The beautiful Grand Theatre offers Blackpool and Fylde Coast residents and visitors a packed year-round programme of quality productions from opera, ballet, plays, comedies, musicals, contemporary drama and dance to fun children’s shows! There is something for everyone at the Grand.
The season opens this week with PW Productions’ An Inspector Calls, The National Theatre production of JB Priestley’s classic thriller from Tuesday 10th January to Saturday 14th January. This is followed in March by English Touring Theatre and Shakespeare’s Globe’s production of Anne Boleyn. The Grand is proud and delighted to be hosting the only North West date of this acclaimed production from Tuesday 27th to Saturday 31st March.
Neil Thomson, the Grand Theatre’s General Manager, said, “The Grand Theatre’s quality programming continues into 2012 and beyond. We start the year with PW Productions’ An Inspector Calls, the National Theatre production of JB Priestley’s classic thriller, and welcome English Touring Theatre and Shakespeare’s Globe Production of Anne Boleyn, the only North West date of this production. The Touring Consortium return in April thanks to the continued support of SystemHost with Diary of Anne Frank. Their relationship with the theatre will continue into the future and has encouraged other acclaimed companies to visit, including The Children’s Touring Partnership and the return, later in the year, of The National Theatre.
“Musicals are one of our most supported genres and we are delighted to announce some fantastic ones this season. Dreamboats and Petticoats comes to us direct from the West End in January while later in the year we have an action packed adventure, Swallows and Amazons and The Grand will play host to an all new production of Hair!
Last year The Grand was pleased to join The Touring Consortium, and the 2012 Touring Consortium and York Theatre Royal production, Diary of Anne Frank, will be at the theatre from Monday 16th to Saturday 21st April.
“After a hugely successful pantomime season with Vicky Entwistle by producer UK Productions we are delighted to have the Tony award-winning musical 42nd Street from the same company.
“The interest we are currently experiencing has encouraged us to further programme high quality product for the future, including a visit from The National Theatre in November 2012.”
Marketing Manager Andrew Howard added “The Grand Theatre is investing in quality productions in all genres Dance to Drama, Musicals to Magic, we are covering it all. I think 2012 is going to be a very exciting year for The Grand; some of the best touring productions have been programmed to appear. I hope everyone will make a New Year resolution to try something new at The Grand.”
Starring Christopher Timothy as Otto Frank this beautifully tender and powerful account of hope, courage, survival and loss marks the 60th anniversary of the diary’s publication in English. Diary of Anne Frank is an extraordinary personal tale of hope, courage and survival that has united and touched people all over the world.
Allan Bennett has a very unusual neighbor. Parked at the bottom of his garden is a van. With a lady living in it. Hull Truck presents The Lady in the Van, by one of the nation’s favourite playwrights, Alan Bennett. Starring Nicola McAuliffe (Surgical Spirit), The Lady in the Van is at The Grand from Tuesday 15th to Saturday 19th May.
The award-winning 2Faced Dance present In The Dust a triple bill of darkly explosive new work on Sunday 3rd June. In The Dust showcases the versatility, skill and unique style of this outstanding company and the work of choreographers Tom Dale, Place Prize nominee Freddie Oppiku-Addaie and 2Faced artistic director Tamsin Fitzgerald.
Musicals are always enjoyed by Grand Theatre audiences and this season we have some classics!
Direct from the West End, Dreamboats and Petticoats, featuring some of the greatest hits of the Rock ‘n’ Roll era jives into the theatre Monday 23rd to Saturday 28th January.
Blackpool Operatic Players will return with the Tony Award winning Titanic the Musical from Wednesday 11th to Saturday 14th April, 100 years after the liner sank on her maiden voyage. We are also delighted to announce that an action packed musical adventure, Swallows and Amazons, will be sailing into The Grand on 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!
Presented by the company behind last year’s hit Billy Elliot, West Side Story, set in post 9/11 New York, is at the theatre from Tuesday 5th to Saturday 9th June. Save the Last Dance For Me, from the team behind Dreamboats and Petticoats, takes you back to the ‘music and magic’ of the early 60’s from Monday 18th to Saturday 23rd June.
West End star and Pop Idol finalist, Gareth Gates stars in an all new production of the legendary musical, HAIR! Fresh from a sell-out European arena tour this unforgettable spectacular captures the mood of 1960’s New York at The Grand from Monday 2nd to Saturday 7th July. HAIR! also stars fellow Pop Idol Zoe Birkett (Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Thriller-Live) and Amy Diamond (Over the Rainbow).
