What’s on in Fylde

Fylde Council are proud to present Shifting Sands, an art trail of contemporary travel posters by acclaimed artist Nicky Thompson set within the historic grounds of Lytham Hall Shifting Sands presents 12 new contemporary artworks in the style of railway posters that depict iconic landmarks on the Fylde coast. An accompanying exhibition of mid-century railway posters from the Lytham St Annes Art Collection will be displayed in Lytham Hall.

The story of railways in Britain has been reflected in the development of the railway poster. The art form illustrates the major changes that have occurred in British society over the years and captures the spirit and character of British life throughout the twentieth century. Railway posters are social documents and material evidence of British culture; they illustrate the changing styles in art, holiday-making, architecture, and fashion over the years, as well as the development of the urban and rural landscapes of Britain.

Shifting Sands is a fascinating exploration of railway posters as an art form, the history they document, and the development of the railways and tourism since the 17th century. Nicky Thompson’s contemporary railway posters depict well known and beloved landmarks that bring tourists and travelers to the Fylde coast in droves to this day. Shifting Sands is in collaboration with Community Rail Lancashire.

More information – CLICK HERE

Sunday Concerts in Ashton Gardens 2022 in conjunction with St Annes Town Council.

Preformed by Blackpool Brass.

May 1st / June 19th/ July 3rd/ August 7th/ September 4th

FREE ADMISSION

This summer, from May to September, you will find live music in the St. Anne’s on the Sea Amphitheatre. Come along to hear an eclectic mix, from the sounds of the 1940’s, Motown to modern soloists, there’s a little something for everyone!

Organised by the CAN (Community and Neighbourhood) team for everyone to enjoy, this weekly event will be sure to bring a smile to your face. Each week sees a different artist perform in the Amphitheatre, situated outside the No Filter Café in the square.

Come along to enjoy the Sounds in the Square in the heart of St. Anne’s on the Sea.

Every Tuesday from 12noon till 2pm for 22 weeks

It’s here! Call into the Visitor Centre for your Big Wild Summer Activity and Lakeside Trail pack.

Find out about our nocturnal inhabitants whilst having family fun in the fresh air. Available all Summer, with a trail for July and in new one in August.

Event finishes on 5th September 2022.

https://events.rspb.org.uk/fairhavenlake

The Folies – observations on life by Will Pickering (1954 to 2021). Free entry but donations always welcome. The venue is closed Mondays

An exhibition of 300 prints and 280 digital images – free entry and free parking available (closed Sundays)

We will be out and about in Lytham’s Memorial Gardens close to the Square for our second outdoor exhibition. Weather permitting we will be there between 8am-5pm on both days.

The hottest 80s club night is coming to town! Actor, TV personality and star of Spandau Ballet Martin Kemp will be spinning the biggest and best hits of that decade! Currently selling-out venues across the UK, early booking is essential for what promises to be a pure ‘Gold’ night! This promises to be the biggest 80`s Night to hit – The Fylde Coast – for a very long time! Dig out those 80`s clothes, grab your dancing shoes, and prepare to enjoy a night of pure ‘Gold’ and yes fancy dress is encouraged! In a recent interview on ITV’s ‘This Morning’, Martin described what these shows are like: “It’s amazing! People absolutely lose themselves, singing to every word. It’s the most euphoric atmosphere I have ever been in, in my life!”. If you want to join us on Saturday 14 November 2020 don’t delay. About Martin Kemp… Martin Kemp’s band ‘Spandau Ballet’ sold millions of records worldwide, topping the charts around the globe. If you remember the music of the 80s, you KNOW Spandau Ballet! Most recently seen on Channel 4’s ‘Goggle Box’ with his Capital Radio DJ son Roman and ‘Celebrity Island’ with Bear Grylls, Martin Kemp continues to have a truly distinguished career. Since his role in the global success of Spandau Ballet, he has played lead roles in likes of ‘The Krays’ and ‘Eastenders’, plus starring in Gary Barlow`s ‘Let it Shine’. Join Martin as he trades his bass for the decks and spins the biggest and best hits from the 1980’s! An Unstoppable Singalong!https://lowtherpavilion.co.uk/shows/martin-kemp-the-ultimate-back-to-the-80s-dj-set/

We will be setting up our exhibition in the gardens from 8am -5pm on both days weather permitting.

The free event, which attracts up to 100,000 visitors, has been cancelled for the past two years because of COVID restrictions on mass gatherings.
But VisitBlackpool has announced that the show will return for 2022 with some of the world’s finest military and civilian aircraft performing over the iconic seafront.

To complement the aerial programme, there will be plenty to see and do on the ground with a wide range of stalls, attractions and food concessions in the Air Show Village on the Tower Festival Headland.

Further details of the air show programme will be released in the early part of next year.

Please note that there will be live filming and photography at this event. Any pictures provided maybe used by VisitBlackpool for promotional purposes. If you do not wish to be included, please contact VisitBlackpool Web Team

This classic fairy tale for children is told using our interactive musical performance style. Your youngsters may have the opportunity to join our professional actors on stage and help with the storytelling by becoming one of the pigs in “ Three Little Pigs”. But not to worry if you are too nervous to join us on stage because there is plenty that you can join in with when you are sat right in the audience. Our fascinating musical performance style carries the story along and soon you will find yourself clapping, laughing and shouting out as you help our performers tell the well known fairy tale. But do remember to boo the Big Bad Wolf every time he makes an appearance on stage. This performance lasts for one hour.

https://lowtherpavilion.co.uk/shows/summer-outdoor-theatre-three-little-pigs/

The music that filled the dancehalls during the Big Band era is brought to life again by The Moonlight Serenade Orchestra UK. The hardest swinging big band in the UK recreates the million sellers of the 40’s and 50’s. Moonlight Serenade, Little Brown Jug, Pennsylvania 6-5000 and String of Pearls are just a few of the numbers that shot band leader Glenn Miller to world stardom. Pieces from other band leaders including Tommy Dorsey, Duke Ellington and Count Basie not to mention songs made famous by Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin are featured in this 2 hour show which will take you down Memory Lane and start your feet tapping. A Big Band show that’s bound to get you In The Mood!

https://lowtherpavilion.co.uk/shows/the-glenn-miller-and-big-band-spectacular/

This 1940’s Variety Show is a light-hearted, yet respectful look at wartime entertainment  known as  E.N.S.A.  Your host  and 40’s vocalist  Mervyn  Francis returns  along with  comedy  multi-instrumentalist  Pete  Lindup,  and  ukulele  virtuoso  Anthony  Mason.  Joining the team is our own forces sweetheart   Beryl  Johnson. Together  they  re-create  stars  of  the  period  in ‘ Workers Playtime ‘ with tributes  to George Formby,  Donald Peers,  Gracie Fields,  Noel Coward,   Frank Randle,  Anne Shelton,  Jack Buchanan,  Rob Wilton, Vera Lynn and more.

Join us for our grand finale……….. “LAND  OF  HOPE  AND  GLORY ”

At Lowther Pavillion Theatre, Lytham

A fun evening of song and laughter to start the annual Lytham 1940s weekend – back for the first time since 2019. Taking place in the main main marquee on Lytham Green, join Colin Bourdiec, Lancashire Belle, Tony Martin (Europe’s number one Frank Sinatra tribute) and Gary Walker for a great evening. Licenced bar and food too. Tickets only £10 – available following the link below.

Colin and Lancashire Belle are no stranger to the Lytham 1940s weekend and have a great reputation for entertaining the crowds. Doors open 7pm and we will have a small stage set in the centre of the marquee so the evening will be ‘in the round’

This is a great way to start your Lytham 1940s weekend and singing along and joining in is thoroughly recommended!

Join us for the eleventh Lytham 1940s Wartime Weekend, taking place on Lytham Green and within the town – back for the first time since 2019. There’s wartime singing, dancing, military vehicles and static aircraft, weapons displays, vintage fairground, military charities, life on the home front and much, much more. Details to be announced in due course. Making their Lytham debut in 2022 will be the Bluebirds. They will be joined by Lytham favourites Colin Bourdiec, Lancashire Belle, Paula Marie, Derek Herbert as Winston Churchill and many more.

Plus, for 2022, subject to weather and operational factors, a flying Spitfire display both days at 4pm.

For your reassurance there will be a security team, first aid team, event volunteers, additional toilets, additional parking, traffic management and so much more. Please talk to any member of the team if you require help in any way – our event information centre is open throughout the event.

We ask that visitors, should you choose to dress in period costume, do so in an appropriate and responsible way and do not dress in anything that is likely to offend others, especially anything Russian or associated with the extreme elements of the Nazi regime and we may ask you to leave should you be causing distress to other visitors.

