Grand Theatre Winter | Spring 2022 Guide

What’s on at

Friends, Romans, countrymen! Lend me your ears! Your fantastic new season is here, and it’s filled right to the rafters with smash-hit musicals, world-class drama, laugh-out-loud comedy, captivating children’s shows, the best in international opera and dance, the very welcome return of The RSC with Julius Caesar and an Unexpected Twist...

There’s nothing quite like the thrill of live entertainment, and this season is like a glorious Quality Street selection, so why not dip into the tin and treat your nearest and dearest to the magic of live theatre here at The Grand. If you can’t choose from the array of exciting shows, we have vouchers

for you to gift a night at The Grand. You can also upgrade your experience with flowers, truffles, perfectly chilled Prosecco, or by joining our 1894 Club with lots of exclusive offers and priority booking! We also offer fascinating talks, tours, afternoon teas and much, much more. Talk to our friendly team who will help make your visit even more special. We look forward to seeing you soon!

There’s nothing quite like the thrill of live entertainment!

Adam Knight Chief Executive

Ready to thrill you with fun and naughty moments, Richard O’Brien’s legendary rock ‘n’ roll musical, The Rocky Horror Show comes to Blackpool as part of its sellout tour, having been seen by over 30 million theatregoers.

The Rocky Horror Show is the story of two squeaky clean college kids –Brad and his fiancée Janet. When by a twist of fate, their car breaks down outside a creepy mansion whilst on their way to visit their former college professor, they meet the charismatic Dr Frank’n’Furter. It is an adventure they’ll never forget, filled with fun, frolics, frocks, and frivolity.

Directed by Christopher Luscombe, The Rocky Horror Show is the biggest party and features timeless classics, including Sweet Transvestite, Damn it Janet, and of course, the pelvic-thrusting show-stopping Time Warp.

Music and lyrics by Maury Yeston. Book by Peter Stone.

In the final hours of 14th April 1912 the RMS Titanic, on her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York, collided with an iceberg and 'the unsinkable ship' slowly sank. It was one of the most tragic disasters of the 20th Century. 1,517 men, women and children lost their lives.

Based on real people aboard the most legendary ship in the world, Titanic The Musical is a stunning and stirring production focusing on the hopes, dreams and aspirations of her passengers.

The original Broadway production of Titanic The Musical won five Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book. This stunning production celebrates the 10th anniversary of its London premiere, where it won sweeping critical acclaim across the board.

This sensational, multi award-winning West End show first opened in 1989 and has been thrilling audiences around the world ever since. Now it triumphantly returns to Blackpool Grand as part of its 2023 UK Tour

Forget feel good, Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story is FEEL GREAT! Experience the drama, passion and excitement as a multi-talented cast of actor-musicians tell Buddy Holly’s story, from his Texas rockabilly beginnings to international stardom and his legendary final performance at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa, before his tragic death at the age of just 22.

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!

Book now for the most successful Rock & Roll Musical of all time!

‘…ITS POWER SPRINGS FROM IT'S ABSOLUTE AUTHENTICITY’

WHAT’S ON STAGE

Award-winning theatre company, ThickSkin, returns to the stage with an action-packed, highly visual production telling the painful yet uplifting true story of an eleven-year-old unaccompanied asylum-seeker.

“I don’t know why my Dad let me go, especially when he knew how dangerous, how hard it was… I was too young, too weak to make this journey. I wouldn’t have sent me… He wouldn’t have sent me unless there was a reason.”

In 2002, in the turmoil after the end of the Kosovan War, Dritan is sent on the notoriously perilous journey across the Adriatic with a gang of people smugglers to a new life in Europe. He relies on his young wit and charm to make it to the UK. But the fight for survival continues as he clings to his identity and sense of self when he ends up in the British care system. How Not to Drown shares a story of endurance for a little kid who wasn’t safe or welcome anywhere in the world, performed by an ensemble cast starring Dritan Kastrati himself.

thickskintheatre.co.uk | traverse.co.uk

DIRECTED BY NEIL BETTLES

A ThickSkin and Traverse Theatre Company production, supported by Theatre Royal Stratford East. Commissioned by ThickSkin and Lawrence Batley Theatre.

