Encore Magazine

ENCORE!

E

Spring/Summer 2018. Free Issue 1

DO THE LOCOMOTION!

Carole King's Beautiful journey, from Broadway to Blackpool

FLASHBACK

Legendary acts & artefacts that have graced the Winter Gardens

Shrektacular!

Layers of music, magic & mayhem in Spring's must-see show, Shrek The Musical!

WINTER GARDENS BLACKPOOL

#MyWinterGardens

Encore!

Welcome to Issue One Welcome to Encore, the new magazine from the Winter Gardens.

Encore puts you right at the heart of the action… on to the stage and behind the scenes, of a this landmark complex. Exploring the past, present and future of this special venue: revealing flashbacks to the entertainment, architecture and artefacts of bygone days; uncovering the often unseen, but always breath-taking spaces - as well as featuring artist interviews and backstage insights into the latest upcoming shows and events.

Our launch edition sees us skip out of a successful Winter season into Spring, following a festive run of Selladoor’s sparkling production, Peter Pan, and our annual “Access All Areas” Open Day - which once again saw thousands of guests delight in the history and beauty of the illustrious Winter Gardens.

We travel back to the 1930s for the first of our Hidden Spaces series, unveiling the history of the extravagantly themed Spanish Hall it's designer, Andrew Mazzei and plans for its refurbishment.

‘What do you think of it so far?', Flashback

takes you back to the height of comedy duo Morecambe and Wise. Whilst Behind the Scenes gives a unique insight into one of our biggest events, The Red Rose Awards.

Looking ahead, Spring is jam packed full of exciting events, welcoming some of the UK's biggest artists from across the worlds of music, comedy, musicals and more. March features the stars of Strictly, Brendan Cole waltzes in for one night only before Aljaz and Jannette return in Remembering Fred. April boasts an incredible range of live music from Sheridan Smith, Daniel O’Donnell and Beth Hart before Gary Barlow returns with his first solo tour since 2013.

Comedians Sarah Millican, Russell Brand and the Grumpy Old Women will tickle your funny bones this May before the arrival of Shrek The Musical for the first time ever in Blackpool!

Along with the world-famous Dance Festival, Spring climaxes with brand new musical Fat Friends, the renowned International Soul Festival and the retelling of Carole King's life story in Beautiful.

We hope you enjoy the issue as you get closer to the action than ever before!

Spring Season Top Picks:

Gary Barlow

Fat Friends The Musical

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical

Friday 27 & Saturday 28 April 2018

Tuesday 29 May - Saturday 2 June 2018

Tuesday 19 - Saturday 23 June 2018

Follow Us @WinterGardensBlackpool

Issue One Contents

On Stage

Beautiful - The Carole King Musical is the story of an ordinary girl from Brooklyn’s spectacular rise to stardom.

We talk to the actress playing her, Bronté Barbé.

Hidden Spaces

Take a whirl around the Andalusian themed Spanish Hall, brought to life in the 1930s by film and set designer Andrew Mazzei.

Spotlight

Read about national treasure Kay Mellor and the cast, as a new musical based on hit TV show Fat Friends gets ready to burst into Blackpool.

The Main Event

Paint us green and send us to Duloc! Shrek, Donkey and Fiona have hit the UK with all-singing, all-dancing Shrek The Musical.

Behind The Scenes Wed 2 May 2018

A sneak preview of the prestigious Red Rose Awards 2018, as preparations get underway to celebrate the county’s top businesses.

Homebird Sarah Milican offers more hilarious anecdotes in her new show Control Enthusiast.

Spring/Summer 2018 | 0844 856 1111 | WGBPL.CO.UK

On Stage

Ha

appydays are here again

When 14-year-old Carole King first began knocking on record company doors with her songs, little did the Brooklyn schoolgirl know she would become a music legend, writing for some of the world’s most famous artists.

Kirstie Niland caught up with the actress playing her, Bronté Barbé, ahead of the show’s arrival at the Opera House Blackpool on Tuesday 19 June.

Spring/Summer 2018 | 0844 856 1111 | WGBPL.CO.UK

On Stage

West End performer, BrontĂŠ BarbĂŠ takes on the role of the iconic singer/songwriter, Carole King.

Up On The Roof The cast of Beautiful perform one of King's signature tunes.

C

arole King’s extraordinary talent and steely determination saw her break into the record industry to sell her first hit - Will You Love Me Tomorrow - aged just 17. Soon after she became Gerry Goffin’s wife and songwriting partner, penning hits for some of the 60s’ biggest bands including The Monkees, The Drifters and The Shirelles. But it wasn’t until she began to write on her own as a divorced mother of two that she made her most inspirational music, creating the Grammy award winning 1971 album Tapestry – one of the best-selling albums of all time.