The event is free to attend with a car parking charge for adjacent parking on Lytham Green. There is also a disabled parking area closer to the event and assistance can be given if required. All funds from this event go back in to support the event.

To kick off the event, there will be a Forties Live at Lytham event featuring Colin Bourdiec, Lancashire Belle, Gary Walker and Tony martin (Europe’s top Frank Sinatra tribute) – details – HERE

There is no public camping available at this event. Please contact the Tourism team on 01253 658 443 for details of local camp sites. There will only be a small area for pre booked re enactors who are part of the those registered groups participating in the event.

Capture the spirit of the 1940’s , dig out your uniform and your favourite dress of the 40”s. Dance to the sound of the Debonaires , the authentic Swing Band . Book your place early to avoid disappointment . Tickets include a ration pack , please indicate any special dietary requirements at the time of booking.

https://lowtherpavilion.co.uk/shows/1940s-dance/

Join the Lytham Event Company for an evening of fun, games, speed quizzing, bingo and more on Lytham Green. Tickets only £5 each. Monies raised go towards the Lytham Christmas Lights. Free parking available nearby.

An afternoon of Dance to the Music of Chris Hopkins the Blackpool Tower Ballroom organist . Your Afternoon tea catered for by The Villa . It is unreserved seating and spaces are limited so book your ticket now . Please indicate any special dietary requirements at time of booking.

Photographic studies and landscapes of Northern Britain by Peter Laurence.

With spectacular set and costumes, this remarkable new musical follows the fascinating adventures of Martha the Magical Cat and her friends and is sure to entrance all who watch. The sun warms the back alley way where Martha the Magical cat lives. Scruffy the dog’s owner has gone on holiday and Mrs Snodross has offered to look after him. But all is not well! Mrs Snodross receives a letter from her sister, saying she has been taken ill, asking Mrs Snodross to come and visit urgently to help run ‘Cockle Shells’ the Seaside Guest house that she owns in Suntown on Sea. What is Mrs Snodross to do? And who is going to look after Martha and Scruffy whilst she is away? There is nothing for it, but for Mrs Snodross to take Martha and Scruffy along with her. Mr Antonio the Pizza shop owner goes to do the catering and Mrs Jones the Florist the table arrangements. Once at the Seaside Martha and Scruffy spend much of their time on the beach, playing in the sand and watching the fishermen who cast their long lines out to sea. But more exciting than this is the Circus that has come to town. Martha finds that not all children treat her with the respect that she deserves. Find out how Martha earns the respect of the local children and how she looses one of her nine lives! All this and more will be answered in this Magical production of Martha the Cat’s Great Big Adventure.

https://lowtherpavilion.co.uk/shows/summer-outdoor-theatre-martha-the-cats-great-big-adventure/

Come and get an eye full of nature on this up close event. Our microscopes will help you to discover some weird and wonderful sights, looking at bones, shells, feathers, mini-beasts and a host of other amazing things in a whole new way. See the wonders of nature from a new angle, revealing all sorts of unknown colours and patterns. FREE to attend drop-in event 10-2, donations are always welcome

The Wedding Present commemorate the 30th anniversary of the release of their pivotal long-player, Seamonsters. Recorded in just twelve days during 1991, the record reached No. 13 in the Official Album Chart, hailed by many as a true classic. The Wedding Present have had eighteen UK Top 40 hit singles… not bad for a band that has, from its inception, stubbornly refused to play the record industry’s game. Back in 1985 David Lewis Gedge boarded a National Express coach in London with 500 records packed into a pair of his mother’s suitcases. In this fashion, the debut single GO OUT AND GET ‘EM BOY! was collected from the pressing plant, delivered to the distribution company, and The Wedding Present was born. That pioneering spirit has been at the core of the band’s philosophy ever since. From GEORGE BEST, “an unmitigated delight” [NME], the first full-length release on their own Reception Records onwards, the band has charted an appealing, if often eccentric, course of its very own. “The boy Gedge has written some of the best love songs of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Era. You may dispute this, but I’m right and you’re wrong!” John Peel.

https://lowtherpavilion.co.uk/shows/the-wedding-present/

Join us for the August Bank holiday weekend as we invite an incredible selection of mouth watering and thirst quenching vendors to take over gardens. This free to enter event will host a variety of stalls including the Creative Crafts marquee and free family entertainment. If you’re a stall holder and interested in getting involved, please email festivals@lowtherpavilion.co.uk.

https://lowtherpavilion.co.uk/shows/lytham-world-food-drink-festival-2022/

St. Anne’s on the Sea Town Council are delighted to announce the return of the St. Anne’s Music Festival 2022 in Ashton Gardens from 12noon Saturday 27th to 10pm Monday 29^th August 2022.

This FREE event for the residents of St. Anne’s on the Sea promises to add a little rock to the Fylde coasts Garden Town on the Sea.

Across the long bank holiday weekend approximately forty musical acts will take to two stages. The main stage is housed in a 30 metre by 12 metre marquee with seating for 200 attendees and plenty of standing room. For the first time The Pavilion Stage officially joins the event. This stage is a partnership between the Pavilion Café at Ashton Gardens and St. Anne’s on the Sea Town Council.

The fairground returns with more great rides including: The Joker, Bumper Carz, Bungee Trampolines, Helter Skelter and many more.

A wide selection of food and drink vendors will be on site to ensure attendees can settle in and stay for the day.

The event will be officially opened at 11.45AM on the 27^{th of} August by the Town Council Mayor, Karen Harrison. The official charity for the event is Home-Start Blackpool Fylde & Wyre. Home-Start is a local community network of trained volunteers and expert support helping families with young children through their challenging times.

Main Stage (Marquee)

Saturday: The Coustics (Modern), Night Train (Rock & Blues), Bandit (Classic Rock), Venezuela Venezuela (Indie Pop), The Deal (Rock), Gemma Hart (Modern), justSEAN (Underground Hip-Hop), Martini Blonde (Pop).

Sunday: SkaFace (Ska), Bob On (Bob Marley Tribute), The Quarantinos (Indie Pop), Quarter Light (Classic Rock), Ami Alex (Mixture), Old Rope (Classic Rock), Ziggy Spider (70’s), Millwood Country Duo (Country).

Monday: Touch the Pearl (Rock), Alley Katz (Rock & Roll), The Three (Indie Pop), Remix (Classic), Cartoon Food (Folk Rock), Tali Febland (Acoustic Modern), Robert Warwick Thompson (Modern), The Shivers (Pop).

International singing sensation and Lancashire’s most famous tenor Alfie Boe is to headline a special Last Night of The Proms concert in Lytham.

Taking place in the grounds of historic Lytham Hall on Sunday August 28, the exclusive show will see Fleetwood-born Alfie perform alongside a full orchestra while the concert will be opened by special guest and fellow Broadway and West End star John Owen-Jones.

 Last Night of The Proms is presented by Lytham Festival directors Cuffe & Taylor and follows the success of their WonderHall festival last summer which saw £153,000 donated to the continued restoration of Lytham Hall from the Russell Watson Proms concert. All money raised from Alfie’s spectacular will also be gifted to the Grade 1 listed venue.

Lytham Festival Presents Last Night of The Proms will be the first time Alfie has performed on the Lancashire coast since his sell-out Homecoming show at Fleetwood Town FC in 2018.

Speaking about his return, Alfie said: “I cannot wait to get back to perform on homeground. As a proud Lancastrian it will be very special for me and to stand in front of an audience which I am sure will have many familiar faces is just the icing on the cake.

 “This will be a brilliant night in a magical setting and I look forward to seeing everyone there.”

Alfie’s unmistakable voice has cemented him as Britain’s biggest selling and best loved vocalist of his generation.

A hugely successful recording artist, he has achieved two Number 1 albums and amassed multi-million, multi-platinum record sales. Alfie has conquered the world’s greatest stages and arenas from leading the cast of Les Misérables as Valjean in both the West End and Broadway, the 25th Anniversary Concert and most recently the London Staged Concert, to taking the lead role of Jimmy in The Who’s Classic Quadrophenia, while also wowing audiences in theatre performances including La Bohème, Finding Neverland and Carousel.

Alfie will be joined on the evening by special guest and fellow tenor John Owen-Jones. John too is famous for his portrayal of Jean Valjean in Les Misérables in the West End and on Broadway – and still holds claim to being the youngest actor in history to have played the role. He has also played the title role in The Phantom of The Opera more than any other actor in the show’s West End history.