Direct from its triumph in the West End, where it won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Comedy, Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of) is a unique and audacious retelling of Jane Austen’s most iconic love story.

Men, money and microphones will be fought over in this irreverent but affectionate adaptation where the stakes couldn’t be higher when it comes to romance. This “smart, laugh out loud funny” (Daily Telegraph) show features a string of pop classics including Young Hearts Run Free, Will You Love Me Tomorrow and You’re So Vain. It’s the 1800s. It’s party time. Let the ruthless matchmaking begin.

Starting from £18.50 Under 26 £15.50 1894 Members £3 off Friends of the Grand and group discounts available. *Discounts unavailable on Band A seats.

Julius Caesar; a fast-paced political thriller about a divisive leader who holds awesome power.

Concerned that Caesar poses a threat to democracy, revolutionaries take the violent decision to murder him. They have no plan for what comes next. As the world spins out of control; chaos, horror and superstition rush in to fill the void. Civil war erupts and a new leader must rise: but at what cost?

Unexpected Twist is the re-telling of the Charles Dickens classic, Oliver Twist, by one of the best-loved figures in the children’s book world, Michael Rosen. Combining two stories in one; Rosen’s story and the Dickens classic that inspired it. Two stories that twist together, unexpectedly!

Shona and her class are studying the book, Oliver Twist. She’s the new girl in school and is finding it hard to stay out of trouble – much like Oliver himself! When she’s given a new phone by a stranger, she begins to suspect there’s something unusual about the new boys she’s met.

This thrilling production is brought to vivid life by The Children’s Theatre Partnership, whose shows have included Animal Farm, Holes and The Jungle Book. Directed by James Dacre, Rosen’s novel is adapted for the stage by BAFTA award-winning playwright Roy Williams with original music by rising R&B star Yaya Bey and BAC Beatbox Academy’s Conrad Murray. Age Guidance 8yrs+

From the writer of Peter Pan, this delicious farce was such a sensation in its day that it gave its name to the UK’s most loved chocolates.

Phoebe Throssel runs a school for unruly children on Quality Street.

Ten years since a tearful goodbye, an old flame returns from fighting Napoleon. But the look of disappointment on Captain Valentine’s face when he greets an older, less glamorous Phoebe, spurs our determined heroine to action.

She becomes the wild and sparkling Miss Livvy, a younger alter-ego who soon beguiles the clueless Captain. As their romance is rekindled, can she juggle both personas? Or will the deception scandalise the town and wreck any future with the man she loves?

Northern Broadsides revive their hit regency comedy, stirring in a good helping of Yorkshire wit from the retired workers of the Halifax factory where Quality Street have been proudly made since 1936. Think Bridgerton meets Inside the Factory.

