Blackpool Grand is Bringing On Back The Good Times this Summer!

Blackpool Grand is Bringing On Back The Good Times this Summer!

Blackpool Grand Theatre announces an exciting new season of fabulous new feelgood shows for 2022/2023

Blackpool Grand Theatre is Bringing On Back The Good Times with a spectacular new season of shows guaranteed to bring sunshine and smiles this Summer, whatever the weather!

Marvellous full-scale musicals are dancing in from the West End to dazzle and delight with stunning sets, gorgeous costumes and powerhouse performances. Pick up your tickets quick for the rocking return of Dreamboats & Petticoats - Bringing On Back The Good Times (with special guest star Mark Wynter) packed with all the wonderful wit, charm and unforgettable songs from the golden era of rock ’n’ roll; the 70s sensation Boogie Nights from Blackpool & Fylde Operatic Players with a great big glitterball of a night out packed with disco classics; the breathtaking biopic Beautiful – The Carole King Musical starring the magnificent Molly-Grace Cutler (The Worst Witch, Girls Don’t Play Guitars) as the legendary Carole King featuring countless King chart toppers; Richard O’Brien’s raucous Rocky Horror Show bursting at the seams with much-loved naughty numbers, including, of course, the pelvic-thrusting Time Warp and the five-star theatrical masterpiece Titanic The Musical which has enraptured theatregoers to return time and time again to experience this truly rousing and uplifting tribute to the passengers of the famously ill-fated vessel.

The Grand’s superb new Summer of Sound hits just the right note for fun by the seaside with live music shows for everyone. Dig out your crepes and drapes for rock and roll favourites Showaddywaddy in a dynamic and uplifting live show featuring all their biggest hits; take a wellearned trip to A Country Night in Nashville for an incredible night celebrating the joy of country music with the amazing live band Dominic Halpin and the Hurricanes; go Radio Ga Ga for A Spectacular Night of Queen as this high-energy concert perfectly captures the pomp and brilliance of Freddie Mercury and his iconic British band; bring your little pop star to a fun-packed children’s concert with a big difference as four fairytale Pop Princesses sing top pop hits live on stage, plus songs from your favourite films and musicals and the Boys are Back in Town for Rock For Heroes featuring over twenty classic rock songs from a seven-piece live band with amazing lighting and sound! Summer has never sounded so good… Bring the family together at The Grand and make magical memories to last a lifetime. The legendary Johnny Ball takes you on a magical tour of everything mathematical in his fun-packed family show Wonders Beyond Numbers; splash in muddy puddles with the irrepressible Peppa Pig, Britain’s best-loved picture book The Tiger Who Came to Tea is a grrreat live show packed with oodles of magic, singa-long songs and clumsy chaos; don’t miss the captivating Beauty and the Beast from the critically acclaimed Ballet Theatre UK with exciting new choreography and specially created sets and

Above: Tap Factory Photo Credit: TEC Entertainment Margot De Heide

costumes; Jurassic Park roars to life on stage with the delightfully interactive Dinosaur Live; The Royal Shakespeare Company’s First Encounters bring a fantastic introduction to the Bard’s popular romantic comedy Twelfth Night in a fun-packed 90 minute show, and don’t forget our fabulous family pantomime Sleeping Beauty starring the superbly silly Steve Royle and Dancing on Ice champion Hayley Tamaddon. It’s never too soon to book for Christmas 2022. Oh no it isn’t!

Do you live for Drama? Don’t miss out on the award-winning The Rise and Fall of Little Voice starring Shobna Gulati (Coronation St), Ian Kelsey (Emmerdale) and ‘girl of a thousand voices’ Christina Bianco packed with humour, heart and countless powerhouse ballads from Judy Garland, Billie Holliday and many more; The Game’s afoot with Sherlock Holmes: The Valley of Fear crammed full of adventure, mystery and, of course, brilliant deductions; comedy genius Spike Milligan is back with the Goons in the absurdly funny new play SPIKE by Ian Hislop and Nick Newman; Helen Forrester’s stunning period drama Twopence to Cross the Mersey makes a stop in Blackpool with a gifted nine-strong celebrity cast and celebrate 70 sensational years of Agatha Christie with a slice of the gripping crime thriller The Mousetrap. Have YOUDUNNIT yet? Don’t just see it. Solve it!

Looking for something a little different? The Grand has got you covered with a wonderfully wideranging mix of shows on offer this season. Light up your lives with a gloriously dark mash-up of head-banging hits and classical instruments with The Rock Orchestra by Candlelight: Festival of the Dead; roll up for the Sexy Circus as the talented cast of live male vocalists and worldrenowned circus performers from Britain’s Got Talent’s Forbidden Nights spin across the stage in this high-octane show (adults only); dare to join one of the UK’s most notable Psychological Therapists Emma Kenny (Lady Killers, The Killer in my Family) as she opens up a fascinating new casebook in the Serial Killer Next Door; Ah! go on and join seasoned stand-up comic Joe Rooney for A Celebration of Father Ted as he reminisces about starring in the classic comedy before a showing of his hilarious episode; let the children of the revolution take you on a thrilling journey into the glamorous Parisian underworld with the ultimate Moulin Rouge and more tribute Come What May and don’t miss the

breathtaking tap dancing of eight incredible male performers for the powerfully potent cocktail of dance, acrobatics, music, hip hop and comedy that is Tap Factory on their 10th Anniversary Tour.