Peter Taylor said: “We have had the pleasure of working with Alfie on numerous concerts and tours over the years so we are delighted to have secured him for our 2022 Last Night of the Proms at Lytham Hall.

 “He is beloved globally but the people of Lancashire and particularly our coastal towns feel a natural closeness to their locally born star.

 “It is also exciting to have John Owen-Jones on the bill too. John is a wonderful talent and to have both Alfie and John performing on the same stage on the same evening will make this special for everyone.

SIX the international smash hit musical will return to the Opera House Blackpool from Tuesday 30 August – Saturday 03 September 2022 as part of a major UK Tour.

Multi award-winning, with a spectacularly successful sound-track storming charts across the globe, this sell-out Tudor take-off has ‘an incredibly strong and powerful message. Boundary-pushing, genre-redefining’ (The Australian) and is ‘pure entertainment’ (The New York Times).

From Tudor Queens to Pop Princesses, the six wives of Henry VIII take to the mic to tell their tales, remixing five hundred years of historical heartbreak into an 80-minute celebration of 21st century girl power. These Queens may have green sleeves but their lipstick is rebellious red.

Think you know the rhyme, think again…

Divorced. Beheaded. LIVE!

Written by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, SIX is co-directed by Lucy Moss and Jamie Armitage, featuring choreography by Carrie-Anne Ingrouille, set design by Emma Bailey, costume design by Gabriella Slade, sound design by Paul Gatehouse, lighting design by Tim Deiling, orchestrations by Tom Curran with music supervision and vocal arrangements by Joe Beighton. Associate Choreographer Freya Sands, Musical Director Katy Richardson, Associate Musical Director Arlene McNaught and casting by Pearson Casting. Produced by Kenny Wax, Wendy & Andy Barnes and George Stiles.

(image credit: Johan Persson)

Get ready for one of the most magical nights in Blackpool’s event calendar when, for one night only, the six miles of Promenade will close to give cyclists an opportunity to get a sneak preview of this year’s Illuminations.

Ride The Lights will be staged on the night of Tuesday 30 August – three days before the Illuminations are officially switched on by legendary comic and actor Johnny Vegas.

Bikes of all shapes and sizes can take advantage of the seafront route in a free family event that is suitable for all ages. The Promenade will be closed to traffic from 6.30pm until 10.30pm with the Ride the Lights event starting at 7pm and finishing at 10pm.

Cyclists can participate at any time during that period and are recommended to join the event at either the Starr Gate or Red Bank Road gateways to the promenade.

Cllr Lynn Williams, Leader of Blackpool Council, said: “Ride The Lights is an extraordinary event that is unique to Blackpool. Where else can you ride a bike in a traffic-free environment under a million shimmering lights!

“It’s a wonderful time for families to come together and enjoy one of the most iconic attractions in the land.”

Ride The Lights marks the start of the build-up to the start of the Illuminations season which has again been extended by two months, ending on Monday 2 January 2023.

On Wednesday 31 August, Trinity Hospice will stage its annual Night Run, starting on the Tower Festival Headland opposite the Blackpool Tower. Full details at www.trinityhospice.co.uk

Then, on Friday 2 September, it’s the biggest night in Blackpool’s events calendar – the annual Switch-On of the Illuminations in association with MTV.

The celebration will take place in the Tower Ballroom with performances by Blue, Tom Grennan, Mae Muller, plus more talent to be announced, before Johnny Vegas pulls the famous switch to trigger four months of Illuminations.

The concert and Switch-On moment will be live streamed to a global audience across MTV and VisitBlackpool channels, and event organisers are exploring the possibility of streaming the live event to an outdoor audience on the Tower Festival Headland

Switch-on star Johnny Vegas follows in the footsteps of a host of national and international celebrities who have pulled the switch down the years including the likes of Peter Kay, Tim Burton, Alfie Boe, Diversity, Star Trek, Jayne Mansfield and Robbie Williams.

(Image credits Visit Blackpool)

Blackpool Illuminations Ride the Lights 2019

Blackpool Illuminations Ride the Lights 2019

Fylde Council are proud to present Shifting Sands, an art trail of contemporary travel posters by acclaimed artist Nicky Thompson set within the historic grounds of Lytham Hall Shifting Sands presents 12 new contemporary artworks in the style of railway posters that depict iconic landmarks on the Fylde coast. An accompanying exhibition of mid-century railway posters from the Lytham St Annes Art Collection will be displayed in Lytham Hall.

The story of railways in Britain has been reflected in the development of the railway poster. The art form illustrates the major changes that have occurred in British society over the years and captures the spirit and character of British life throughout the twentieth century. Railway posters are social documents and material evidence of British culture; they illustrate the changing styles in art, holiday-making, architecture, and fashion over the years, as well as the development of the urban and rural landscapes of Britain.

Shifting Sands is a fascinating exploration of railway posters as an art form, the history they document, and the development of the railways and tourism since the 17th century. Nicky Thompson’s contemporary railway posters depict well known and beloved landmarks that bring tourists and travelers to the Fylde coast in droves to this day. Shifting Sands is in collaboration with Community Rail Lancashire.

More information – CLICK HERE

Sunday Concerts in Ashton Gardens 2022 in conjunction with St Annes Town Council.

Preformed by Blackpool Brass.

May 1st / June 19th/ July 3rd/ August 7th/ September 4th

FREE ADMISSION

This summer, from May to September, you will find live music in the St. Anne’s on the Sea Amphitheatre. Come along to hear an eclectic mix, from the sounds of the 1940’s, Motown to modern soloists, there’s a little something for everyone!

Organised by the CAN (Community and Neighbourhood) team for everyone to enjoy, this weekly event will be sure to bring a smile to your face. Each week sees a different artist perform in the Amphitheatre, situated outside the No Filter Café in the square.

Come along to enjoy the Sounds in the Square in the heart of St. Anne’s on the Sea.

Every Tuesday from 12noon till 2pm for 22 weeks

It’s here! Call into the Visitor Centre for your Big Wild Summer Activity and Lakeside Trail pack.

Find out about our nocturnal inhabitants whilst having family fun in the fresh air. Available all Summer, with a trail for July and in new one in August.

Event finishes on 5th September 2022.

https://events.rspb.org.uk/fairhavenlake

We will be out and about in Lytham’s Memorial Gardens close to the Square for our second outdoor exhibition. Weather permitting we will be there between 8am-5pm on both days.

Photographic studies and landscapes of Northern Britain by Peter Laurence.

SIX the international smash hit musical will return to the Opera House Blackpool from Tuesday 30 August – Saturday 03 September 2022 as part of a major UK Tour.

Multi award-winning, with a spectacularly successful sound-track storming charts across the globe, this sell-out Tudor take-off has ‘an incredibly strong and powerful message. Boundary-pushing, genre-redefining’ (The Australian) and is ‘pure entertainment’ (The New York Times).

From Tudor Queens to Pop Princesses, the six wives of Henry VIII take to the mic to tell their tales, remixing five hundred years of historical heartbreak into an 80-minute celebration of 21st century girl power. These Queens may have green sleeves but their lipstick is rebellious red.

Think you know the rhyme, think again…

Divorced. Beheaded. LIVE!

Written by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, SIX is co-directed by Lucy Moss and Jamie Armitage, featuring choreography by Carrie-Anne Ingrouille, set design by Emma Bailey, costume design by Gabriella Slade, sound design by Paul Gatehouse, lighting design by Tim Deiling, orchestrations by Tom Curran with music supervision and vocal arrangements by Joe Beighton. Associate Choreographer Freya Sands, Musical Director Katy Richardson, Associate Musical Director Arlene McNaught and casting by Pearson Casting. Produced by Kenny Wax, Wendy & Andy Barnes and George Stiles.

(image credit: Johan Persson)

Blackpool’s annual Illuminations display is to be extended by two months for a Third consecutive year.

VisitBlackpool announced today that the Illuminations season will start on Friday 2nd September and run until Monday 3 January, 2023.

The two-month extension is intended to give the resort’s hard-hit tourism industry an added boost with the COVID-19 pandemic expected to cause further disruption over the first few months of the year.
It was also revealed today that the winter extension will be complemented by a significantly enhanced, resort-wide Christmas offer.

Cllr Gillian Campbell, Cabinet Member for Tourism & Culture for Blackpool Council, said: “Although last year’s extension was disrupted by tier restrictions and a second lockdown, all of the evidence showed that there was a huge appetite for the public to visit the Illuminations in a safe and enjoyable way.

“We know from the all of the positive feedback that we received that, amid so much gloom, the Illuminations provided a much-needed tonic to so many people.

