Bright New Season At The Grand

The Grand Theatre, Blackpool announces an exciting new programme of shows for spring/ summer 2016. With an incredible line-up of drama, musicals, dance, opera, music and comedy–there’s something for everyone to enjoy at The Grand! This season’s highlights include; The Royal Shakespeare Company presenting A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the first ever live tour of ITV’s 60’s police drama Heartbeat and the world premiere of David Walliams’ Gangsta Granny.

Grand Theatre Chief Executive Ruth Eastwood said,
“At the Grand Theatre we always strive to offer our audiences the best quality and variety of arts and entertainment and, with productions as diverse as the hip-hop musical ‘Into the Hoods’ and the Royal Shakespeare Company’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, we hope that everyone will be able to find something that appeals to them in our new 2016 programme.”

For the first time ever ITV’s popular Sunday evening 60’s police drama, Heartbeat comes to the stage. Opening in Blackpool in March, join David Stockwell, Gina Ward, PC Geoff Younger and other popular characters in a two-hour live stage production with a brand-new script.

Those who enjoy classic drama will be delighted to see the RSC returning to Blackpool. The nation’s favourite Shakespeare play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, will be performed as never before this spring, with 18 professional actors from the Royal Shakespeare Company and local amateur group Poulton Drama as Shakespeare’s Mechanicals. The Touring Consortium Theatre Company, who brought Brave New World and Brassed Off will also return to The Grand in 2016 with John Steinbeck’s classic Of Mice and Men.

The fantastic line up of drama this season also includes the wonderfully saucy Miss Nightingale – The Musical bringing the sex, scandal and showbiz of the 1940s to Blackpool. Performed by a cast who not only act, dance and sing but also play all the instruments live on stage!
Quality drama continues throughout February with Flare Path starring Graham Seed (The Archers, Yes Prime Minister) and Charlie G Hawkins (EastEnders), a highly emotive drama about RAF bomber crews, their wives and their sweethearts.

After their recent success with Sherlock Holmes and The Ripper Murders; Talking Scarlet return to The Grand with Fredrick Knott’s Dial M for Murder an intense and darkly gripping thriller starring Oliver Mellor (Coronation Street), Terri Dwyer (Hollyoaks) and Marcus Hutton (Brookside).

Lovers of The Grand’s dance programme, funded by The Arts Council England, will also be delighted by the new season. The Last Tango sees Strictly Come Dancing favourites Vincent Simone and Flavia Cacace saying goodbye to the stage in their most emotional production yet. 
Cutting-edge contemporary choreographer Wayne McGregor alongside Random Dance, accompanied by a team of sensational artists, will present ATOMOS. This contemporary dance piece aims to transform movement, film, light and sound into miniature shards of intense sensation.

For fans of hip hop dance, ZooNation present Into The Hoods: Remixed, the newly revamped version of the award-winning production that stormed the West End in 2008, updated for 2015 with new choreography, a remixed soundtrack and fresh designs.

 Sadler’s Wells ground-breaking international festival of hip hop dance theatre and culture, Breaking Convention returns following a huge success in Blackpool in 2014. Hosted and curated by Jonzi D, This year’s line-up includes world champion b-boy crew The Ruggeds (The Netherlands), experimental b-boys Iron Skulls (Spain), and leading streetdancer Antoinette Gomis (France), alongside a host of local acts. Off stage the entertainment continues with workshops, freestyle dance jams, have a go sessions and live graffiti guaranteeing there’s something for all the family.

Britain’s Got Talent champions and family favourites Ashley and Pudsey appear at The Grand for the first time this April. Join them on the mission as they face their arch nemesis Dr Feline and his acrobatic cat burglars in Mission ImPUDSEYble.

April also sees the World Premiere of David Walliams’ Gangsta Granny presented by the acclaimed Birmingham Stage Company, producers of Horrible Histories. The family friendly season continues with Mister Maker and The Shapes Live, where there will be a ‘big make’ to take part in, and Peppa Pig’s Surprise.

Music is top of the bill at The Grand this season. International hit show Let It Be celebrates the music of The Beatles from humble beginnings in Liverpool’s Cavern Club, through the height of Beatlemania. Showcasing the music of the world’s most successful rock ‘n’ roll band, Let It Be looks set to be a spectacular concert packed with over forty of the Beatle’s greatest hits. There is also a host of exciting celebration acts including The Illegal Eagles, The Simon and Garfunkel Story, Whitney Queen of the Night and The Johnny Cash Roadshow.

With original choreography by Arlene Phillips and starring Janet Dibley (The Two of Us, EastEnders, Fat Friends) Jackie The Musical is set to delight audiences in Blackpool this spring. Based on a book by Mike James and featuring the music of Donny Osmond, David Cassidy and Marc Bolan, this this fun and feisty new musical revisits a time when the Jackie annual was all a girl needed for advice.

Continuing to support local talent, The Grand will also be hosting three local amateur companies this season. Blackpool Operatic Players will be performing new Mel Brooks musical The Producers, based on the academy award-winning film. Following the huge success of Legally Blonde, The Grand are delighted that Blackpool and Fylde Light Opera Company will return with the original high school musical Grease a firm favourite. In addition to performing in A Midsummer Night’s Dream with the RSC in April, Poulton Drama will be presenting poignant comedy drama, set in Blackpool, September in the Rain by John Godber.

The Grand hosts an amazing selection of one-night entertainment shows, including top class comedian Ed Byrne, rock ‘n’ roll variety spectacular That’ll Be the Day which returns for a 30th anniversary special,  Solid Silver 60s returns following huge demand year after year. This production will feature Peter Noone, Dave Berry, New Amen corner and other unforgettable talents.

The Olivier™ Award-winning English Touring Opera return to The Grand with a double bill.
Based on a famous story from Greek myth, the first show Iphigenie en Tauride features vampire-like villains and human sacrifice as a bloodthirsty backdrop to the heart-wrenching masterpiece by Gluck. Their second offering will be Mozart’s most engrossing opera, the darkest of comedies and the sexiest of cautionary tales Don Giovanni.

The programme of shows for TheSTUDIO, supported by LeftCoast, consists of a monthly Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club with some of the best up-and-coming comedians, children’s puppetry show Tom Thumb, Lytham Sixth’s debut performance of Elements, a mix of performance and visual arts. Blackpool Grand Theatre’s Young Company will present its Premiere performance Blackout, a gripping drama by Davey Anderson, in conjunction with the National Theatre’s NT Connections 500.

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

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