Blackpool Grand Theatre Chief Executive, Adam Knight, said: “Welcome to my first season at the helm of Blackpool’s beautiful Grand Theatre! This new Summer brochure is an addition to our regular output as we just couldn’t wait to tell you about some of the incredible touring productions we have coming, not only over the Summer months, but through the Autumn and into 2023!

We’re set for a great new season here in Blackpool offering an excitingly eclectic selection of productions and returning favourites from high-quality drama and comedy to outstanding dance and former West End sellout shows. This packed programme firmly puts Blackpool’s Grand Theatre ahead of the crowd and on track for an incredible season. We have taken inspiration from one of the biggest triple-bill shows touring - Dreamboats and Petticoats - Bringing On Back The Good Times! I think we can all relate to getting back to our local theatre and supporting some of the amazing productions back on the road.

From five-star smash-hit musicals to our spectacular live music Summer of Sound and our fantastic family shows, there is something to bring the sunshine back to all our lives. We are also thrilled to be opening the national tour of the chilling new ghost story When Darkness Falls and I am absolutely delighted to announce the relaunch of The Studio with two acclaimed and provocative productions to mark the 50th anniversary of Pride - Riot Act and The MP, Aunty Mandy & Me, which are very much part of The Grand’s mission to offer the opportunity for all members of our diverse community to enjoy, participate and learn through theatre.

“I hope you will all take the time to enjoy many of the wonderful productions featured in this new season brochure and I look forward to welcoming everyone to The Grand this Summer.” Visit blackpoolgrand.co.uk for full show listings and bookings or call the box office on 01253 290 190 for bookings and further information.

GRAND THEATRE 33 Church Street, Blackpool FY1 1HT

N Box Office: 01253 290 190 D blackpoolgrand.co.uk F @blackpoolgrand T @Grand_Theatre I grandtheatrebpl

Add some real sunshine to your Summer with show tickets to Blackpool Grand Theatre and bring the good times back again!

The Highwayman of Hurst Green

By Rachel Helen

ABOUT THE BOOK

The Highwayman of Hurst Green’ is the first book in the ‘Words of the Dead’ series, which is inspired by Lancashire folklore and ghost stories.

In this book, lonely home-schooled teenager, Iris Emmott, who has just arrived in the Lancashire village of Hurst Green, discovers she is able to communicate with the afterlife. The plot weaves together Iris’ narrative with the story of Ned King, a seventeenth-century highwayman who was hanged in the village three hundred years previously. As she comes to terms with the news of her ‘gift’, Iris and her neighbour Toby, become embroiled in King’s mission to have his voice heard and his soul freed.

The book was inspired by local tales of highwayman Ned King, whose spirit reputedly rides on horseback along the roads of the village and had supposedly haunted the nowdemolished Punchbowl Inn.

This book brings both folklore and facts together in a chilling piece of paranormal fiction. It is suitable for ages 10+ and will be available from 5th July.

THE ‘BLURB’

“Do you believe in ghosts? Then I suggest you listen harder.”

Imagine discovering you could speak with the afterlife. Imagine learning you could help the restless dead find peace. Would you use it or would you pretend you didn’t know?

Iris, a lonely home-schooled teenager, is excited to stumble across her neighbour Toby and his mysterious Granny Bet, but learning of the ‘gift’ she has both terrifies and intrigues her.

For eighteenth century highwayman, Ned King, whose tormented soul has haunted the village in which he died for almost three hundred years, finding someone amongst the living who can help him speak his truth, is exactly what he’s been waiting for.

There are many downsides to being dead… Can Ned and Iris discover a way for past and present to work together to allow the words of the dead to be heard?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rachel Helen is the pen-name of Rachel Lopiccolo.

Rachel is an author, primary school teacher and mum of two, with a BA honours in History and a PGCE in primary education.

In 2017, she had several articles about teaching published in the TES and was subsequently commissioned by Schofield and Sims to write two educational books. However, her dream since childhood was always to write a novel.

Over the years, she filled notebooks with ideas, and started - then abandoned - several potential books. She found excuse after excuse as to why she shouldn’t write: there’s not enough time, it won’t be good enough, people might not like it...

But finally she realised that unless she actually wrote something and finished it, she was never going to be anywhere near realising her dreams. So in 2019, she returned to an idea she had started about three years previously when her eldest daughter had said to her that there was ‘nothing good left to read’. From that, The Curse of the Pendle Witch was born. The other two books in her Pendle Witch trilogy, The Betrayal of the Pendle Witch and The Revenge of the Pendle Witch followed in 2020 and 2021.