“We are making this decision early so that our businesses can start to plan for the extended season. At the same time, we are planning a comprehensive package of themed shows, events and attractions to give visitors plenty of reasons to come to Blackpool over the festive season.”

More details about the Christmas offer will be revealed in the coming weeks. It has already been announced that Friends Festive Live will be coming to the Winter Gardens for two weeks in November and that Strictly judge Shirley Ballas will star in the Cinderella panto at the Opera House in December.

Plans for the annual Illuminations Switch-On ceremony on Friday 2nd September will also be unveiled over the coming months. Last year, the event was presented as a virtual show in association with MTV with seven of the UK’s Corona Heroes pulling the famous switch.

A partnership between Fylde Council and kite fliers SmileFactor10 with support from St Anne’s Town Council. The fabulous international kite festival returns to St Anne’s on Sea and will feature single line kites of all shapes and sizes, including inflatable octopus, flying cows, stingrays, whales, dogs and even hippos. Plus 2-line and 4-line stunt kites. It is a superb spectacle and the sky fills with plenty of colour and you can marvel at the expertise of kite flyers from the UK and all over the world.

Based either side of St Annes Pier, there will be specially a designated arena – the David Lidstone Arena to the left of the pier, with commentary from the kite fliers about their displays and encouraging you to watch the fabulous spectacle.

The event is of course entirely weather dependent and the planned programme may change at short notice due to operational constraints or weather conditions. Please note a dog exclusion zone exists either side of St Annes pier and is clearly marked, but you can watch the display with your four legged friend from the Promenade or on the beach in the kite flying zones beyond the dog restriction area.

Planned flying timings:

• Friday 2nd – 6pm onwards
• Saturday 3rd – 11am to 5pm
• Sunday 4th – 11am to 4pm

We urge you to research and use existing car parks in St Annes away from the front as it will be very busy. There will be additional event parking clearly signposted. There are plenty of bus services, plus train link into St Annes on the Sea train station which is approximately 800 yards away from the front.

ORGANISED BY THE ROTARY CLUB OF KIRKHAM AND RURAL FYLDE ALL PROCEEDS TO GO TO LOCAL CHARITIES.

Award winning West End and Broadway star John Owen-Jones is to perform three very special shows this autumn.

The Les Misérables and The Phantom Of The Opera star will take to the stage at Lytham’s Lowther Pavilion along with shows in Leeds and London:

1. Sun Sept 4          Lowther Pavilion, Lytham
2. Sun Sept 11       Leeds City Varieties Hall
3. Sun Sept 18       Her Majesty’s Theatre, London

John Owen-Jones is famous for his portrayal of Jean Valjean in Les Misérables in the West End and on Broadway – and still holds claim to being the youngest actor in history to have played the role. He’s played The Phantom more than any other actor in the show’s West End history – meaning he’ll feel right at home at Her Majesty’s Theatre, where the show is based.

Fans will experience an intimate performance from John as he celebrates the songs of his career mixing personal favourites, new and old, alongside some of his most well-known performances from Phantom of the Opera and Les Misérables. Expect to hear classics including Bring Him Home (Les Misérables), Music of the Night (The Phantom Of The Opera), Anthem (Chess), Evermore (Beauty And The Beast) and many more.

Speaking about the shows John said: “I am absolutely thrilled to be presenting my own shows this autumn. Not only will I get to perform in a theatre very special to me at Her Majesty’s but I will also be heading to Lancashire and Leeds.

 “It is always an honour to walk out on stage and perform the songs that have been so present throughout my career so I will endeavour to make sure these three shows are very special for everyone.”

Born and raised in South Wales, John Owen-Jones left home at the age of 19 to study acting at the prestigious Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London. And now in a career spanning 30 years, he has worked as an actor and singer in theatres across the UK and internationally.

Alongside a stunning stage career, he has released six solo albums and two compilation albums Hallelujah (2006), John Owen-Jones (2009), Unmasked (2011), Rise (2015), Music of the Night (Japan-only compilation 2016), Bring Him Home (compilation 2017), Spotlight (2019) featuring The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra and most recently The Christmas Album (2021).

John Owen-Jones is presented by live music and event promoters Cuffe and Taylor in association with theatre producers Lambert Jackson Productions.

 Jamie Lambert of Lambert Jackson said: “John Owen-Jones is an incredible talent within British musical theatre. We are very excited to be working with him on these three very special shows and now look forward to bringing him to the stage in September.”

Ben Hatton, Director of Theatre Touring for promoters Cuffe and Taylor, added: “We have had the pleasure of working with John on a number of productions but this is now very special to be presenting him in his own show.

 “Fans of musical theatre and people who appreciate incredible talent will have the most wonderful time.”

A young, brilliant barrister who loves to win comes face to face with unexpected forces when the patriarchal power of the law, burden of proof and morals diverge. Jodie Comer makes her West End debut in the UK premiere of Suzie Miller’s award-winning play, which takes us to the heart of where emotion and experience collide with the rules of the game.

https://lowtherpavilion.co.uk/shows/national-theatre-live-prima-facie-15/

Discover the great and the good of Fylde’s countryside and parishes on one of our tranquil guided walks. Whether you live down the road or coming from afar, you’ll be amazed at Fylde’s natural beauty and diversity. These really are hidden gems.

Join us in discovering one of Fylde’s hidden wildlife hotspots just outside Lytham St.Annes on this flat and accessible circular walk. Also learn about the fascinating history of Blackpool airport as we take a trip close to the runway. For ALL walkers. Please wear appropriate footwear.

Meet at Miller & Carter car park, Queensway, St.Annes, FY8 3RU. BOOKING ESSENTIAL! To book on this free event, or for more information, call 01253 658469 or email rangers@fylde.gov.uk.

Duration: Please allow at least 2 hours

Woofers comedy club is back! Featuring some of the best comedic talents in live comedy right on your doorstep here on the fylde Coast. Headlining this month is BGT Golden buzzer & finalist the brilliant Daliso Chaponda. Best-known for his appearance on Britain’s Got Talent, where he reached the semi-finals and achieved third place. He hasn’t looked back since and has gone on to build a worldwide comedy career which includes performances at the 3 biggest comedy festivals in the world – Melbourne, Edinburgh and Montreal. In addition to stand up comedy, Daliso is also a prolific fiction writer. He has published science fiction, murder mysteries and fantasy fiction in numerous magazines and anthologies. Recently, a play he co-wrote aired on BBC Radio 4. Notable TV appearances include, Paramount’s The World Stands Up (UK), CBC’s Trans Canada Comedy Trail (Canada), Show Time Arabia Presents (UAE), SABC Comedy Awards (South Africa) and Good News Week (Australia). Alex Boardman. Alex is now one of the most sought after acts in the country due to his ability to interact with any audience and to seemingly conjure something out of nothing. His free flowing style and natural charm breeze through in performances. His unique brand of “Flattery and abuse” is done with a lack of malice and a big sense of fun. He was the warm-up act for An Evening with Eric Cantona at The London Palladium (2017) and The Lowry Salford (2017) and also for Paul Hollywood Bake Off Tour (2015) performing over 40 dates across theatres in the UK and Dublin. Before you ask, he is no relation to Stan Boardman. Sully O’Sullivan. Hailing from the land of Hobbits we welcome international circuit legend Sully. He been declared a highlight of the New Zealand International Comedy Festival by The NZ Herald, a highlight of the Glasgow International Comedy Festival by The Scotsman, featured on Australian TV’s ‘The Comedy Channel’, hosted a sellout standup tour of Croatia, won Canada’s annual ‘Improvaganza’ Tournament, and completed 2 UK national tours supporting cult Heavy Metal Comic Steve Hughes. Hosted by our very own regular MC Phil Walker, you are pretty much guaranteed a great night of side-splitting fun! Tickets are available for £10.50 (in advance) or £12.50 on the door so book early & save money!

https://lowtherpavilion.co.uk/shows/woofers-comedy-club-sept-2022/

Lytham Performing Arts Festival are excited to be once again bring the Festival of One Act Plays to Lowther! The day will feature a range of genres of One Act Plays from various amateur dramatic societies from up and down the country, some well known plays and some completely original. From serious drama to comedy, there will be something for everyone. Within the ticket price, you can watch all of the plays throughout the day, which will also be professionally adjudicated. It’s set to be a brilliant day of theatre for all! Please note: some plays will contain adult themes.

