A Grand season ahead in Blackpool

Published: 9 August 2015
Reporter: David Upton

Thriller Live
Dreamboats and Miniskirts

Brand-new tours of The Full Monty and Thriller Live opening in Blackpool, and the world première of a stage adaptation of the novel Brave New World, are amongst the drama, musicals, dance, opera, music and comedy coming to Blackpool Grand during the autumn.

Thriller Live starts its autumn tour in Blackpool this October, having already been seen by more than three million people worldwide.

For lovers of 60s music, Dreamboats and Miniskirts (the sequel to Dreamboats and Petticoats) charts the advent of the Beatles and the Merseyside sound with a soundtrack of the hits of the decade.

Drama lovers can see the opening of The Full Monty autumn tour starring Gary Lucy, Andrew Dunn and a full-star cast.

Autumn also sees the highly anticipated staging of the futuristic novel Brave New World, presented by the Touring Consortium Theatre Company, who brought Brassed Off and Regeneration in 2014.

An adaptation of Frank Capra’s iconic film It’s A Wonderful Life also visits, retold as a radio play in tribute to the golden age of wireless.

Murder and mystery are in the air when Middle Ground Theatre Company returns with A Murder is Announced: A Miss Marple Mystery.

The producer of last year’s Double Death also returns with two plays to bookend the season, including Murder with Love and Sherlock Holmes and The Ripper Murders.

Opera and ballet lovers have with a triple bill of Gilbert and Sullivan, The Gondoliers, The Mikado and HMS Pinafore, as well as a double-bill of Ellen Kent productions Die Fledermaus and Carmen. Ballet fans will also have the return of the Russian State Ballet with seasonal favourites The Nutcracker, Giselle and The Snow Maiden.

Contemporary dance companies Candoco—the world’s leading ensemble of disabled and non-disabled performers—and Joss Arnott present 5|0.

There is also a programme of shows for The Studio, set to open next month. Highlights include a monthly Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club, children’s puppetry show Chicken Licken, plus two comedy dramas Lonely Hearts and A Translation of Shadows.

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