UK best selling author’s world premiere hits Blackpool

Watch out! The cabbage-crunching, criminal master-mind, GANGSTA GRANNY is coming to BLACKPOOL!

Birmingham Stage Company, the acclaimed producers of HORRIBLE HISTORIES and GEORGE’S MARVELLOUS MEDICINE are bringing their world premiere of David Walliams’ GANGSTA GRANNY to Blackpool’s Grand Theatre from Wednesday 27 April to Sunday 1 May immediately prior to a West End run.

Walliams’, who is one of the judges on the popular Britain’s Got Talent TV show and creator of the ground-breaking comedy series, Little Britain, is now the best-selling author for children in the country!

David began his publishing career at Harper Collins in early 2008 with his debut novel The Boy in the Dress. Then, after writing two other popular stories, in 2011 he published Gangsta Granny, which was shortlisted for both The Red House Children’s Book Award and for the Roald Dahl Funny Prize. At Christmas 2013 a TV version of Gangsta Granny was shown on BBC One with an all-star cast including David Walliams himself. Gangsta Granny went straight to number 1 in the children’s book charts and his books have been translated into no fewer than 30 languages.

David Walliams’ said at the first night of Gangsta Granny from the stage “What a fantastic show! Superb! And so much better than the book!”

It’s Friday night and Ben knows that means only one thing – staying with Granny! There will be cabbage soup, cabbage pie and cabbage cake and Ben knows one thing for sure – it’s going to be sooooooooo boring! But what Ben doesn’t know is that Granny has a secret – and Friday nights are about to get more exciting than he could ever imagine, as he embarks on the adventure of a lifetime with his very own Gangsta Granny!

“All you can do in this life is follow your dreams. Otherwise you’re just wasting your time” Gangsta Granny

Gangsta Granny is a must for all families as the show will be enjoyed by everyone from 5 to 105! It’s both laugh out loud funny with some brilliant comic scenes but also has some very moving and truthful things to say about family relationships.

David was approached by the Birmingham Stage Company, whose string of Roald Dahl adaptations including James and the Giant Peach and George’s Marvellous Medicine made it an obvious contender and when David saw their West End production of Horrible Histories – Barmy Britain, the deal was sealed.

“Their Horrible Histories show was superb. I loved the humour and the interaction with the audience. Productions for children need to be fun and fast-paced. I think from pantomimes, children like audience interaction too. They like to be involved.

“It's a huge thrill seeing Gangsta Granny have this whole new life on the stage. There is lots of action in Gangsta Granny, especially when they try to steal the Crown Jewels. The challenge was bringing those scenes to life. But having seen the production’s first night at Birmingham last November I think its a fantastic show, so much better than the book! ”

David loved watching some of his characters take shape.
“I especially like the characters of Ben's mum and dad. They have an obsession with ballroom dancing which is very funny live on stage. The great thing about seeing Gangsta Granny in the theatre is the audience gets to share the fun together. It was wonderful at The New Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham on opening night laughing and crying along with everyone else. That's what makes theatre so special.”

David’s varied career has seen him in films such as The Look of Love with Steve Coogan, Stephen Fry and Anna Friel and Run Fatboy Run with Simon Pegg and Thandie Newton. He played Frankie Howerd in the biopic Rather You Than Me and has written and acted in the sitcom Big School with Catherine Tate.

A trustee of BBC’s Comic Relief, he has undertaken a number of challenges for the charity including swimming the English Channel in 2006 and the River Thames in 2011.

Andrew Howard, Marketing Manager for the Grand Theatre said, “We’re really excited to be bringing this World Premiere tour of David Walliams’ Gangsta Granny to Blackpool Grand. With our recent capital project refurbishment, we have made a lot of changes to make the theatre a Family Friendly venue including introducing healthy snacks, a buggy park and baby-changing facilities. And we are just as committed as ever to programming fresh and vibrant new theatre for the whole community. Those who have read any of David Walliams’ stories will know just how enjoyable and unpredictable they are. And we know parents will find the stage show just as hilarious!”

Catch David Walliams Gangsta Granny Live On Stage! at Blackpool’s Grand Theatre from 27th April to 1st May (Weds & Fri 10:30am & 7pm; Thurs 1:30pm & 7pm; Sat 1:30pm & 5pm; Sun 3pm). Tickets are Adults £17, Children £13 and a great saving with a Family Ticket of 4 ticket available.

To book for any of the Family Friendly productions this year visit www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk/familyfriendly, or call 01253 290190

To view the New Season click here: http://issuu.com/grandtheatreblackpool/docs/brojanjuly16_issuu_hires