https://lowtherpavilion.co.uk/shows/festival-of-one-act-plays/

Glenn Tilbrook has more than earned his place at pop’s top table as one of our most cherished singers, guitarists and songwriters, not to mention an in-demand and endlessly endearing live performer. But more than 40 years after he first answered an ad placed by Chris Difford looking for like-minded sorts to form the band that became the much-loved evergreen Squeeze, an ending is nowhere in sight. Such is the continuing work ethic of a fellow who’s never been far from the action since Squeeze made their recording bow with the Packet Of Three EP in 1977. Those humble three tracks led to such enduring pop classics as Take Me I’m Yours, Cool For Cats, Up The Junction, Another Nail In My Heart, Tempted, Labelled With Love, Black Coffee In Bed, Hourglass (this could go on for a while…), not to mention landmark albums like Argybargy, East Side Story and Some Fantastic Place. Squeeze’s demise in 1998 (though not permanent) saw Glenn embark on a solo career that spawned the albums The Incomplete Glenn Tilbrook (2001) and Transatlantic Ping-Pong (2004), showcasing an ever-maturing songwriting talent. In 2009 came the fantastic energy of Pandemonium Ensues, an album made with his solo touring band The Fluffers. Arguably, though, Happy Ending is Glenn’s most personal work to date, a series of evocative portraits of time, people and places, that included writing and vocal contributions by his own children Leon and Wesley, in addition to old friends Simon Hanson (Fluffers/reunited Squeeze drummer) and Dennis Greaves (Nine Below Zero, also Glenn’s compatriot in the side project band The Co-operative). Anyone who has witnessed Glenn on the live stage can attest to the properness of his doings, as it were. Armed with ready wit, raucous vibes and a shed load of grin-inducing great songs, there are few musicians able to connect with their audience on such an immediate and warm level. The ever burgeoning festival circuit is frequently enriched by Tilbrook the troubadour, whether he be leafing through the plentiful back catalogue of Squeeze or dashing off impromptu audience requests ranging from Jimi Hendrix to Tony Orlando & Dawn, and all points in-between.

https://lowtherpavilion.co.uk/shows/glenn-tilbrook/

OH WHAT A NIGHT! takes you back in time on a musical journey through the incredible career of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons. Valli’s unmistakable voice dominated the airwaves for more than two decades with classics such as Sherry, Let’s Hang On, Big Girls Don’t Cry, Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, My Eyes Adored You, December 63 (Oh What A Night), Bye Bye Baby, Who Loves You and many, many more. Selling over 100 million records worldwide, Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons secured their place in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1990. OH WHAT A NIGHT! combines infectious personalities, amazing vocals, slick harmonies and even slicker dance moves to deliver a show full of energy and nostalgia which always leaves audiences wanting more. Don’t miss the ultimate celebration of one of the world’s greatest Rock & Roll bands!

https://lowtherpavilion.co.uk/shows/oh-what-a-night/

Will you be brave enough to join us on our very special 2 hour ghost tour of Lytham Hall?  Who is the previous owner who wanders the hall late at night? Who is the lady whose screams can be heard coming from outside the bedroom window? Wh0 are the hooded men seen in the main entranceway? Who haunts the Long Gallery?

Tickets £12 per person – suitable for 16 years and over. under 18s should be accompanied by someone over the of 18.

Book online via http://www.supernaturalevents.co.uk/lytham_hall.html

We will be setting up our exhibition in the gardens from 8am -5pm on both days weather permitting.

Details to be published when available

Lytham Anonymous Players Present “When We Are Married”. Three very respectable couples are meeting to celebrate their joint 25th wedding anniversary. However a shocking revelation produces an evening of sparkling comedy and comic mayhem, including a drunk photographer and a reporter and the arrival of an old flame! Order is eventually restored and the play ends on a happy note.

https://lowtherpavilion.co.uk/shows/when-we-are-married/

Join us and Ribble Bird Tours as we walk from the Visitor Centre along the promenade at high tide. We will take stock of the birds we observe and provide some simple hints and tips for identification.

Lytham Anonymous Players Present “When We Are Married”. Three very respectable couples are meeting to celebrate their joint 25th wedding anniversary. However a shocking revelation produces an evening of sparkling comedy and comic mayhem, including a drunk photographer and a reporter and the arrival of an old flame! Order is eventually restored and the play ends on a happy note.

https://lowtherpavilion.co.uk/shows/when-we-are-married/

We’re back with a bang this September! We have officially revealed the dates for the World Fireworks Championship Blackpool 2022. The event will gather together the crème de la crème of the world’s firework elite and promises a mouth-watering series of shows with jaw-dropping entertainment for all the family – a great opportunity for visitors to take an extended weekend break.

For 2022, the stunning displays, which are set to music, will take place once again over the beach in front of The Blackpool Tower. All of them are free to access.

• Saturday 17 September
• Saturday 1 October
• Saturday 15 October

All displays are subject to suitable weather conditions. Details of this year’s competing countries and firing times will be announced over the coming months. Please check back for more information.

Due to the popularity of the World Fireworks Championship Blackpool, there may be traffic delays arriving and leaving the event.  Take extra time to arrive and we would recommend if travelling by car to park in the southern car parks and use the tramway to travel to the event.  Alternative public transport via the rail systems and buses are also recommended.

Parking

If travelling to the event by car, we strongly advise parking up early. Most central car parks are usually full a couple of hours before the event kicks off and roads become heavily congested. For a full list of Council-owned car parks, please click here.

We look forward to seeing you at the World Fireworks Championship Blackpool 2022 for what promises to be a series of dazzling pyrotechnical displays.

Safety Note: Please be aware that tramway and Promenade roadway are both open and operational, so please ensure you stay a safe distance from the tramway and road and cross safely at the crossings.

Please note that there will be live filming and photography at this event. Any pictures provided maybe used by VisitBlackpool for promotional purposes. If you do not wish to be included, please contact VisitBlackpool Web Team

Lytham Anonymous Players Present “When We Are Married”. Three very respectable couples are meeting to celebrate their joint 25th wedding anniversary. However a shocking revelation produces an evening of sparkling comedy and comic mayhem, including a drunk photographer and a reporter and the arrival of an old flame! Order is eventually restored and the play ends on a happy note.

https://lowtherpavilion.co.uk/shows/when-we-are-married/

Discover the great and the good of Fylde’s countryside and parishes on one of our tranquil guided walks. Whether you live down the road or coming from afar, you’ll be sure to be amazed at Fylde’s natural beauty and diversity. These really are hidden gems.

This walk entails a circular walk around Wrea Green village, taking in the beautiful village green and Fylde’s rural heartland before heading around the tranquil woodlands of the Ribby Hall estate. Watch out, we may even pass through a cornfield or two! And don’t forget to bring the tubaware along for all them juicy berries left on the brambles! Please note that some roadside walking will be involved. For able walkers as this walk includes stiles. Please bring your own refreshments or a spot of lunch. Please wear appropriate footwear.

Meet at the Grapes Hotel pub car park, Station Road, Wrea Green, Preston, PR4 2PH. BOOKING ESSENTIAL! To book on this free event, or for more information, call 01253 658469

Duration: 1.5 – 2 hours

Blackpool’s annual Illuminations display is to be extended by two months for a Third consecutive year.

VisitBlackpool announced today that the Illuminations season will start on Friday 2nd September and run until Monday 3 January, 2023.

The two-month extension is intended to give the resort’s hard-hit tourism industry an added boost with the COVID-19 pandemic expected to cause further disruption over the first few months of the year.
It was also revealed today that the winter extension will be complemented by a significantly enhanced, resort-wide Christmas offer.

Cllr Gillian Campbell, Cabinet Member for Tourism & Culture for Blackpool Council, said: “Although last year’s extension was disrupted by tier restrictions and a second lockdown, all of the evidence showed that there was a huge appetite for the public to visit the Illuminations in a safe and enjoyable way.

“We know from the all of the positive feedback that we received that, amid so much gloom, the Illuminations provided a much-needed tonic to so many people.

“We are making this decision early so that our businesses can start to plan for the extended season. At the same time, we are planning a comprehensive package of themed shows, events and attractions to give visitors plenty of reasons to come to Blackpool over the festive season.”

More details about the Christmas offer will be revealed in the coming weeks. It has already been announced that Friends Festive Live will be coming to the Winter Gardens for two weeks in November and that Strictly judge Shirley Ballas will star in the Cinderella panto at the Opera House in December.

Plans for the annual Illuminations Switch-On ceremony on Friday 2nd September will also be unveiled over the coming months. Last year, the event was presented as a virtual show in association with MTV with seven of the UK’s Corona Heroes pulling the famous switch.

We will be setting up our exhibition in the gardens from 8am -5pm on both days weather permitting.