Come and meet those dancing feet! The Tony Award winner for Best Musical Revival, 42nd Street will be dancing into The Grand from Tuesday 24th to Saturday 28th July. Starring West End and Broadway star Dave Willetts, and directed by Broadway director Mark Bramble the show features the stunning sets and costumes from the US production.
In November, Beverley Callard (Coronation Street) in The Rise and Fall of Little Voice. Featuring songs from the world’s most iconic divas; Marilyn Monroe, Shirley Bassey; Judy Garland and many more this heartwarming northern fairytale is at the theatre from Monday 19th to Saturday 24th November.
Ahoy there me Hearties! All the family can enjoy theatre with a host of children’s productions including Peppa Pig and her friends. They’re going on a treasure hunt and need your help! Peppa Pig’s Treasure Hunt visits the theatre on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd January; Fireman Sam, the brave and friendly hero next door is back on Sunday 19th February. Horse + Bamboo present a gorgeously rendered re-telling of the classic girl-and-the-wolf tale with Red Riding Hood on Wednesday 7th and Thursday 8th March.
Scamp Theatre (Friend Or Foe, Private Peaceful) return to The Grand with Tiddler and other Terrific Tales on Tuesday 3rd April. This brand new show is adapted from the best-selling books by Children’s Laureate Julie Davidson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler.
If you like comedy how about Russell Kane, who brings Manscaping to the theatre on Sunday 26th February. Paul Merton returns to his stand-up roots for the first time this century on Sunday 25th March with Out of My Head. Away from the Have I Got News For You desk Paul Merton proves he’s got legs. You’ll be laughing so hard, you’ll be wiping tears away from your eyes all night!
Roy Chubby Brown is back in town! Laugh ‘til it hurts as he rips into his live audience on Friday 6th April. Be warned though, if easily offended please stay away – strictly for over 18s only!
The longest stand up comedy routine ever returns to The Grand after a sell out 2011 season. Ken Dodd is now in his 54th year of playing to Blackpool crowds and after his 5th May show will return for Illumination Sundays (dates to be confirmed).
After a fantastic, record-breaking 2011, Summer Season 2012 is proving to be a real extravaganza! Every Monday, from 30th July to 3rd September, The Chuckle Brothers will be appearing in The Return of Pirates of River Rother 2: In Stranger Tights. Don’t miss this spectacular pirate adventure, magic mystery and mayhem are guaranteed!
Billy is back! Billy Pearce returns to The Grand’s stage after a 2011 season which saw him break box office records and celebrate his 1000th appearance at the theatre. See the lovable Yorkshire comic every Tuesday in the Billy Pearce Laughter Show from 31st July to 30th October.
Returning by popular demand, Dancing Queen will have you dancing in the aisles again every Wednesday from 1st August to 31st October.
Joe Longthorne and Roy Walker, along with special guests, will be appearing in Blackpool’s Summer Season Spectacular! every Thursday. See the legendary entertainer performing alongside the stand-up star from 2nd August to 1st November.
Comedy favourites Cannon & Ball appear at The Grand in The Cannon & Ball Show. See the hilarious duo every Friday from 3rd August to 2nd November.
Ballet returns this season with the Russian Ballet and Orchestra of Siberia from Sunday 18th to Monday 19th March with Sleeping Beauty (Sunday) and Giselle (Monday). Book now – tickets for these performances sell very quickly!
On Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th February Opera della Luna bring their modern, stylish and funny production of The Merry Widow to The Grand. Derek Block and Blackburn International present Ellen Kent’s Production of La Bohème on Tuesday 6th March.
On a more light-hearted note, Eve Ensler’s hilarious Broadway and West End smash hit, The Vagina Monologues, is back! Starring Anne Charleston (Neighbours, Emmerdale), Mel Giedroyc (The Great British Bakeoff) and Hayley Tamaddon (Dancing on Ice) this witty and moving show is here on Saturday 18th February.
The course of true love never did run smooth in All the Single Ladies. Starring Men Behaving Badly’s Leslie Ash and Brooke Kinsella (EastEnders) this will be a wonderful, feel good evening – with a marathon punch! At The Grand from Thursday 1st March to Saturday 3rd March.
One actor, one city, forty characters – laughter and tears! Fresh from ecstatic reviews and a huge word of mouth following Paul Duckworth is back at The Grand with Beating Berlusconi on Sunday 4th March.
The girls are back! One of BBC television’s most popular and fondly remembered sitcoms comes to the stage with all three of its original cast members, Pauline Quirke, Linda Robson and Lesley Joseph. Birds of a Feather is at The Grand from Tuesday 24th to Saturday 28th April. This is a rare chance to see the original cast re-united on stage for the very first time.
