Triple whammy for 2018

The Winter Gardens Blackpool have today unveiled a trio of musicals heading to Blackpool on their maiden UK tours.

April 2018 welcome’s Purple Rain, a spectacular new theatrical event celebrating the music of one of the world’s greatest pop artists, Prince. Jodie Prenger & Sam Bailey will join forces in the brand-new comedy musical Kay Mellor’s Fat Friends set for a May date. Titanic The Musical on its maiden voyage across the UK will dock at the Opera House in July.

Purple Rain, on its UK premiere tour will open on Monday 16th to Saturday 21st April 2018. A 26-strong group of supremely talented musicians, singers and dancers will bring Prince’s music to life for an unforgettable evening that showcases his song writing genius and pays homage to his imagination and showmanship. Purple Rain is a fitting, fresh and vibrant night of pure celebration.

Directed by Gary Lloyd, director of hit production Thriller Live, Purple Rain will feature stunning choreography and will be an exhilarating journey through Prince’s entire career.  Presented by West End producers, Adam Spiegel and Mark Goucher, with Claire-Bridget Kenwright, Purple Rain will tour the UK from February 2018.

The hit TV show Fat Friends from award-winning national treasure Kay Mellor (creator of Band of Gold, The Syndicate and In The Club) is bursting onto the Opera House stage in a brand new musical from Tuesday 29 May – Saturday 2 June, with original music by Nick Lloyd Webber.

Join the infamous group of T.V's most loveable characters as they are put through their Zumba paces at their local branch of Super Slimmers by the lovelorn Lauren whilst Kelly fantasises about fitting in to the wedding dress of her dreams.

Packed full of warmth, life and weight loss this new stage show reunites our favourite foodie friends in an eagerly anticipated musical brimming with hope, humour and heart.

With a star cast including West End favourite Jodie Prenger and X Factor winner Sam Bailey, Fat Friends The Musical is a feel-good night out for every body and is set to be a HUGE hit!

July welcomes the harrowing retelling of real life stories from the world’s most legendary ship in Titanic the Musical. In the final hour of 14th April 1912, the RMS Titanic, on her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York, collided with an iceberg and 'the unsinkable ship' slowly sank. It was one of the most tragic and infamous disasters of the 20th Century. 1517 men, women and children lost their lives.

Based on real people aboard the most legendary ship in the world, Maury Yeston and Peter Stone's stunning musical focuses on their hopes and aspirations. Unaware of the fate that awaits them, the Third Class immigrants dream of a better life in America, the newly-enfranchised Second Class dream of achieving the lifestyles of the rich and famous, and the millionaire Barons of the First Class dream of their mastery lasting forever.

Opening at the Mayflower Theatre, Southampton in April 2018, in the same city and same month in which the RMS Titanic set sail, the critically acclaimed, multi award-winning production will head to Blackpool from Monday 9th to Saturday 14th July 2018.

Michael Williams, Managing Director comments ‘2018 is already shaping up to be a fantastic year at the Winter Gardens and 3-brand new musicals on their first ever tours are welcome additions offering something for everyone. Blackpool is fast becoming a key destination for the major shows and events now touring the UK .’

Purple Rain, Fat Friends The Musical and Titanic The Musical join Shrek the Musical which has already been announced for the 2018 season with further announcements set to be made in the coming weeks.

All 3 new productions go on-sale at wintergardensblackpool.co.uk from 12noon on Thursday 8 June.