A four times married mother of four, King is famous for combining international stardom with family life; nurturing her children and relationships with best friends and competitors Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann whilst redefining the definition of a beautiful woman with her natural, earth mother image. Her lyrics strike a chord that have granted her songs longevity and a special place in the heart of music history: Take Good Care of my Baby, It Might As Well Rain Until September, Up on the Roof, Loco-Motion, and the iconic (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman sung by Aretha Franklin.

Three of her works – the album Tapestry, and songs You’ve Got a Friend and It’s Too Late - have been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, which honours recordings that are lasting and relevant.

Since being cast as Carole King have you found her story interesting and wanted to know more about her?

I had known about Carole King for a number of years.

When I first got a record player about six years ago my mum said: “You have to get this album - it’s called Tapestry and it’s by Carole King – she’s amazing”. so I listened to it religiously. But I wasn’t aware of her incredible back catalogue until I saw the show in London. Then I realised she’d written all these incredible songs I knew, that are engraved in your head without even realising. So when I came to start rehearsals, I was so excited because I knew there was so much work I could do. I constantly watched different things like YouTube and documentaries and read her book.

What’s the most surprising fact you’ve learned about her?

I don’t know if it’s a surprising fact, but what I found amazing was that she just wanted to do everything.

She wanted to have a family, she wanted to be a songwriter but she didn’t actually want to be famous.

She just managed to achieve everything with her recording and child rearing. And she also had a dog!

I think that’s pretty incredible.

Spring/Summer 2018 | 0844 856 1111 | WGBPL.CO.UK

Is Carole King an unassuming character in the musical and do you think this also contributed to her songs being so relatable?

Totally. Well I think the main thing is that she’s just so normal it really strikes you and is inspiring because it makes you think – not that anyone can do it - but it’s about having that little spark and she is quite unassuming in the musical - but she’s got that drive about her and that’s why I love playing her.

“The words of the songs are so amazing…no matter how I’m feeling I always leave the stage with a smile on my face.”

I’ve read you were familiar with her music through your mum.

Were there any songs you didn't realise she had written?

Yes, all of them basically. What really surprised me was that she has such varying styles, she’s capable of so much within her song writing.

What age group have you had the best feedback from so far?

A lot of range actually, and it does excite me when people come and tell me why the music means so much to them. Like they remember dancing to it with their husband of 40 years…or it’s the first record they bought…or why they love Tapestry. I think the songs are incredibly relatable, that there’s a song for everybody.

Is it daunting to play such a famous character?

It is daunting but it’s also exciting. I love a challenge and it’s not like anything I’ve done before. I so want to honour who she is – and I always say I don’t want to do an impression because that would be impossible and she means so much to everybody and she is who she is…I just couldn’t match who she is. I always try and do an interpretation and bring aspects of her to my performance. I constantly listen to her, and watch her, and every day try and put new things into my performance to keep her as real as possible.

Carole King discovered her talent at a very young age. When did you first realise you wanted to be an actress?

Very young. I think when I was three years old I got Mary in the nativity at school and my mum got me the outfit and for the following three months I was Mary. People would shout: “Here’s Mary…here she comes in the room”. I did dancing and singing and acting classes, my mum really loved it. I had a brief stint when I wanted to be an archaeologist but that was short lived.

Do you want to stay in theatre, or do you also have ambitions for TV/movies?

I’d love to do absolutely everything. I feel very lucky to have done a variety of shows so far. I set my sights on things but I never say “I only want to do this” because you never know what’s going to come and I’m open to everything.

You were a finalist in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s search for Dorothy in Over the Rainbow and played Fiona in Shrek.

How has this compared? Is it a more/less difficult role to play?

I’d say it’s different. In a way it’s more challenging because there’s a lot more to sing than Fiona. Over The Rainbow was a unique experience because I’d never done anything on tv before. It was amazing but a lot of pressure for a young girl with so many different challenges with camera angles - but it was amazing and I loved every second of it. I’ve never felt a buzz like this on any other show because the songs are so satisfying to sing - it feels like a rock concert every night.

How has playing this part inspired you?

I think the words of the songs are so amazing, escapism at its best, especially when I get to Beautiful at the end of the night.

No matter how I’m feeling I always leave the stage with a smile on my face.

What would your dream role be?

This is probably my dream role because it’s singing in a style I absolutely adore. However, I do love being a Princess as well!

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical comes to the Winter Gardens Blackpool from 19 - 23 June. Tickets from £17.50 Spring/Summer 2018 | 0844 856 1111 | WGBPL.CO.UK

Hidden Spaces ‘The most picturesque of the Winter Gardens Wonder Halls has perpetual sunshine by day and in the evening the wonderful vista of Andalusian hills and villages with their tiny hamlets depict a panorama of scenic grandeur by moonlight."

Viva EspaĂąa Andrew Mazzei's Spanish Hall is one of the Winter Gardens' hidden gems.

