The Inspector is BACK!

The Grand Theatre is pleased to announce the opening of An Inspector Calls 2012 tour.

Fresh from a hugely successful run in London’s West End, Oscar-winning director Stephen Daldry’s celebrated production of JB Priestley’s gripping thriller An Inspector Calls returns to Blackpool’s Grand Theatre from Tuesday 10th to Saturday 15th January 2012 for what will be the spectacular opening week for the new tour.

The production has become the most successful revival of a play in British history. Epic staging, raw emotion and a sweeping score by Oscar-winning composer Stephen Warbeck (Shakespeare in Love) are just some of the ingredients that have made Stephen Daldry’s exciting adaptation of An Inspector Calls a smash-hit all over the world, winning more awards than any other play in history!

When the Inspector calls unexpectedly at the prosperous Birling family home, their peaceful dinner party is shattered by his investigations into the death of a young woman. His startling revelations shake the very foundations of their lives and challenge us all to examine our consciences.

An Inspector Calls premiered in the West End in 1946 with this current production making its National Theatre debut in 1992. Since then it has clocked up over 4,000 performances worldwide making it the longest running revival of a play in history.

Neil Thomson, the Grand Theatre’s CEO said, “The theatre has embarked on bringing quality drama to Blackpool and the North West. It is fitting that the Grand’s continued relationship with PW Productions and their General Manager Olly Royds allows us to open the 2012 tour of the award-winning An Inspector Calls. This marks the opening of an exciting season for the Grand Theatre.”

Quality drama continues in March (27th – 31st) with English Touring Theatre and Shakespeare’s Globe production of Anne Boleyn. Compelling and witty this celebration of a great English heroine, Anne Boleyn, leaps between generations to reveal the debt King James I owed to Anne when he reconciled England’s religious factions by creating his common Bible. Following two sell-out London seasons this vibrant and gripping production is unmissable.

Neil Thomson continued, “We are delighted to also see English Touring Theatre return to The Grand with their production of the acclaimed Anne Boleyn in association with Shakespeare’s Globe. It is a proud moment for The Grand to be the only North West date on their tour.”

Following the success of March 2011’s To Kill a Mocking Bird, the 2012 production from The Touring Consortium (Monday 16th to Saturday 21st April) is Diary of Anne Frank, a beautifully tender and powerful account of hope, courage, survival and loss. Marking the 60th anniversary of the diary’s publication in English this extraordinary personal account of hope, courage and survival has united and touched people all over the world.

The Touring Consortium productions are testimony to quality drama with previous plays staged at The Grand being Of Mice and Men and To Kill a Mocking Bird. The theatre is now a member of The Touring Consortium thus ensuring future productions from the company."

Finally an action packed musical adventure, Swallows and Amazons, will be sailing into the theatre from Tuesday 8th May to Saturday 12th May. Follow Captain John and his able crew as they set sail to Wildcat Island for exotic adventures encountering savages, dastardly pirates and much more!

 “Swallows and Amazons from The Children’s Touring Partnership also reinforces The Grand’s commitment to quality productions. It is rather poignant that the theatre is the closest venue to the original setting of Arthur Ransome’s classic children’s story in the Lake District National Park.

The interest we are currently experiencing in this season has encouraged us to further programme high quality product for the future, to include a visit from The National Theatre in November 2012.”

An Inspector Calls returns to The Grand Theatre on Tuesday 10th  January to Saturday 15th January 2012.

To book for any show you can call the Box Office on 01253 743339 or click on www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk, or visit us at the Grand Theatre information sales point in the Houndshill Shopping Centre.