Details to be published when available

We’re back with a bang this September! We have officially revealed the dates for the World Fireworks Championship Blackpool 2022. The event will gather together the crème de la crème of the world’s firework elite and promises a mouth-watering series of shows with jaw-dropping entertainment for all the family – a great opportunity for visitors to take an extended weekend break.

For 2022, the stunning displays, which are set to music, will take place once again over the beach in front of The Blackpool Tower. All of them are free to access.

• Saturday 17 September
• Saturday 1 October
• Saturday 15 October

All displays are subject to suitable weather conditions. Details of this year’s competing countries and firing times will be announced over the coming months. Please check back for more information.

Due to the popularity of the World Fireworks Championship Blackpool, there may be traffic delays arriving and leaving the event.  Take extra time to arrive and we would recommend if travelling by car to park in the southern car parks and use the tramway to travel to the event.  Alternative public transport via the rail systems and buses are also recommended.

Parking

If travelling to the event by car, we strongly advise parking up early. Most central car parks are usually full a couple of hours before the event kicks off and roads become heavily congested. For a full list of Council-owned car parks, please click here.

We look forward to seeing you at the World Fireworks Championship Blackpool 2022 for what promises to be a series of dazzling pyrotechnical displays.

Safety Note: Please be aware that tramway and Promenade roadway are both open and operational, so please ensure you stay a safe distance from the tramway and road and cross safely at the crossings.

Please note that there will be live filming and photography at this event. Any pictures provided maybe used by VisitBlackpool for promotional purposes. If you do not wish to be included, please contact VisitBlackpool Web Team

Lytham Anonymous Players Present “When We Are Married”. Three very respectable couples are meeting to celebrate their joint 25th wedding anniversary. However a shocking revelation produces an evening of sparkling comedy and comic mayhem, including a drunk photographer and a reporter and the arrival of an old flame! Order is eventually restored and the play ends on a happy note.

https://lowtherpavilion.co.uk/shows/when-we-are-married/

Further details of all events will be published in the Group’s quarterly newsletter “The Antiquarian”.

Speaker – Greg Anderton of “Leafy Lytham”.  Title – “Autumn Gardening in Lytham.”

Will you be brave enough to join us on our very special 2 hour ghost tour of Lytham Hall?  Who is the previous owner who wanders the hall late at night? Who is the lady whose screams can be heard coming from outside the bedroom window? Wh0 are the hooded men seen in the main entranceway? Who haunts the Long Gallery?

Tickets £12 per person – suitable for 16 years and over. under 18s should be accompanied by someone over the of 18.

Book online via http://www.supernaturalevents.co.uk/lytham_hall.html

Join Pudsey for a walk along the coastal path overlooking beautiful River Ribble in aid of Children in Need. All ages and all abilities very welcome.

“Fylde Ranger Service in conjunction with Councillor Thomas Threlfall are looking to make a difference for BBC Children in Need, right here in Fylde once again. We are hosting our third Children in Need River Ribble Ramble, this year starting and ending at St.Paul’s car park, along the new beautiful coastal path to the stunning Lytham Windmill, and back again. Taking place on Sunday 16th October 2022 at 1pm, we’re hoping for as much support as possible.

The Ranger service will host the self-lead walk for all ages and abilities. The walk starts at the event base at St.Paul’s car park, Inner promenade, Fairhaven, FY8 1EQ. Allow up to three hours for the walk, but you can take as little, or as long as you like. So please spread the word and show your support for this fantastic event.

To donate, please follow https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ribbleriverramble2022 and click “Give Now”, scan the QR code or bring your spare change on the day.

We, and Pudsey, hope to see you there.”

Sonia Friedman Productions is delighted to announce that the first ever UK tour of hit musical Dreamgirls, which was due to start in 2020, will head to the Opera House Blackpool for 2-weeks from Tuesday 25 October 2022 – Saturday 05 November 2022.

Telling You I’m Not Going’, ‘Listen’ and ‘One Night Only’, this sensational, multi-award winning production of Dreamgirls had its critically acclaimed West End Premiere in December 2016 at London’s Savoy Theatre, 35 years on from opening on Broadway.

Meet The Dreams – Effie, Lorrell and Deena – three talented young singers in the turbulent 1960s, a revolutionary time in American music history. Join the three friends as they embark upon a musical rollercoaster ride through a world of fame, fortune and the ruthless realities of show business, testing their friendships to the very limit.

As previously announced, Nicole Raquel Dennis will play the role of Effie White in the UK tour of Dreamgirls. Her London stage credits include Dear Evan Hansen (Noel Coward Theatre), The Book of Mormon (Prince of Wales Theatre), Waitress (Adelphi Theatre), and Dreamgirls West End (Savoy Theatre).

A finalist on ITV’s The Voice in 2019, Nicole Raquel Dennis wowed viewers and judges at her blind audition, performing Dreamgirls mega-hit ‘And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going’ alongside team mentor Jennifer Hudson. Hudson won an Oscar (Best Supporting Actress) for her portrayal of Effie White in the 2006 Oscar-winning motion picture adaptation of Dreamgirls which also starred Beyoncé Knowles, Eddie Murphy and Jamie Foxx.

Nicole Raquel Dennis will play the role of Effie White in the Dreamgirls UK tour at certain performances with further casting to be announced soon.

This award winning production is Directed and Choreographed by Olivier^® and Tony^® Award winning Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon, Mean Girls, Disney’s Aladdin and Something Rotten!), with Set and Costume Design by Tim Hatley, Lighting Design by Hugh Vanstone, Sound Design by Richard Brooker, Hair Design by Josh Marquette and Music Supervision by Nick Finlow.

With Book and Lyrics by Tom Eyen and Music by Henry Krieger, with Additional Material by Willie Reale, the original Broadway production of Dreamgirls was Directed by Michael Bennett who Co-Choreographed the show with Michael Peters. The production opened in 1981 and subsequently won six Tony^® Awards with the original cast recording winning two Grammy^® Awards for Best Musical Album and Best Vocal Performance for Jennifer Holliday’s ‘And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going.’

The Original London Cast Recording of hit West End musical Dreamgirls is available via Sony Masterworks Broadway.

The UK and Ireland tour of Dreamgirls is produced by Sonia Friedman Productions, Greenleaf Productions, Fakston Productions, Rupert Gavin, Tulchin Bartner Productions, Griffin Dohr, Adam Blanshay Productions in association with 1001 Nights Productions, Steven Rivellino, Glass Half Full Productions.

Blackpool’s annual Illuminations display is to be extended by two months for a Third consecutive year.

VisitBlackpool announced today that the Illuminations season will start on Friday 2nd September and run until Monday 3 January, 2023.

The two-month extension is intended to give the resort’s hard-hit tourism industry an added boost with the COVID-19 pandemic expected to cause further disruption over the first few months of the year.
It was also revealed today that the winter extension will be complemented by a significantly enhanced, resort-wide Christmas offer.

Cllr Gillian Campbell, Cabinet Member for Tourism & Culture for Blackpool Council, said: “Although last year’s extension was disrupted by tier restrictions and a second lockdown, all of the evidence showed that there was a huge appetite for the public to visit the Illuminations in a safe and enjoyable way.

“We know from the all of the positive feedback that we received that, amid so much gloom, the Illuminations provided a much-needed tonic to so many people.

“We are making this decision early so that our businesses can start to plan for the extended season. At the same time, we are planning a comprehensive package of themed shows, events and attractions to give visitors plenty of reasons to come to Blackpool over the festive season.”

More details about the Christmas offer will be revealed in the coming weeks. It has already been announced that Friends Festive Live will be coming to the Winter Gardens for two weeks in November and that Strictly judge Shirley Ballas will star in the Cinderella panto at the Opera House in December.

Plans for the annual Illuminations Switch-On ceremony on Friday 2nd September will also be unveiled over the coming months. Last year, the event was presented as a virtual show in association with MTV with seven of the UK’s Corona Heroes pulling the famous switch.

Sonia Friedman Productions is delighted to announce that the first ever UK tour of hit musical Dreamgirls, which was due to start in 2020, will head to the Opera House Blackpool for 2-weeks from Tuesday 25 October 2022 – Saturday 05 November 2022.

Telling You I’m Not Going’, ‘Listen’ and ‘One Night Only’, this sensational, multi-award winning production of Dreamgirls had its critically acclaimed West End Premiere in December 2016 at London’s Savoy Theatre, 35 years on from opening on Broadway.