O

ur Hidden Spaces series takes you on a tour of the Winter Gardens, exploring its beautiful rooms and history – starting with the exotic Spanish Hall. Upon entering the Winter Gardens’ beloved Spanish Hall, or Courtyard, you could be forgiven for thinking you had walked on to a Hollywood movie set and in a way you have, because renowned film set designer Andrew Mazzei was responsible for this stunning Art Deco style hall with its threedimensional frieze featuring Andalusian villages and hills.

The hall opened in 1931 and was created during massive upgrades of the venue in the early 1930s, led by JC Derham - resident architect for the owner, Blackpool Tower Company.

Built on two floors, news reports at the time proclaimed it “the jewel of the whole scheme”, boasting decorative balconies in each corner and a soaring roof with painted clouds representing a “canopy of sky, sun and rainbow”.

The magnificent Spanish Hall remains a rare UK example of the American “atmospheric design” which was popular during the Depression Era, when lavish architecture and Art Deco provided escapism from the grim 1930s. The 24 metres x 19.5 metres space, with a heady height of 12.8 metres, coupled with the extravagant theme, made the courtyard a beautiful, open setting for fine dining, afternoon teas and dances. Today it provides a unique backdrop for banquets, conferences, weddings and exhibitions, with a capacity for 700, with sound, lighting and rigging available, and a fully equipped kitchen, makes it an ideal venue for dinners and private functions.

As the Spanish Hall is not usually open to the public it remains one of the Winter Gardens’ most treasured and best kept secrets, just waiting to be unveiled for special occasions and guests.

Spanish Hall Restoration Over the next twelve months, work is set to be undertaken on the Spanish Hall, returning the magnificent venue back to its original glory.

The works beginning in February will involve the repair, restoration and re-glazing of the Spanish Hall roof, as well as the repair and stabilization of ceramic finishes to the Coronation Street façade of the Olympia Building.

Project Cost: £1.25m Expected Completion: Winter 2018/19

Spring/Summer 2018 | 0844 856 1111 | WGBPL.CO.UK

Spotlight

The

Weight is Over!

The hit TV show Fat Friends, from the award-winning Kay Mellor, is bursting on to the stage in a brand new musical.

Packed full of warmth, love and weight loss, this eagerly-anticipated show reunites our favourite foodie friends for a humorous and heartfelt performance.

Spring/Summer 2018 | 0844 856 1111 | WGBPL.CO.UK

K

ay Mellor OBE tells Encore how she brought her popular TV show series Fat Friends back to life as a musical - and it’s bigger and better than ever.

“Fat Friends ran for four series on TV plus a Christmas Special and I felt at that time that it had run its course. But instead of wiping the characters from my brain like I usually do, it was always in the back of my mind and I remember thinking whether I could take it to America, or adapt it as a theatre piece. I never truly thought it could be a musical – because I didn’t think I could write musical lyrics and I know nothing about composing music.

A few years later, in between my other TV projects, I started to write the book (script) and then the lyrics seemed to come to me easily. I realised that knowing the characters is halfway through to writing the lyrics – it’s just like writing dialogue, but with a tune in your head. It was at that point when my producer, Josh Andrews, introduced me to Nick Lloyd Webber. He instantly understood the characters and my world - I found his music emotional and he understands what I’m writing. I’m immensely proud of what we’ve developed together and I can’t wait to share it with the world.

I will be directing the show but I’ve never worked with a composer, a choreographer or a musical supervisor. Putting on a musical is something that is completely new to me so it is a huge challenge.

But I love it.

It’s going to be visually stunning, with larger than life characters and songs – I think the music

is great. It’s funny in parts but also sad in parts too.

The show looks at how we’re all obsessed with our body image and how everybody wants to lose weight, tone up. I think that’s something that’s only got worse since I wrote the TV series.

I’ve brought it up-to-date though as it explores how things can go viral on the internet. I think that people who haven’t seen the TV series will still relate to, and enjoy, the musical. We have done two workshops now in London and some people who came to them had never seen it on television – they loved the musical so much that they went out to buy the box set!”

Fat Friends The Musical comes to Winter Gardens Blackpool from 29 May - 2 June. Tickets from £17.50

“It’s going to be visually stunning, with larger than life characters and songs” Kay Mellor

The Story

The wedding of Kelly and Kevin is fast approaching but the bride-to-be has recently put on a lot of weight and her mother, yo-yo dieter Betty, has been trying to encourage her to slim down for the big day. But headstrong Kelly is happy with her lot and her fiancé Kevin.

It’s only when she can’t get into her dream wedding dress that she realises there’s a problem. When dress shop owner and hopeless romantic Lauren tells Kelly they don’t make the dress in her size, Kelly uses all their savings to buy the dress anyway, even though it’s two sizes too small! Betty recently lost five stone - she’s hot favourite to win Super Slimmer of the Year and the BBC are filming the final. Kelly misses dinner to come and support her mum and is starving, so when things go wrong, she kicks off with catastrophic results… for all our Fat (and not so fat) Friends!

