More multi-award winners than ever before!
The Grand Theatre, Blackpool announces an exciting new programme of shows for Spring/ Summer 2017. With an incredible line-up of drama, musicals, dance, opera, music and comedy – there’s something for everyone to enjoy!
Grand Theatre Chief Executive Ruth Eastwood said,
“At the Grand we want to offer local people the chance to see and experience the highest quality drama, dance and children’s theatre and this season there’s a huge array of award-winning, West End shows that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. From the amazing
‘Running Wild’ by Michael Morpurgo, brought to life with spectacular puppets to the raucous, naughty Nell Gwynn and the charming ballet for under 5s, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, we really hope to please generations of sandgrownuns’
More unmissable Multi-Award winners … Winner of the 2016 Olivier Award for Best New Comedy, Jessica Swale’s blissfully funny Nell Gwynn embarks on its first ever UK tour, direct from critically acclaimed, sell out runs in the West End and at the Globe Theatre. A bawdy comedy about an unlikely heroine who went from lowly orange seller to win the adoration of the public and the heart of the King. Starring Olivier Award nominated actress Laura Pitt Pulford, Nell Gwynn is brought to the stage by English Touring Theatre.
Winner of the 1988 Olivier Award for Best Comedy Willy Russell’s Shirley Valentine will be live on stage this summer. Now, on its 30th anniversary, Jodie Prenger will star in the first major revival of this national treasure about a Liverpool housewife who wonders where her life has disappeared to.
Tony Award-winning choreographer Matthew Bourne will be returning to his roots in Early Adventures, a programme of hit pieces that launched the career of ‘Britain’s Favourite Choreographer’ and saw the birth of the style, wit and sheer entertainment that his company New Adventures brought to Swan Lake, the Car Man, Edward Scissorhands and Sleeping Beauty.
Powerful, Emotive Dance season, funded by The Arts Council England, will also be delighted by the powerful, emotive dance season. Marking the 30th anniversary of the end of the 1984/5 British miner’s strike, award-winning choreographer Gary Clarke proudly presents COAL, a riveting dance theatre show which takes a nostalgic look at the hard hitting realities of life at the coal face.
Out of This World is a genre-defying action packed piece from acclaimed writer and director Mark Murphy. Set within in a world of projected film and animation, it combines his signature mix of ground breaking aerial choreography, original text and explosive special effects in a show that is both intense psychological thriller and heart-rendering medical drama.
This Spring/Summer season brings two great new ballets for young and old alike. Northern Ballet Theatre present the classic children’s story Goldilocks and The Three Bears in a child friendly performance that lasts approximately 40 minutes. Ballet Theatre UK will also be presenting Alice in Wonderland with its whimsical flights of the imagination, eclectic music and joyful dance it is delightful entertainment for all ages.
Sadler’s Wells ground-breaking International Festival of hip hop dance theatre and culture, Breaking Convention returns following a huge Blackpool success in 2016. Hosted and curated by Jonzi D, This year’s line-up includes South Korean super crew of poppers and b-boys Just Dance whose performance includes live Korean drumming; Canadian urban contemporary duo Tentacle Tribe; and Soweto Skeleton Movers who perform comedic contortionism fused with Pantsula, a style from their native South Africa, 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.
More of the drama you love … The Touring Consortium Theatre Company, who brought John Steinbeck’s classic Of Mice and Men and Dickens’ tale of the French Revolution A Tale of Two Cities, bring Meera Syal’s much-loved novel Anita and Me to life on stage this March. Starring Shobna Gulati (Coronation Street, Dinnerladies) this poignant coming-of-age comedy drama is ‘Hilarious’ – The Independent.
Michael Morpurgo’s best-selling novel Running Wild will be stampeding onto the stage this Spring. With puppetry design and direction by previous Associate Puppetry Directors on War Horse, this epic production tells an emotional tale of love, loss, loyalty and living in the moment. Presented by The Children’s Touring Partnership (The Boy in Striped Pyjamas), this tale of an elephant called Oona and her young rider Lilly is simply not one to be missed.
Those who enjoy a gripping thriller will be delighted to see the return of Talking Scarlet, who’s previous successes include Dial M For Murder and Jekyll and Hyde. Why not take advantage of the great 2 for 1 offer on opening night of the two great dramas; Brian Clemens’ Strictly Murder and Simon Williams’ Kiss of Death?
Following the success of Travels With My Aunt in 2016, Creative Cow return to The Grand stage with Graham Greene’s Our Man in Havana adapted by Clive Francis.
For the first time BBC’s BAFTA Best Comedy Series nominated 90’s drama, Waiting For God comes to the stage. Starring Roy Hudd (Huddlines) and Nichola McAuliffe (Surgical Spirit), this all-new script penned by the sitcom’s creator Michael Aitkens and directed by Tony Award winner David Grindley features all the favourite characters from the original series.
Great family entertainment is key in The Grand’s Family Friendly programme that starts with BAFTA award-winning television animation Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom live on stage. Join them and their friends on this exciting, enchanting and magical musical adventure packed full of games, songs and laughter.
Fun, fantasy and sorcery collide in The Royal Shakespeare Company’s The Tempest. This First Encounters production is an ideal first experience of Shakespeare for anyone aged 8 and above.
Bring your ‘tiddlers’ along and join Mr Bloom and the Veggies on their first ever live tour. Mr Bloom (Ben Faulks) will be joined by all his gardening friends and his trustworthy machine The Compostarium. Come and sing along to all your favourite songs: This is My Allotment, Meet The Veggies, The Compo Song and Night Night Veggies.
