Take the Plunge... Dive into this year's hottest shows at Blackpool Grand Theatre

Blackpool Grand Theatre is making a real SPLASH with a spectacular new season of shows for 2024! Don’t miss out on this year’s hottest tickets!

Taking a top spot in a treasure trove of theatrical jewels is the delightfully outrageous musical parody Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch starring Shawna Hamic (Orange is the New Black, 1776 on Broadway) as ‘Ursula’ and River Medway (RuPaul’s Drag Race UK) as ‘Ariel’.

Wave goodbye to everything you thought you knew about Disney’s favourite Diva… Ursula the Sea Witch is back and she’s bigger, bolder and sexier than ever before and more than ready to give her take on what really happened all those years ago under the sea. This critically acclaimed parody musical sweeps into Blackpool’s Grand fresh from sensational sell-out runs and rave reviews at the Edinburgh Fringe and around the UK. Cruella told her side, and Maleficent had her moment. Now the legendary queer queen is ready to spill all in a titillating tale of sex, sorcery and suckers that’s bursting with an original hot pop soundtrack and trademark filthy humour. Don’t be the poor unfortunate soul that missed out. It’s time to take the plunge and dive into this year’s hottest night out!

The boldest, biggest and best shows will continue to thrill and chill at The Grand all through this season, with an upliftingly powerful production of Hanif Kureishi’s iconic Oscar-nominated screenplay My Beautiful Laundrette; the smash-hit, supernatural stage phenomenon 2:22 A Ghost Story starring Vera Chok (Hollyoaks, Cobra), Jay McGuiness (The Wanted), Fiona Wade (Emmerdale, Silent Witness) and George Rainsford (Call the Midwife); gripping courtroom thriller Twelve Angry Men starring Jason Merrells (Casualty), Gray O’Brien (Coronation Street), Tristan Gemmill (Coronation Street), Michael Greco (EastEnders), Ben Nealon (Soldier Soldier) and Gary Webster (Minder, Family Affairs), and Onjali Q. Raúf’s award-winning The Boy at The Back of The Class, which perfectly balances humour and compassion to tell the heartwarming tale of the power of friendship and kindness.

Celebrity names you won’t want to miss include Loose Women’s very own Coleen Nolan opening her first ever one-woman tour at The Grand; top stand-up comedian Jack Dee hosting a hilarious stage production of BBC’s much-loved radio panel show I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue; cheeky comic Joe Pasquale stopping by on his brand new solo tour; a unforgettable date with the inimitable Count Arthur Strong, and the debut of global podcast sensation and rising comedy star Adam Rowe straight from Live at The Apollo!

And the comedy continues with a darkly funny and dramatic new production of cult favourite Bouncers from award-winning playwright John Godber; the wildly satirical, visually stunning and deeply moving musical satire Oh What A Lovely War, and celebrated playwright Joe Orton’s final, most ambitious play What The Butler Saw – a riotous black comedy and a masterclass in fearless writing.

There’s a whole lot of family fun too! Excite young minds with enchanting new stage adaptations of Julia Donaldson’s much-loved tales The Gruffalo’s Child and Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book; the irrepressible Peppa Pig returns with an oinktastic brand new live show; CBBC’s Andy and The Odd Socks are rocking out with a madcap mix of songs, slapstick and silliness, and the explosive new production Science Museum Live on Tour from London’s world-renowned Science Museum will ignite curiosity, fuel imaginations and inspire everyone in new and exciting ways!

Looking for something a little different? Herman Melville’s seafaring masterpiece Moby Dick is gloriously captured on stage by Simple8; ThickSkin bring three fast-paced, funny stories about consumer culture with the dynamic new drama Peak Stuff; and do you dare to miss Jo O’Byrne’s fabulous foursome of creepy Tales from Paradise Heights?

And, of course, any new season at The Grand wouldn’t be complete without Blackpool’s number one magical family pantomime Cinderella starring everyone’s favourite comic and Britain’s Got Talent Finalist Steve Royle as Buttons with Jamie Morris and Tarot Joseph returning as the incredibly gorgeous Ugly Sisters, Melody and Harmony Hard-Up; PLUS an all-star cast, soon to be announced. And of course, the Sensational Shetland Ponies…

Blackpool Grand Theatre Chief Executive, Adam Knight, said: “This thrilling new season of shows are coming to The Grand hot on the heels of another record-breaking pantomime season, and I would like to thank all our patrons for continuing to make such magical memories with us here at this beautiful theatre.

We are also celebrating the New Year with two major award wins: the UK Theatre Award for Excellence in Arts Education and the Children & Young People Now Award for Arts & Culture, which recognise our groundbreaking work with children, young people, and families in Blackpool and beyond. This work will continue throughout this year and will accompany major touring productions of The Boy at The Back of The Class and WonderBoy, which are both sure to fire the imagination of all those young at heart!  

“I’m very excited to announce some brand-new productions for this season which include My Beautiful Laundrette - which features original music from the Pet Shop Boys featuring Blackpool’s very own Chris Lowe – along with daring new dance from James Wilton and Motionhouse and an all-star cast for the courtroom thriller Twelve Angry Men.”

“Everyone can get involved at The Grand this year with new projects including our first professionally produced Summer Youth Musical Bugsy Malone, our playwriting project with Northern Broadsides and a major new community venture with the internationally renowned Gary Clarke Company with Pride in Motion.

“None of this would be possible without our brilliant team of staff, volunteers and Trustees, including our two outgoing Chairs Anthony Stone and Roger Lloyd Jones, who’ve given so much time, expertise and energy to championing The Grand. I shall miss them and their encouragement greatly. However, we have talented successors in Alistair Armit and Bryan Lindop to continue supporting the growth of this wonderful theatre as we enter our 130^th birthday year!

“Take the plunge and let Blackpool’s beautiful Grand Theatre be part of your world in 2024. We look forward to welcoming you and wish you all the best for a very Happy New Year!”

Adam also made an extra special announcement at the season launch!

“The winner of 6 Tony Awards®, the Grammy® Award and the Olivier Award for Best Musical, DEAR EVAN HANSEN, will be coming to Blackpool Grand as part of its first No. 1 UK tour from Tue 20 to Sat 24 May 2025,” he said.

“A deeply personal and profoundly contemporary musical about life and the way we live it, DEAR EVAN HANSEN has struck a remarkable chord with audiences and critics everywhere. The New York Times calls it ‘a breathtaking knockout of a musical’ And NBC Nightly News declares the musical ‘an anthem resonating on Broadway and beyond.’

“DEAR EVAN HANSEN features a book by Tony Award winner Steven Levenson, a score by Grammy, Tony, Olivier and Academy Award winners Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (La La Land, The Greatest Showman) and direction by four-time Tony Award nominee Michael Greif (Rent, Next to Normal). Directed by Adam Penford (Artistic Director at Nottingham Playhouse) and produced by the Ambassador Theatre Group, the production is packed with some of the biggest musical theatre songs of the decade.

“An EXCLUSIVE ‘FIRST ACCESS’ to seats to this incredible show will be open to the theatre’s 1894 Club members in February, with a General Public on sale 1 March 2024. For PRIORITY ACCESS join the 1894 Club now! Call 01253 743333.”

Look out for the new Grand Theatre brochure popping through your letterbox soon or pick one up at the Box Office. All shows are also listed on the website.

Visit blackpoolgrand.co.uk for full show listings and bookings or call the box office on 01253 290 190 for bookings and further information.

LISTINGS

Grand Theatre, 33 Church Street, Blackpool FY1 1HT

Box Office 01253 290 190

blackpoolgrand.co.uk

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