Meet The Cast

Jodie Prenger

Andrew Flintoff

Sam Bailey

Blackpool’s own Jodie Prenger is back in town to play brideto-be Kelly Stevenson who works in her dad’s fish and chip shop. The talented singer, actress and presenter shot to superstardom after winning the West End role of Nancy in Oliver! on BBC’s I'd Do Anything in 2008.

Preston's own cricketing legend, broadcaster Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff is swapping his sport and travel adventures to tread the boards as Kelly’s adoring but not-so-bright fiancé Kevin.

Andrew is always up for new challenges and this is his first venture into musical theatre.

Kelly’s mother Betty, sweet natured and newly slimmed down, is played by 2013 X-Factor winner Sam Bailey, whose incredible voice has earned her number one spots in the single and album charts.

Once a professional footballer, Sam is one of Britain’s favourite personalities.

Spring/Summer 2018 | 0844 856 1111 | WGBPL.CO.UK

Flashback

A

ll great comedy acts considered an appearance in Blackpool to be a huge feather in their caps, and Morecambe & Wise spent many a happy and successful summer season here.

So much so that they are said to have considered the town to be their spiritual home.

The duo first performed on stage together in 1941, and during their career appeared in the seaside resort more than 1,000 times. Highlights included a Royal Variety Show performance in 1955, with their final Blackpool curtain call taking place in 1976 at the Opera House.

It’s a fitting tribute therefore, that for the 75th anniversary as a double act, a statue celebrating Eric and Ernie was commissioned and installed in the Winter Gardens’ Dome in their honour.

Funded by private donations, the £75,000 needed to make the bronze infused resin statue was raised by a local committee.

The 8ft statue was sculpted by Graham Ibbeson, whose other commissions includes; Laurel & Hardy, Benny Hill and Les Dawson. It was unveiled last Autumn by the Erics’ family, who Graham worked closely with during its creation.

PLAY YOUR PART! Support one of Blackpool’s iconic venues, join the Winter Gardens Trust.

We are a charitable body who raise awareness of the spectacular Grade II listed Blackpool Winter Gardens through an annual programme of fundraising events, support of restoration and refurbishment projects and offering a voice to the public in the on-going development of the building.

The Trust worked with the volunteers of the Cannock Chase Organ Club to purchase, refurbish and reinstate Wurlitzer organs to both the Opera House and the Empress Ballroom; we have purchased and returned to the Winter Gardens and number of heritage artefacts; in partnership with Blackpool Council we funded the reprinting of the Winter Gardens book by Professor Toulmin, “The Most Magnificent Palace of Amusement in the World” and through our support the Winter Gardens Film festival is now an established and expanding event.

Our members play an active part in the events programme whether it be manning a stall on the Winter Gardens Open Day, supporting one of our popular coffee mornings or volunteering to help make the Christmas Tree Festival the highlight of the year. At our AGM in the Summer members can vote on issues affecting the Trust and we distribute monthly email bulletins to keep everyone informed of news and offers.

#MyWinterGardens

Do you have photographs and stories from the past of the Winter Gardens? If so, then get in touch with us at memories@wgbpl.co.uk or tweet us @WGBpl with the hashtag #MyWinterGardens.

THE WINTER GARDENS TRUST Protecting the future, preserving the past

" YOU KNOW I COULD BE MAYOR OF THIS TOWN!"

Were you in the audience when Ol'Blue Eyes performed on the Opera House stage? If so, we want to hear from you. Next issue, Flashback will be dedicated to the concerts Frank Sinatra held in Blackpool. Feel free to get in touch with your recollections to editor@wgbpl.co.uk

Spring/Summer 2018 | 0844 856 1111 | WGBPL.CO.UK

Feature

b , g i B u f i t u a be

bright, ul world!

If anything’s got layers, it’s Shrek The Musical.

But just how much work has gone into the creation of this fairytale show?

Put it this way, if you thought Shrek and Donkey had a long journey on their quest to get the ogre’s swamp back, it’s got nothing on this one.

Spring/Summer 2018 | 0844 856 1111 | WGBPL.CO.UK

O

nce upon a time (2002) in a land not so far away (Covent Garden), director Sam Mendes and producer Caro Newling were brainstorming ideas for new theatre pieces. The co-founders of London’s Donmar Warehouse were leaving to set up their own independent film and theatre company, Neal Street Productions, which had strong ties to DreamWorks, the Hollywood studio behind Mendes’ biggest movies - including the Oscar winning American Beauty. DreamWorks had expressed an interest in making theatre with Neal Street, and Mendes realised they had the ideal story in the form of their 2001 animated hit, Shrek.