Meet The Dreams – Effie, Lorrell and Deena – three talented young singers in the turbulent 1960s, a revolutionary time in American music history. Join the three friends as they embark upon a musical rollercoaster ride through a world of fame, fortune and the ruthless realities of show business, testing their friendships to the very limit.

As previously announced, Nicole Raquel Dennis will play the role of Effie White in the UK tour of Dreamgirls. Her London stage credits include Dear Evan Hansen (Noel Coward Theatre), The Book of Mormon (Prince of Wales Theatre), Waitress (Adelphi Theatre), and Dreamgirls West End (Savoy Theatre).

A finalist on ITV’s The Voice in 2019, Nicole Raquel Dennis wowed viewers and judges at her blind audition, performing Dreamgirls mega-hit ‘And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going’ alongside team mentor Jennifer Hudson. Hudson won an Oscar (Best Supporting Actress) for her portrayal of Effie White in the 2006 Oscar-winning motion picture adaptation of Dreamgirls which also starred Beyoncé Knowles, Eddie Murphy and Jamie Foxx.

Nicole Raquel Dennis will play the role of Effie White in the Dreamgirls UK tour at certain performances with further casting to be announced soon.

This award winning production is Directed and Choreographed by Olivier^® and Tony^® Award winning Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon, Mean Girls, Disney’s Aladdin and Something Rotten!), with Set and Costume Design by Tim Hatley, Lighting Design by Hugh Vanstone, Sound Design by Richard Brooker, Hair Design by Josh Marquette and Music Supervision by Nick Finlow.

With Book and Lyrics by Tom Eyen and Music by Henry Krieger, with Additional Material by Willie Reale, the original Broadway production of Dreamgirls was Directed by Michael Bennett who Co-Choreographed the show with Michael Peters. The production opened in 1981 and subsequently won six Tony^® Awards with the original cast recording winning two Grammy^® Awards for Best Musical Album and Best Vocal Performance for Jennifer Holliday’s ‘And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going.’

The Original London Cast Recording of hit West End musical Dreamgirls is available via Sony Masterworks Broadway.

The UK and Ireland tour of Dreamgirls is produced by Sonia Friedman Productions, Greenleaf Productions, Fakston Productions, Rupert Gavin, Tulchin Bartner Productions, Griffin Dohr, Adam Blanshay Productions in association with 1001 Nights Productions, Steven Rivellino, Glass Half Full Productions.

The political godfather of comedy brings his latest show back on the road! Expect creative fun from one of our oldest surviving alternative comics. Taking down politicians. Mucking about. New ideas and finding HOPE. This award-winning comedian (is there any other type?) asks how did we get here? What are we going to do about it? Who’s up for a sing-song? After lock-downs and isolation, this show is about the simple act of being in a room together and toppling international capitalism.

01253 794221

https://lowtherpavilion.co.uk/shows/mark-thomas-black-and-white/

Further details of all events will be published in the Group’s quarterly newsletter “The Antiquarian”.

Speaker – Elizabeth Bickerstaff from AKS Archives. Title -“Stories from the Archives – KES & QMS.”

Visit our Studio Gallery on Haven Road Lytham and discover some beautiful hand -made festive gifts.  Buy cards, knitwear, jewellery, homewares and quirky presents whilst enjoying light refreshments all created by our talented members. Open from 10am to 3pm.

19th November 2022, 12 noon to 6pm, Clifton Square, Lytham

DETAILS TO BE CONFIRMED

Blackpool’s annual Illuminations display is to be extended by two months for a Third consecutive year.

VisitBlackpool announced today that the Illuminations season will start on Friday 2nd September and run until Monday 3 January, 2023.

The two-month extension is intended to give the resort’s hard-hit tourism industry an added boost with the COVID-19 pandemic expected to cause further disruption over the first few months of the year.
It was also revealed today that the winter extension will be complemented by a significantly enhanced, resort-wide Christmas offer.

Cllr Gillian Campbell, Cabinet Member for Tourism & Culture for Blackpool Council, said: “Although last year’s extension was disrupted by tier restrictions and a second lockdown, all of the evidence showed that there was a huge appetite for the public to visit the Illuminations in a safe and enjoyable way.

“We know from the all of the positive feedback that we received that, amid so much gloom, the Illuminations provided a much-needed tonic to so many people.

“We are making this decision early so that our businesses can start to plan for the extended season. At the same time, we are planning a comprehensive package of themed shows, events and attractions to give visitors plenty of reasons to come to Blackpool over the festive season.”

More details about the Christmas offer will be revealed in the coming weeks. It has already been announced that Friends Festive Live will be coming to the Winter Gardens for two weeks in November and that Strictly judge Shirley Ballas will star in the Cinderella panto at the Opera House in December.

Plans for the annual Illuminations Switch-On ceremony on Friday 2nd September will also be unveiled over the coming months. Last year, the event was presented as a virtual show in association with MTV with seven of the UK’s Corona Heroes pulling the famous switch.

Grotto, chalets selling products and additional temporary toilets in top area, around the cenotaph. Stalls along the driveway from Clifton Drive. Marquee in lower grassed area, near Clifton Drive. We would also like to extend stalls to run to the St George’s Road entrance and along Garden Street to encourage visitors in the square.

Blackpool’s annual Illuminations display is to be extended by two months for a Third consecutive year.

VisitBlackpool announced today that the Illuminations season will start on Friday 2nd September and run until Monday 3 January, 2023.

The two-month extension is intended to give the resort’s hard-hit tourism industry an added boost with the COVID-19 pandemic expected to cause further disruption over the first few months of the year.
It was also revealed today that the winter extension will be complemented by a significantly enhanced, resort-wide Christmas offer.

Cllr Gillian Campbell, Cabinet Member for Tourism & Culture for Blackpool Council, said: “Although last year’s extension was disrupted by tier restrictions and a second lockdown, all of the evidence showed that there was a huge appetite for the public to visit the Illuminations in a safe and enjoyable way.

“We know from the all of the positive feedback that we received that, amid so much gloom, the Illuminations provided a much-needed tonic to so many people.

“We are making this decision early so that our businesses can start to plan for the extended season. At the same time, we are planning a comprehensive package of themed shows, events and attractions to give visitors plenty of reasons to come to Blackpool over the festive season.”

More details about the Christmas offer will be revealed in the coming weeks. It has already been announced that Friends Festive Live will be coming to the Winter Gardens for two weeks in November and that Strictly judge Shirley Ballas will star in the Cinderella panto at the Opera House in December.

Plans for the annual Illuminations Switch-On ceremony on Friday 2nd September will also be unveiled over the coming months. Last year, the event was presented as a virtual show in association with MTV with seven of the UK’s Corona Heroes pulling the famous switch.

Grotto, chalets selling products and additional temporary toilets in top area, around the cenotaph. Stalls along the driveway from Clifton Drive. Marquee in lower grassed area, near Clifton Drive. We would also like to extend stalls to run to the St George’s Road entrance and along Garden Street to encourage visitors in the square.

Direct from the success of its record-breaking 2022 event, Lancashire’s Lytham Festival will return in 2023 from Wednesday June 28 to Sunday July 2.

The announcement follows the climax of the festival’s biggest and best year to date – a massive 10 nights headlined by global icons in the Proms Arena on Lytham Green.

Organisers have today announced they’ll be releasing a limited number of five day passes for 2023 at 2022 prices. The early-bird five day passes for Lytham Festival 2023 go on sale at 9am Friday (July 15) from www.lythamfestival.com

The line up for 2023 is due to be announced later this year, with ticketholders able to secure a special priced ticket ahead of the official announcement and on-sale.

Sunday marked the closing show of 10 nights for the North West’s biggest music festival which saw almost 200,000 people head to Lytham for a series of sell-out gigs from headliners Diana Ross, Lewis Capaldi, Snow Patrol, Duran Duran, Nile Rodgers & CHIC, Simply Red, Elbow, The Strokes, Alison Moyet and Paul Weller.

As a special one-off, Lytham Festival 2022 was doubled in size to 10 days to celebrate live music’s return after three years away from Lytham Green. This year’s event injected a massive multi-million pound boost into the local economy and now plans are being finalised ahead of the festival’s return to a five-day event for 2023.

Lytham Festival co-founder Peter Taylor said: “Direct from the success of 2022 we are already well into the planning stage for 2023 so we are delighted to announce the dates and get our very popular five-day passes on sale.

“Not only does this give our loyal customers the opportunity to grab their tickets to every night early on, it also gives those visiting from further away the chance to secure their accommodation as soon as possible.

“Our plans for Lytham Festival 2023 are very exciting. The dust is still settling on our biggest and best year ever after 10 nights of headliners. We return to our usual five nights for 2023 and we plan to make it yet another festival to remember for tens of thousands of people.”