Direct from CITV Sooty, Sweep and Soo head into town accompanied by TV’s Richard Cadell. Expect magic, music and mayhem with buckets full of audience participation. A spectacular treat for Sooty fans old and new.
Don’t miss your chance to join Bobbie, Peter and Phyllis on the adventure of a lifetime in a wonderful new musical adaptation of The Railway Children. Presented by Talking Scarlet this new production captures all the excitement and emotion of the original novel and brings the delights of this literary classic to a new generation.
Classic novel and Oscar-winning film Babe the Sheep Pig is bought to life by a cast of West End performers in a show brimming with laughter, thrills, stunning puppetry and original live music this July. Adapted by David Wood (James and the Giant Peach, The BFG) this is a heart-warming tale of friendship adventure and bravery.
Exclusive originals La Boheme and Tosca are set to delight admirers of the classics this Spring. After previous successes with Aida and Tosca, Ellen Kent presents Puccini’s La Boheme. One of the most romantic operas ever written, it tells the tragic tale of the doomed consumptive Mimi and her love for a penniless writer. The Olivier Award-winning English Touring Opera return to The Grand in June with Puccini’s Tosca. When the firebrand revolutionary Cavaradossi is imprisoned, Tosca is faced with an impossible choice: submitting to the desires of the sadistic chief of police, or letting her lover be executed.
Top class entertainment … Walk Like A Man returns by popular demand after a phenomenal success in 2016. With classics such as Sherry, Let’s Hang On, Big Girls Don’t Cry, Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, My Eyes Adored You, December 63 (Oh What A Night), Bye Bye Baby, Who Loves You and many more, Walk Like A Man combines infectious personalities, amazing vocals, slick harmonies and even slicker dance moves to deliver a show full of energy and nostalgia which always leaves audiences wanting more.
The Grand will also host an amazing selection of one-night entertainment shows, including top class comedian Jon Richardson, showbiz legend Count Arthur Strong and the UK’s premier comedy drag variety show Music Hall Tavern. Steve Steinman has ramped up the vamp in this spectacular sequel to the phenomenally successful Vampires Rock and will also return to The Grand with a brand new show Iconic featuring all the hits from the movies including Kill Bill, Batman, Pulp Fiction and many more. Star of TV’s The X-Factor and Dancing on Ice, Ray Quinn will join local funny man Carl Schofield in Sunday Night at The Grand Again! a fantastic evening of variety entertainment in aid of The Not Forgotten Association a charity set up to support injured service men and women of all ages.
If it’s a great musical you’re after, the New Season won’t fail to delight. Starting the season is the sensational multi-award winning West End show Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story. Featuring two terrific hours of the greatest songs ever written, including That’ll Be The Day, Oh Boy, Rave On, La Bamba, Chantilly Lace, Johnny B Goode, Raining In My Heart, Everyday, Shout and many many more this show is just Peggy-Sue-perb!
Menopause The Musical, the hysterical show packed full of one-liners about night-sweats, hot flushes and memory loss is backed by an instantly recognisable soundtrack of innuendo-laden versions of 60s, 70s and 80s pop classics. Starring Cheryl Ferguson (Eastenders), Maureen Nolan (The Nolans), Rebecca Wheatley (Casualty) and Ruth Berkeley (Penny Dreadful), menopause the Musical is the ultimate girl’s night out.
Featuring the music of iconic 60s Mod band, The Small Faces, including an arsenal of brilliant hits like Whatcha Gonna Do About It, Lazy Sunday, tin Soldier, Sha La La La Lee, Itchy Coo Park, All or Nothing is quintessentially British ‘Mod’ Musical.
There is music to suit all tastes in the Spring/ Summer season at The Grand. Kicking the season off in style is Elkie Brooks who will be celebrating her 70th birthday with a UK tour. After the success of Let it Be, Emanuele Angeletti will return as Paul McCartney in Macca: The Concert. The Solid Silver 60s Show will also return by popular demand. Featuring The Merseybeats, Dave Berry, Wayne Fontana, Vanity Fare and Chris Montez, see the original artists singing their greatest hits and relive some of your fondest memories of an era that will last forever. There is also a host of exciting celebration acts including: The Elvis Years, The Roy Orbison Story, You Win Again, Piano Men: Generations and The Illegal Eagles.
Continuing to support local talent, The Grand will also be hosting three local amateur companies this season. Blackpool Operatic Players will be performing Made in Dagenham a musical based on a true story about the heart-warming and inspiring tale of women’s fight for equal pay in the workplace. Blackpool and The Fylde Light Opera Company will perform the hilarious new musical comedy 9 to 5, the musical based on the hit movie, that centres on three office workers who turn the tables on their sexist boss. Poulton Drama will present Brien Friel’s Dancing at Lughnasa, a poignant yet inspiring portrait of a family bound together by love for each other and a refusal to let adversity quench their spirit.
The programme of shows for TheSTUDIO consists of a monthly Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club with some of the best up-and-coming comedians, Hijinx Theatre’s puppetry show Meet Fred and The Grand Young Company in conjunction with The National Theatre connections Zero For The Young Dudes by Alistair Mc Dowall.
For more information about The Grand’s Spring// Summer Season or to book for any show
Call Box Office on 01253 74 33 39 or visit blackpoolgrand.co.uk