“Musicals were a big part of what we did at the Donmar,” recalls Caro Newling, “And Sam was clear that the ingredients of Shrek were brilliant for a musical. For a start, it’s a big old love story as well as a search for friendship by people who feel a bit lost. Then there’s the idea of updating a fairytale and the battle of good versus evil. And those characters, even the fairytale creatures – they’re all so brilliantly drawn.”

When Newling saw the original designs and models at the DreamWorks campus in Glendale, California, she was struck by the parallels between animation and theatre-making, and an idea began to form amongst the group. DreamWorks

Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg and Bill Damaschke, Head of Creative assembled a team to bring Shrek to the stage.

First on board in 2004 was Pulitzer Prize winning writer David Lindsay-Abaire. Shrek was not a simple screen-to-stage adaptation.

Mendes and Lindsay-Abaire spent a year knocking a new script into shape. Meanwhile the rest of the team was taking shape, including Avenue Q director Jason Moore, West End choreographer Rob Ashford and New York composer, Jeanine Tesori (well-known for scoring Tony Kushner’s Caroline or Change and writing for Disney). They were joined by two established Brits - theatre designer Tim

Knight in Shining Armour

Our hero first claps eyes on Princess Fiona.

Hatley and lighting designer Hugh Vanstone, and young New York choreographer, Josh Prince.

“Of course, it might have been easier to pick an established writing or director partnership,” said Newling. “Instead, we got a fantastic mix of people from both sides of the Atlantic, replicating in a way what DreamWorks do on their movies. Looking back, Bill and I do sometimes say: ‘Boy, could we have made it any more difficult?’ Except that it wasn’t. Yes, there were differences in language. But what we got back in spades was pioneering, creative spark.”

Shrek The Musical tested at the 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle in 2008, before opening at The Broadway Theatre in New York; with musical stalwart Brian D’Arcy James as Shrek and award-winning Sutton Foster as Fiona. The show became a top five, Tony-nominated hit running for 444 performances until January 2010 before touring North America, with the creative team making adjustments every step of the way. As Newling says, “You have to be so forensic about how each scene feeds into a song and whether that song is moving the story along. There’s no sitting back.”

And then it was back to Covent Garden where the idea for the musical was born. London was in the picture from day one, according to Newling. “DreamWorks recognised it would go down well in the UK because of our phenomenal response to the original Shrek movies. A lot of the humour of the first Shrek (on which this show is based) is very

British: pun, satire, that subtle updating of the fairytale. There’s a darkness to it, but also lots of self-deprecation and a big heart."

Now on its second tour of the UK, Shrek is about to hit the Opera House. Blackpool.

“We are very excited to be bringing Shrek The Musical to the best venues across the UK & Ireland once more,” said Newling. “We are thrilled to be giving audiences another chance to experience their beloved swamp-dwelling ogre, Princess Fiona, Donkey and all their fairytale friends live on stage.”

Shrek The Musical comes to the Winter Gardens Blackpool from 15 - 27 May. Tickets from £20.00

Spring/Summer 2018 | 0844 856 1111 | WGBPL.CO.UK

Do You Hear the Creatures Sing?

The fairytale creatures perform one of the showstoppers from Shrek.

Facts & Figures

Productions of Shrek The Musical have played in USA, U.K., Spain, Poland, France, Malaysia, China, Brazil, Italy, Denmark, The Netherlands, Estonia, Israel and Turkey.

40 seconds

is the fastest costume change including prosthetics.

500+

individual lighting cues during the show.

150 characters

and fairytale friends are played by the 22-strong

6 Trucks

are used to transport the set between theatres up and down the UK! Spring/Summer 2018 | 0844 856 1111 | WGBPL.CO.UK

Taste

Shrek’s Swamp Mudpies INGREDIENTS Bottom Layer - Cake 5oz (142g) chocolate 5oz (142g) unsalted, softened butter 5oz (142g) caster sugar.

3.5 fl oz (99ml) hot water.

5oz (142g) self-raising flour 1oz (28g) cocoa powder 2 lightly beaten eggs Top layer – Fudge topping 1oz (28g) cocoa powder 2oz (57g) unsalted butter 3 tablespoons of milk 7oz (198g) icing sugar

METHOD Bottom layer Pre-heat the oven to 180C/350F/gas mark 4.

Put the butter and chocolate into a large bowl, heat over a pan of simmering water and stir until both are completely melted. Move away from the heat and stir in the sugar and hot water. Sift the flour and cocoa, mix together, then stir into the mixture. Add the lightly beaten eggs and mix thoroughly. Pour the mixture into a buttered and floured cake tin and make sure the top of your cake mix is level. Bake for 35 minutes.

Remove from the oven, leave to cool for 10-15 minutes, then take the cake out of the tin and cool on a wire rack ready for the next layer.

