grand Theatre please visit: www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk

Emma Rampley
Marketing
Grand Theatre
Blackpool

01253 743213 or email [email protected]