Matinees

FRANKIE BOYLE: LAP OF SHAME

DECEMBER

Sleeping Beauty Pantomime

WHAT'S ON

Fri 02 Dec 2022 to Sun 01 Jan 2023

It’s Show Time (STUDIO) Sun 11 Dec

Grand Christmas Concert Mon 12 Dec

JANUARY

Death Drop: Back in the Habit

Tue 03 to Sat 07 Jan

Ballet: Giselle Fri 13 Jan

Ballet: Swan Lake Sat 14 Jan

Ballet: The Nutcracker Sun 15 Jan

Spirit of the Dance Wed 18 Jan

Waterloo – The Best of ABBA Fri 20 Jan

Vampires Rock – Ghost Train Sat 21 Jan

The Best of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons Tue 24 Jan

Blackpool and Fylde Children’s Pantomime Fri 27 to Sun 29 Jan

FEBRUARY

Come What May Wed 01 Feb

Puccini’s La Boheme Thu 02 Feb

Jon Richardson: The Knitwit Fri 03 and Sat 04 Feb

Sing-a-long-a Encanto Sun 05 Feb

Tap Factory Tue 07 Feb

The Glenn Miller and Big Band Spectacular Wed 08 Feb

Buffy Revamped Sat 11 Feb

One Night in Texas Sun 12 Feb

The Rocky Horror Show Mon 13 to Sat 18 Feb

Chicago Blues Brothers Sun 19 Feb

The Sound of Springsteen Sun 26 Feb

Around the World in 80 Days Tue 28 Feb to Sat 04 Mar

MARCH

Sunday Night at the Grand

Sandgrown Shakespeare

Sun 05 Mar

Tue 07 and Thu 09 Mar

Giovanni Pernice – Made in Italy Fri 10 Mar

The Carpenters Story Sat 11 Mar

Beyond the Barricade Sun 12 Mar

Puccini’s Madama Butterfly Tue 14 Mar

How Not To Drown Wed 15 to Fri 17 Mar

The Illegal Eagles Sun 19 Mar

Titanic The Musical Tue 21 to Sat 25 Mar

Blackpool Symphony Orchestra Sun 26 Mar

Irish Annie’s Mon 27 Mar

Queenz – The Show with Balls Tue 28 Mar

Tales from Acorn Wood Wed 29 and Thu 30 Mar

Miss Nobodies (STUDIO) Thu 30 and Fri 31 Mar

Queen Rhapsody Fri 31 Mar

APRIL

Islands in the Stream

Sat 01 Apr

Shrek The Musical Wed 05 to Sat 08 Apr

Rock Icons Mon 10 Apr

Menopause the Musical 2 Wed 12 Apr

Dreamboys Thu 13 Apr

ELO Again Fri 14 Apr

Fireman Sam Sat 15 Apr

Absolute Reggae Thu 20 Apr

Northern Ballet: Ugly Duckling Fri 21 Apr

An Evening of Burlesque Sat 22 Apr

Sun Records The Concert Sun 23 Apr

Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story Tue 23 to Sat 29 Apr

Big Girls Don’t Cry Sun 30 Apr

THE STUDIO

MISS NOBODIES

A century of women’s stories brought to life by Black Liver; nominated Best Comedy, Best New Writing, Best Production; ‘Highly recommended’ (Buxton Fringe).

UPCOMING HIGHLIGHTS

Spirit of the Dance Wed 18 Jan

One of the biggest dance shows in the world. It has smashed box office records in over 20 countries.

Waterloo – The Best of ABBA Fri 20 Jan

Looking back at the sensational rise to stardom of the Swedish pop group ABBA and recreating it impeccably for fans old and new.

Vampires Rock – Ghost Train Sat 21 Jan

Starring Steve Steinman and an incredible cast of singers, dancers and musicians. This show will have you rocking in the aisles.

The Best of Frankie Valli and the Four

Seasons Tue 24 Jan

A spectacular high-pitched celebration of timeless music from one of the biggest selling groups.

Islands in The Stream Sat

01 Apr

Join us for Islands in The Stream a very special evening, celebrating country superstar royalty.

Rock Icons Mon

10 Apr

Rock Icons is an energetic rockin’ live music show that takes you on a journey through the eras of some of the world’s greatest Classic Rock bands and albums.

Menopause The Musical 2

Wed 12 Apr

Menopause the Musical 2 the hilarious sequel to our smash-hit Menopause the Musical. Fast forward five years for tales of their lives, loves and losses.

Dreamboys Thu 13 Apr

Dreamboys are ready to give you a night of fun, fantasy and no holding back with their brand new “No Strings Attached” UK tour!

ELO Again

Fri 14 Apr

ELO AGAIN are back with their stunning ‘Re-Discovery Tour’ celebrating the truly universal music of Jeff Lynne and the Electric Light Orchestra.