“CAKE! Everybody loves cake! Cakes have layers!”

Donkey

Top layer Put the butter, milk, sugar and cocoa in a bowl and heat over a pan of simmering water. Stir until the topping is smooth and shiny. Remove from heat, and when the icing has cooled, beat well until it thickens, then spread your chocolate mud mix over the bottom cake layer.

Finally, decorate your cake with green stars, but you can choose any kind you like, from edible stars to your own special design drawn with piped icing.

You never know, your Shrek Mud Pie creation could soon have you visiting the Kingdom of Far Far Away… *We would strongly advise checking the labels on any ingredients used to make recipe to avoid allergic reactions. We cannot be held responsible for any issues resulting from food allergies. Please only undertake with adult supervision.

COMPETITION! For a chance to win a family ticket to see Shrek at the Opera House Blackpool, snap a picture of your Mudpie and post it on our Facebook page or @WGBpl on Twitter before 10 May 2018.

W IN T ER

GA R D E N S

B L AC K P O O L

SHOW & DINE DEALS Fantastic value dinner and show packages are now available from the Winter Gardens Blackpool.

Make the most of your experience and save yourself the stress of having to find somewhere to eat before the show, by dining in the elegant surroundings of The Empress Bar & Grill Room.

From just £39.50 enjoy a fabulous 2 course meal in the stunning Empress Grill before taking your seats in the world-famous Opera House for the show of your choice.

Available from

£39.50 incl. Show Ticket GRILL

ROOM

ADD SHOW AND DINE AT THE TIME OF BOOKING, ONLINE, ON PHONE OR IN BOX OFFICE. Available on Selected Events only.

WGBPL.CO.UK Spring/Summer 2018 | 0844 0844 856 856 1111 1111 | WGBPL.CO.UK

Behind The Scenes

The Red Rose Awards

L

Sparks Fly!

ancashire Business View’s Red Rose Awards honour the achievements of some of the county’s top businesses – and where better to celebrate their success than the magnificent Empress Ballroom.

Get ready to make some noise for the Red Rose Awards 2018 – for the theme for this year’s event is “big bang’.

Some of the leading names in the county are supporting the awards, which once again features joint headline sponsorship - with Forbes Solicitors reaffirming its partnership since the awards were launched in 2011, and Barclays joining for a fifth consecutive year.

Richard Slater, Event Director and publisher of Lancashire Business View, said the aim, as ever, is to celebrate excellence.

“We’re going to make a big bang and tell the world about Lancashire.” Richard Slater, Event Director.

The heroes of Lancashire’s economy will gather together on 8th March 2018 for the distinguished ceremony, one of best platforms to promote and encourage trading excellence within the county.

The event has enjoyed steady growth since its launch in 2011, and includes award categories relevant to all Lancashire businesses, enabling companies to showcase their products and services

One of the talented performers takes to the awards stage for the night's entertainment

Spring/Summer 2018 | 0844 856 1111 | WGBPL.CO.UK

“ Great events are team games & we work with a great one at the Winter Gardens.”

Richard Slater

through entry or sponsorship.

More than 1,100 guests attended the Red Rose Awards 2017, with 26 awards presented to innovative, creative and high performing businesses from a variety of market sectors.

Richard Slater explains why the Winter Gardens is the perfect venue for this prestigious event.

“Red Rose Awards, launched in 2011 and quickly grew to become one of the biggest events of its kind and a national award-winner. It has been honoured as the best business awards event in the UK." We set out to inspire and entertain and to honour business achievement in Lancashire, as we do in our magazine, Lancashire Business View. From the moment we conceived it, we wanted Red Rose Awards to be fresh, innovative and aspirational.

There is a practical reason we choose to base the event at the Winter Gardens and that is its scale; not many rooms can seat 1,100 for dinner, as we have in each of the last four years.

But there are other reasons. Red Rose Awards is more than an awards dinner: it is a party, a celebration, a get-together and, for many, the culmination of a year of

endeavour. The least we can do is put on a show.

And this is where Winter Gardens comes into its own. It is a flexible, dynamic venue with many different spaces that Red Rose Awards takes advantage of.

As our guests enter the complex, they are met by the stunning rotunda. From there it’s into the Floral Hall.

It doesn’t take much to convert these spaces from functional to fabulous. We house our drinks reception here; we add lights, sound and entertainment. The fun starts from the first step over the threshold.

For the main event, we draw our guests into the Empress Ballroom, one of the grandest venues in the country. Again, we benefit from the natural backdrop the architecture affords us and then enhance it and make it a modern space by introducing the latest event ideas and technologies with our production teams.

Meanwhile, we convert an area behind the stage into a pop-up kitchen and let loose dozens of chefs and scores of front-of-house personnel. It’s a slick operation; it has to be.