Rachel has also produced free classroom resources to accompany her Pendle Witch books which are suitable for Years Five and Six and are available to download from her website.

The Highwayman Of Hurst Green by Rachel Helen, ISBN: 978-1-7399938-3-2 Release date: 5th July 2022 in paperback from www.rachelhelenauthor.co.uk RRP £7.99 and on Amazon Kindle RRP £2.99

QA &

WITH RACHEL HELEN

QWhy did you become a writer? I’ve always wanted to be a writer for as long as I can remember. As a child, I used to love going to the library, and I used to imagine what it would be like to see books I had written on the shelves and to know other people were choosing to read them. Over the years, I’ve filled notebooks with ideas, and started, then abandoned many things. Then, when my eldest daughter was about nine, she told me that she had “run out of good things to read.” So I started a book about two sisters who found a cursed box. By the time I had written the first few chapters, she had discovered the ‘Warrior Cats’ series, and so as my book became less of a priority, life and work got in the way of me finishing it. However, it was at about that time that I submitted an article about teaching to TES (the Times Educational Supplement) which was published online, and that resulted in them asking me to write a few more articles which appeared in their magazine. Subsequently, I was approached by Schofield and Sims to write two educational resource books for them. Then in 2019, I met someone who had written a book in their spare time, and they said to me that if I really wanted to write one, there was nothing to stop me other than myself. It really inspired me to get something written, so I went back through all my notes and my partially started pieces and came back to the one I had started for my daughter a couple of years before. And from that my Pendle Witch Trilogy was born.

QHow do you choose what to write about? I’m really interested in history, particularly local history (to Lancashire), as well as the history of those who didn’t necessarily have a voice at the time but whose actions changed society – for example the Pendle Witches and working-class suffragists. I love exploring the myths and legends that have grown up around certain people and events, and then combining the facts and the folklore with ideas from my imagination

QHow would you describe you new book, The Highwayman of Hurst Green?

‘The Highwayman of Hurst Green’ is the first book in my new series, Words of the Dead. The series is inspired by ghost stories, and I wanted to combine historical facts (so far as there are any) with the legends that have grown up around the people involved. The series centres around fictional teenager, Iris Emmott, who has recently moved to Lancashire and who soon discovers that she has a ‘gift’ to communicate with the dead.

‘The Highwayman of Hurst Green’ is about Ned King who reputedly haunts the village near Clitheroe where it is believed he lived for a few years in the eighteenth century, and where he died. The book combines the narrative of King talking about his life (and death) with that of Iris as she comes to terms with knowing she can speak with the afterlife.

In the process of writing the book, I researched who Ned King might have been and the possible links he had with the notorious Dick Turpin. I then used the folklore and my research to write the novel. I would say the book is paranormal historical fiction. It explores themes of friendship, right and wrong, and misunderstandings. It isn’t intended to be gruesome or overly scary, however I hope it builds up enough suspense to grip readers’ imaginations.

The book is suitable for ages ten and over.

QWhen and where do you write? I don’t get a lot of time to write regularly because I’m a full-time primary school teacher, and a Mum of two teenage daughters who I love spending time making new adventures with. However, I do try to commit enough time to write at least one book each year, and I’m lucky to have the support of my family and loved ones who keep me motivated and set me deadlines to work to. I tend to make notes about ideas I have as they come to me and let them develop in my head over a few months until the easter or summer holidays when I have more time to write each day.

I write either in notebooks or type onto my laptop. I often sit in my conservatory early in the morning to write, or will visit places I love with a notebook and pen and handwrite things which I later type up. My particular favourite spots are St Patrick’s chapel at Heysham and the hill above Whitewell near Clitheroe. I find the landscapes in both places to be both peaceful and dramatic, and I find that very inspiring.

QAll of your books are set around Pendle Hill – have you always lived near there?

Yes I have and I love where I live. I grew up in Blacko, moving to the Ribble Valley side of the hill in 2012. I have always lived within ten miles of Pendle Hill, and, unless I ever decide to retire to somewhere sunny, I can’t imagine living anywhere else. There is something very special about the people, the landscapes and the history that I really love.

QWhat ideas do you have for future books? I have several ideas for more books in the Words of the Dead series, all based around Lancashire ghost stories, including a book about Peg O’Nell, a servant girl from Waddington who allegedly died in a well in the grounds of the hall at which she worked, one about the wife of the squire of Wycoller Hall who died in strange circumstances (if you believe the folklore), and one about the woman in white from Salmesbury Hall.

I would also really like to write something about working class suffragists from East Lancashire, and something set at St Patrick’s Chapel in Heysham. I have so many ideas, and write something in my notebook at least weekly. I just wish I had more time to write. My dream is to become a full-time writer.

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SAN FRANCISCO WORLD SPIRIT COMPETITION – DOUBLE GOLD AND VOTED BEST FLAVOURED RUM 2021 ASCOTT – 2021 PLATINUM NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL SPIRIT COMPETITION – GOLD 95 POINTS