Direct from the success of its record-breaking 2022 event, Lancashire’s Lytham Festival will return in 2023 from Wednesday June 28 to Sunday July 2.

The announcement follows the climax of the festival’s biggest and best year to date – a massive 10 nights headlined by global icons in the Proms Arena on Lytham Green.

Organisers have today announced they’ll be releasing a limited number of five day passes for 2023 at 2022 prices. The early-bird five day passes for Lytham Festival 2023 go on sale at 9am Friday (July 15) from www.lythamfestival.com

The line up for 2023 is due to be announced later this year, with ticketholders able to secure a special priced ticket ahead of the official announcement and on-sale.

Sunday marked the closing show of 10 nights for the North West’s biggest music festival which saw almost 200,000 people head to Lytham for a series of sell-out gigs from headliners Diana Ross, Lewis Capaldi, Snow Patrol, Duran Duran, Nile Rodgers & CHIC, Simply Red, Elbow, The Strokes, Alison Moyet and Paul Weller.

As a special one-off, Lytham Festival 2022 was doubled in size to 10 days to celebrate live music’s return after three years away from Lytham Green. This year’s event injected a massive multi-million pound boost into the local economy and now plans are being finalised ahead of the festival’s return to a five-day event for 2023.

Lytham Festival co-founder Peter Taylor said: “Direct from the success of 2022 we are already well into the planning stage for 2023 so we are delighted to announce the dates and get our very popular five-day passes on sale.

“Not only does this give our loyal customers the opportunity to grab their tickets to every night early on, it also gives those visiting from further away the chance to secure their accommodation as soon as possible.

“Our plans for Lytham Festival 2023 are very exciting. The dust is still settling on our biggest and best year ever after 10 nights of headliners. We return to our usual five nights for 2023 and we plan to make it yet another festival to remember for tens of thousands of people.”

Established for over thirty years this amateur golf tournament gives you the opportunity to play at four stunning golf courses in Fylde and experience the best the area has to offer.  The event encompasses four golf stunning courses over a five day period and is a Four Ball Better Ball Stableford competition for couples. There is a trophy presentation event on the final night. Couples come from all over the UK and overseas and really enjoy what the area has to offer.

The 2023 tournament schedule is as follows:

• Monday 31st July 2023  – Fairhaven Golf Club
• Tuesday 1st August 2023 – St Annes Old Links Golf Club
• Wednesday 2nd August 2023 – The Fairhaven Adventure Golf tournament at Fairhaven Lake) – an optional extra just for fun!
• Thursday 3rd August 2023 – Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club
• Friday 4th August 2023 –  Lytham Green Drive Golf Club , followed by prize giving ceremony with the Mayor of Fylde

Golfing starts each day at 8am and couples head out at ten minute intervals. You will play a different couple each day and it’s a great way to make new friends. On the final day, the golf will commence at 7:30am in order for everyone to finish in time for the evening presentations. The 2023 event will be open for new entrants after 1st December 1st. Entrants must stay in accommodation in the Fylde borough which benefits the local tourism economy. To add your name to the waiting list, please email your full contact details, home club, handicap details to chantelle.vickers@fylde.gov.uk.

Cost is £570 per couple to cover all four courses.

(N.B. This event was formerly the William Rainford Golf event)

The Fairhaven Adventure Golf Course

Established for over thirty years this amateur golf tournament gives you the opportunity to play at four stunning golf courses in Fylde and experience the best the area has to offer.  The event encompasses four golf stunning courses over a five day period and is a Four Ball Better Ball Stableford competition for couples. There is a trophy presentation event on the final night. Couples come from all over the UK and overseas and really enjoy what the area has to offer.

The 2023 tournament schedule is as follows:

• Monday 31st July 2023  – Fairhaven Golf Club
• Tuesday 1st August 2023 – St Annes Old Links Golf Club
• Wednesday 2nd August 2023 – The Fairhaven Adventure Golf tournament at Fairhaven Lake) – an optional extra just for fun!
• Thursday 3rd August 2023 – Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club
• Friday 4th August 2023 –  Lytham Green Drive Golf Club , followed by prize giving ceremony with the Mayor of Fylde

Golfing starts each day at 8am and couples head out at ten minute intervals. You will play a different couple each day and it’s a great way to make new friends. On the final day, the golf will commence at 7:30am in order for everyone to finish in time for the evening presentations. The 2023 event will be open for new entrants after 1st December 1st. Entrants must stay in accommodation in the Fylde borough which benefits the local tourism economy. To add your name to the waiting list, please email your full contact details, home club, handicap details to chantelle.vickers@fylde.gov.uk.

Cost is £570 per couple to cover all four courses.

(N.B. This event was formerly the William Rainford Golf event)

The Fairhaven Adventure Golf Course

THE PRODUCERS OF ‘HAIRSPRAY’ AND ‘PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT’ HAVE JOINED FORCES WITH DIRECTORS SAM HOLMES AND NICK WINSTON, AND DESIGNER PHILLIP WITCOMB, TO RE-IMAGINE THIS CLASSIC STORY FOR A NEW AUDIENCE.

FEATURING A HOST OF LOVEABLE FAIRYTALE CHARACTERS AND MEMORABLE SONGS, INCLUDING ‘I’M A BELIEVER’, ‘SHREK THE MUSICAL’ IS A FUN FILLED NIGHT AT THE THEATRE THAT EVERYONE WILL ENJOY.

Producers Mark Goucher, Gavin Kalin and Matthew Gale are delighted to announce a brand-new production of the award-winning Broadway and West End hit show Shrek the Musical will tour the UK and Ireland from July 2023. The bright and beautiful fairy-tale world of Shrek will be reimagined by a new creative team for this major tour. All the classic characters from the Oscar®-winning DreamWorks animated film will be back to paint the town green, accompanied by the iconic songs and story from David Lindsay-Abaire and Jeanine Tesori’s original musical.

Having played Lord Farquaad in the previous UK tour, Sam Holmes (Club Tropicana the Musical) returns to the swamp to co-direct. He is joined by acclaimed director and choreographer Nick Winston, whose recent credits include Bonnie and Clyde (Arts Theatre) and Beauty and the Beast (as associate director and choreographer for the UK tour) and upcoming projects include a new world tour of We Will Rock You and a remounted UK tour of Rock of Ages.

Set and costume design will be by Phillip Witcomb whose previous productions include Bonnie & Clyde In Concert (Theatre Royal Drury Lane), Jack & The Beanstalk (Everyman Theatre Cheltenham), Atlantis (Tivoli Concert Hall, Copenhagen), Mame (Hope Mill Theatre and UK Tour), The Beauty Queen of Leenane and Stones In His Pockets (The Minack Theatre).

Further creative team to be announced in due course.

Shrek the Musical opens at the Opera House Blackpool on Tuesday 12 December playing through until Saturday 30 December 2023 for a strictly limited Christmas season. Early bird tickets are on-sale now, with £5.00 all tickets until 31 December 2022, plus a range of fantastic family offers also available.

Mark Goucher said ‘I am delighted to be bringing this re-imagined production of the beloved ‘Shrek the Musical’ to audiences across the UK and Ireland. The story of Shrek is known and loved across the world and this show is an incredibly joyous, fun and uplifting evening at the theatre that will be enjoyed by all ages’

 The Oscar®-winning DreamWorks animated film Shrek celebrated its 20^th anniversary last year. Shrek the Musical was first performed on Broadway in 2008, receiving 8 Tony nominations, and the award for Best Costume Design. The original West End production was nominated for 4 Olivier awards, including Best New Musical, at the 2012 Olivier awards. Nigel Harman received the award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Lord Farquaad.

Join our unlikely hero Shrek and his noble steed Donkey as they embark on a big, bright, musical adventure. Based on the Oscar®-winning DreamWorks animated film, the Broadway and West End hit Shrek the Musical is a fun-filled, hilarious musical comedy with a cast of vibrant characters and a ‘shrektacular’ score.

 Featuring the beloved Princess Fiona, the evil Lord Farquaad, a host of magical fairy-tale characters and fabulous songs including the smash hit ‘I’m a Believer’, Shrek the Musical is a ‘musical extravaganza for big kids and little kids alike’ (Bristol Post).

Come join the adventure as Shrek and Donkey endeavour to complete their quest, finding unexpected friendships and surprising romance along the way. A perfect night out for the young, and the young at heart, the award-winning Shrek the Musical is guaranteed fun for all ages and will have you dancing in the aisles and laughing all the way home.