While the awards ceremony

is the centrepiece of our evening, at its conclusion we open up the Arena, which is adjacent, for a party that runs to the small hours.

We host live music, fun and games, dancing, drinking and, as always, a midnight feast for our remaining guests – more than 900 of our 1,100 stay with us for the party.

With so many usable and flexible spaces, we can let our imaginations run riot. But that would count for little without the flexibility and imagination of those who manage and work in the Winter Gardens.

We are a polite but demanding client. We want to try new things and introduce ideas that simply aren’t seen at similar events.

At every turn we are supported by a fine team at the Winter Gardens which brings to bear imagination, a creative approach to the challenges we set and a pragmatism that brings a focus to all involved in staging an evening of this scale and stature.

"Great events are team games and we work with a great team at the Winter Gardens.”

The countdown is on to find out who the winners will be.

Follow the story on Twitter #RRA18.

And The Winner Is...

The County's biggest awards dinnercelebrates the achievements of over 150 businesses every year.

Red Rose Awards

By Numbers 1100 Guests at each annual Awards!

#RRA18 Trending

2017 Total: ÂŁ1,357,925,471.50

38 sponsors, 72 judges, 150 finalists

Red Rose Awards is the BIGGEST dinner awards event held across the whole of Lancashire.

And we're proud to present it at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool!

The Red Rose Awards has trended at number one in Lancashire, each awards night, on Twitter for the past two years (and number three nationally!)

This figure is the magnificent combined turnover of the finalist businesses in the room for the 2017 awards!

Give yourselves a round of applause!

3 stages, 3 bands, 9 screens, stilt walkers, living tables, fire acts, smoking umbrellas, guitar angle grinder, LED violist, donkey derby, photobooth & graffiti wall – need we say more, haha!

Spring/Summer 2018 | 0844 856 1111 | WGBPL.CO.UK

Access All Areas

Step behind the

Curtain...

Visitors were given a unique insight in to the Winter Gardens during the annual access-all-areas open day.

This year’s Winter Gardens Open Day was once again a tremendous success, attracting thousands of guests to experience the exciting “Access All Areas” event. Visitors were able to explore the entire Grade II listed building, following in the footsteps of world leaders, royalty and legendary acts through 140 years of cultural history.

Accompanied by music from Frank Sinatra’s 1953 Live at Blackpool Opera House performance, the Wurlitzer Organ, and the Mazzei Café’s resident pianist, this nostalgic journey saw guests treading the boards, investigating backstage, and delighting in the venue’s magnificent rooms and spaces- once opulent settings for high teas, jubilees and banquets, today, stunning backdrops for conferences, exhibitions and special celebrations.

Photographs by Claire Griffith

Spring/Summer 2018 | 0844 856 1111 | WGBPL.CO.UK

BRENDAN COLE: ALL NIGHT LONG 1 March 2018

PROSECCO FESTIVAL 29 & 30 June 2018

FROM STAGE TO SCREEN 13 March 2018

ELVIS CELEBRATION 29 June - 1 July 2018

BLACKPOOL BEER AND CIDER FESTIVAL 23 & 24 March 2018

ROCK POOL 7 July 2018

REMEMBERING FRED 31 March 2018

TITANIC THE MUSICAL 9 - 14 July 2018

CIRQUE DU HILARIOUS 2 April 2018

KEVIN & KAREN DANCE 20 July 2018

JUNIOR DANCE FESTIVAL 2-8 April 2018

SUMMER HOLIDAY THE MUSICAL 24 - 28 July 2018

TWINKLETOES – SONG AND DANCE EXTRAVAGANZA 11 - 14 April 2018

FASTLOVE: A TRIBUTE TO GEORGE MICHAEL 29 July 2018

SHERIDAN SMITH 17 April 2018

REBELLION 2 - 5 August 2018

DANIEL O’DONNELL 25 April 2018

THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG 7 - 11 August 2017

BETH HART 26 April 2018

FAME THE MUSICAL 13 - 18 August 2017

GARY BARLOW ut old O 27 & 28 April 2018 S

MADAGASCAR: A MUSICAL ADVENTURE 11 - 15 September 2018

PIANO RECITAL WITH BRANT NUTTALL 29 April 2018

COAST TOWN 15 September 2018

SARAH MILLICAN: CONTROL ENTHUSIAST 2 May 2018

THE LEAGUE OF GENTLEMEN: t OuLIVE Sold 18 September 2018

RUSSELL BRAND: RE:BIRTH 10 May 2018

JOANNA LUMLEY - IT’S ALL ABOUT ME 13 October 2018

GRUMPY OLD WOMEN TO THE RESCUE 11 May 2018

FREESTYLE DANCE CHAMPIONSHIP 13 October 2018

SHREK THE MUSICAL 15 - 27 May 2018

SUPERVET - WELCOME TO MY WORLD 14 October 2018

BLACKPOOL DANCE FESTIVAL 24 May - 1 June 2018

SEQUENCE DANCE FESTIVAL 20-23 October 2018

FAT FRIENDS THE MUSICAL 29 May - 2 June 2018

SIXTIES GOLD 7 November 2018

JANE MCDONALD 9 June 2018

THE BEST OF BILLY OCEAN 9 November 2018

BLACKPOOL INTERNATIONAL SOUL FESTIVAL 3 15 -17 June 2018

THE WORLD FAMOUS ELVIS SHOW 10 November 2018

BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROL KING MUSICAL 19 - 23 June 2018