Fresh from playing the Wicked Queen in 2011’s record-breaking pantomime Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Vicky Entwistle is swapping boo’s for laughter in Mike Stott’s multi-award winning comedy classic Funny Peculiar. Starring alongside her Coronation Street co-star, Craig Gazey with soap favourites Gemma Bissix (EastEnders, Hollyoaks) and Stephen Blakeley (Heartbeat) Vicky returns to The Grand in this uproariously funny Bill Kenwright production on Monday 28th May until Saturday 2nd June.
Showzam! is back from 10th to 19th February. Circus Shorts, a two day ‘festival within a festival’, takes place Wednesday 15th to Thursday 16th February. Hand-picked by Professor Vanessa Toulmin the show highlights the very best in modern circus acts.
On Christmas Eve, in 1899, under the watchful eyes of a packed house in a local music hall, the impossible happened! Star of Wonder features international magician Paul Dabek and is in the Lawrence House Studio Tuesday 14th February to Thursday 16th February. Friday 17th February sees Ida Barr’s Variety Parade take to the stage. A full announcement of our week’s presentations will be coming soon.
Talented local dancers also take to the stage throughout the season with World At Your Feet Diamond Show, celebrating 60 years of Blackpool’s Whittaker Dance and Drama Centre from Friday 10th to Sunday 12th February and Phil Winston’s Theatreworks presenting The Works from Friday 16th to Saturday 17th March and Friday 13th to Saturday 14th July.
The Grand Theatre’s commitment to Education continues, and in partnership with Blackpool Schools and Blackpool Council’s Music Service, we are delighted to present Schools Alive 2012 returning from Monday 30th January to Friday 3rd February. Once again there will be three magical evenings of entertainment celebrating the achievements of children in their last year at primary school. Au Revoir Review ’12 takes place from Monday 9th to Wednesday 11th July.
Other great shows include impresario and music hall authority Duggie Chapman who gives a fascinating talk on the stars from the 40s and 50s in Thanks For The Memory on Thursday 19th January and Wednesday 8th February will see Colin Fry bringing his own unique style of comfort and upliftment to ordinary people.
Harold ‘Dickie’ Bird is not only one of the world’s most famous and best loved cricket umpires, but he is also one of the most entertaining public speakers of our time. Join Dickie, on Friday 9th March, for an evening full of anecdotes about the game he loves so much. Thursday 3rd May sees the return of Sally Morgan with Psychic Sally on the Road.
The Kings of Swing bring their big band sound to the theatre on Saturday 10th March. Come along and celebrate the hits of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Nat King Cole and many more!
Premier rock ‘n’ roll legend Joe Brown brings his eclectic, sensational show to The Grand on Friday 23rd March while 80s Mania takes over the theatre on Thursday 5th April. 80s dress is positively encouraged!
Music continues to take centre stage with Rainy Days and Mondays: The Carpenters Story, a celebration of the music of Richard and Karen Carpenter, on Saturday 7th April and Feast of Fiddles, a musical extravaganza like no other, arrives at The Grand on Sunday 8th April. The Solid Silver 60s Show is back on Sunday 15th April featuring the unforgettable talents of Peter Noone, Chris Montez, Brian Heyland, special guest Brian Poole and Vanity Fare. The fantastic The Lancashire Hotpots will be tearing the house down on Friday 4th May.
Enjoy the Magic of Motown, direct from the States, on Sunday 6th May and prepare to sing and dance in the aisles when Sing-a-long-a Grease arrives at the theatre on Sunday 27th May. Fancy dress is strongly encouraged and audience participation is essential! Back on the road for 2012 The Drifters will be performing classic hits, and superb new material, on Sunday 1st July.
The Grand Youth Theatre Company’s (GYTC) performance of Punk Rock takes place on Sunday 15th July. This emotional and raw production can be seen on the main stage prior to performances at the 2012 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The GYTC’s production of Prince of Denmark runs from Wednesday 29th February to Friday 2nd March in the Lawrence House Studio. Produced as part of the National Theatre’s Connections programme, this ‘prequel’ to Shakespeare’s Hamlet is not to be missed.
The Lawrence House Studio is also full of fantastic shows this season. Following the success of last year’s Gaz Jenkins and Friends, Red2 Theatre Company return on Sunday 26th February with LOVE/LIFE. A special production for all the romantics out there!
What links Stephen Hawking, cardboard tube fights and Shane MacGowan? Find out when Laurence Clark embarks on a one man mission to sell the benefits of free healthcare to America on Friday 20th April.
We're 'feeling good' about our new season...
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