BRITISH NATIONAL DANCE CHAMPIONSHIPS 15-17 November 2018

SWING WITH LAUGHTER 29 June 2018

THE WIZARD OF OZ THE MUSICAL 7 - 30 Decemeber 2018

WINTER GARDENS BLACKPOOL

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BOOK BY PERSON: WINTER GARDENS BOX OFFICE CHURCH STREET BLACKPOOL (OPENING HOURS VARY)

www.wintergardensblackpool.co.uk

A GREEN REVOLUTION AT THE WINTER GARDENS! With help from Radio Wave’s breakfast team, Scott and Hayley, the first tree, an oak, planted to launch a new carbon offset scheme sits proudly in Stanley Park.

The scheme which forms part of a wider community programme developed by the Blackpool Winter Gardens could see up to 20 trees donated each year, in a bid to offset the venues carbon footprint.

The tree donation initiative forms part of a green revolution taking place at the Victorian venue which now includes the recycling of advertising banners to reusable shopping bags and a phased withdrawal of one use plastics. This is accompanied by significant investment in new and efficient systems at the venue.

To find out more about the Winter Gardens Blackpool and its work in the community visit wintergardensblackpool.co.uk/community.

Spring/Summer 2018 | 0844 856 1111 | WGBPL.CO.UK

Q&A

Brendan Cole Brendan is joined by his sensational cast of guest dancers, his captivating leading lady and superbly talented 14-piece band and singers, to whip up an extravagant mix of Latin fever and ballroom magic.

From tantalising Tango to fiery Paso Doble, elegant Foxtrot to breath-taking Waltz – and with a few surprises in store – this is no ordinary dance show.

Live music, stunning special effects and Brendan’s own dazzling choreography and charm make this an unforgettable night; join us for the party!

Brendan Cole: All Night Long comes to Winter Gardens, Blackpool from 1 March 2018. Tickets from £25.00

Q. IF YOU HAD THREE WISHES, WHAT WOULD THEY BE? A. No poverty, good health for everyone and selfishly being able to fly!

I might swap one of the first ones for something like invisibility or loads of cash but that’s not very nice!

Q. IF YOU CHOOSE YO NICKNAM WOULD

A.Mischief. Li withou

Q. HOW DO YOU WANT TO BE REMEMBERED? A.Being liked, generous and helpful.

The press never pick up on these qualities but they are who I am.

Q. WHAT’S YOUR PET HATE?

Q. WHAT’S THE HARDEST THING YOU’VE EVER HAD TO DO?

A.People saying There is for more than one thing. It’s there are.

Saying somethink when it is something! Drives me nuts.

A. Big Question! I’ll keep it light... learn scripts. I have a terrible memory.

Q.IF YOU COULD BE SOMEONE ELSE FOR A DAY WHO WOULD IT BE? A.Tom Cruise in an action movie.

Q. IF YOU COULD TIME TRAVEL WHERE WOULD YOU GO? A.The future. Imagine how far we have come in my 41 years... What will it be like in 141 years? The world is getting crazy and I like it.

U COULD OUR OWN ME WHAT IT BE?

ife is boring ut it.

Q. WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE HOLIDAY DESTINATION?

Q. WHO'S THE MOST FAMOUS PERSON IN YOUR PHONE? A.Tony Hadley

A.It’s only Blackpool! I love Mallorca and Thailand..

Q. WHO IS YOUR BIGGEST INSPIRATION? Q. WHAT'S THE BEST JOKE YOU KNOW? A.What did the zero say to the eight? - I like your belt!

A. I have many and from many areas in life. My Granddad (Poppa) for his work ethic and ability. Movies like Dirty Dancing and Performers like Bruce Forsyth, Gene Kelly and Sammy Davis Jr.

Spring/Summer 2018 | 0844 856 1111 | WGBPL.CO.UK

ENCORE!

E

A Winter Gardens Publication.

97 Church Street, Blackpool, Lancashire, FY1 1HL www.wintergardensblackpool.co.uk | 0844 856 1111* (BOOKING FEES MAY APPLY. 0844 CALLS COST 7P PER MINUTE PLUS YOUR PHONE COMPANY’S ACCESS CHARGE)

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