INTERVAL Magazine | Spring 2018

WIN 2 TICKETS TO A EUROPEAN PREMIERE

RIP SIR KEN DODD A TRUE LEGEND

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PERFECT FATHER’S DAY GIFT IDEAS

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THE ROYAL | EDITION blackpoolgrand.co.uk

ISSUE TWO

SEASON HIGHLIGHT

SPOT LIGHT ON PETER MACKINTOSH: SET & COSTUME DESIGNER FOR THE JUNGLE BOOK Could you give us a short introduction to who you are and what shows you have worked on previously?

Where did the ideas for the costumes come from, what was the brief for this show and how did you start with the concept?

I’ve designed plays, musicals and operas all over the world, including ‘The 39 Steps’ which ran for a decade in the West End and 3 years on Broadway.

We looked at all sorts of references when designing the show. Indian clothes (historical and present) as well as modern fashions. The script has a cheeky, playful quality, so we wanted to honour that in the design, so it really is a hotchpotch of all sorts of elements from our research.

Obviously, there are a lot of animals in The Jungle Book – were there any special considerations in the costumes to allow for the movement of the actors?

All of the actors play multiple roles, and barely leave the stage, so the biggest consideration was whether they could easily become another creature within a very (very) quick change. That meant we had to find a language for the costumes that was economical in terms of items of clothing, but at the same time registered instantly as a monkey or a wolf or a buffalo. They never stop!

How did you decide on what materials to use for each different costume?

We really wanted to have fun with the costumes, but I didn’t want to ever use fur, or animal skins.

Rather we evoke those different textures with shaggy fabrics and other things. We have raffia, pompoms, even house dusters, if you look carefully enough. Velvet to give us the sheen of the leopard; leather to give us the menace and authority of the tiger.

Tue 8 to Sat 12 May Sat 12 May 2.30pm

ON THE COVER

WIN A PAIR OF TICKETS TO A EUROPEAN PREMIERE A BRAND-NEW STAGE ADAPTATION OF THE CLASSIC THRILLER, DRACULA.

DISCOVER MORE ONLINE

The Royal Edition, with the Royal Wedding any day, we look at our own Royal Occasions.

2 Discover more about our shows at blackpoolgrand.co.uk/whatson

This season is packed-full of incredible shows from dramatic dance to thrilling drama and side splitting comedy. There’s something for everyone and some brand new gifts ideas.

Head to our What’s On at blackpoolgrand.co.uk

Dracula is one of the most universally iconic novels ever written. A monumental, genre defining classic that is known the world over and remains to this day as the father of all gothic thrillers.

For the chance to Win a pair of tickets for the opening night of Bram Stoker’s Dracula (Tue 13 Nov) answer the following question.

Bram Stoker never visited Romania. He depicted the imaginary Dracula’s castle based upon a description of which Castle?

A. Howard Castle B. Bran Castle C. Transylvania Castle Send your answer and your contact details to; The Grand Theatre, Marketing (DRACULA COMPETITION), 33 Church Street, Blackpool FY1 1HT.

ABBA MANIA ACCORDING TO SMOOTH RADIO THE BEST ABBA SONGS AS VOTED FOR BY YOU: 1. The Winner Takes it All 2. Dancing Queen 3. Take a Chance on Me 4. Knowing Me, Knowing You 5. Mama Mia 6. Gimme, Gimme, Gimme (A Man After Midnight) 7. One of Us

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST A TALE AS OLD AS TIME The story of Beauty and the Beast is a tale as old as time in a far-off land of two very different kingdoms.

In our Pantomime version of Beauty and The Beast, Belle is dreaming of a happier life but finds herself transported to a cursed castle. Held imprisoned by a hideous beast, the castle is full of magical characters placed under a spell by an evil enchantress.

Can Belle see beyond the beast and fall in love with her captor before the last petal falls from the enchanted rose? Will the Beast’s selfishness cost him the world he once knew and the hand of the girl who has melted his heart?

8. Super Trouper 9. Waterloo 10. Thank You for the Music Singles 9 UK Number 1’s

Featuring sumptuous costumes, magnificent scenery and the unmissable and magical transformation moment, it’s a pantomime not to be missed.

19 UK Top 10’s

Steve Royle is confirmed to return. Royle said ‘Yes, I can confirm I will be returning for my 16th Year and I can’t wait! This is going to be fantastic and a great challenge’.

114 Weeks in Top 10

He did laugh and go on to confirm he wouldn’t be playing the Beast, or Belle. He added ‘As for the cast, Yes, I do know who some of my fellow cast members will be... I’m afraid I just can’t say right now.’

Fri 7 Dec t0 Sun 6 Jan 2019 Sat 15 and 22nd Dec 2pm Sat 15 Dec 2pm

26 UK Top 40’s 26 UK Top 75’s 31 Weeks at Number 1 211 Weeks in Top 40 260 Weeks in Top 75

ABBA Mania is accepted as the world’s number one touring tribute production. So, dig out those platforms, dust down those flares, join in and enjoy all of your favourites including: Mamma Mia, Voulez Vous, Dancing Queen, Winner Takes It All, Super Trouper and many more.

Tue 17 Jul to Sat 8 Sep

#ThisIsUs Blackpool’s Grand Theatre is celebrating Photography Month this May. A new campaign of engagement called #ThisIsUs, we’ll be Looking Up, Looking Back and Looking Inside.

We want to take our audience on a journey to Look Up while in the theatre, taking in some of the incredible architecture and design that Frank Matcham was famous for and made him the leading theatre designer of his time.

Looking Back will focus on our Heritage and give you an insight into what the theatre looked like through the decades right back to 1894.

Looking Inside gives you unprecedented look at some of the areas of the theatre not accessible to the public and a look behind the stage curtain.

Join us for this incredible month on our social media gBlog and gVlog throughout MAY!

d #ThisIsUs Discover more about our shows at blackpoolgrand.co.uk/whatson 3

DON’T MISS

Notably the best page-to-stage since War Horse

THE KITE RUNNER *

‘Clearly there’ll be people who know it and they’ll have their reactions and responses,’ director Giles Croft says of the acclaimed stage adaptation of Khaled Hosseini’s best-selling novel, ‘but I’ve seen how people who come into contact with it for the first time are so profoundly moved by it. It’s an exciting experience to be a part of.’

‘The response is always extraordinarily powerful and we are fortunate to get standing ovations at every performance, with audiences connecting deeply and emotionally with the characters and the story,’ he says.

It is, Giles strongly believes, a story with universal resonance. ‘It speaks to all people through the core themes of guilt, forgiveness and redemption.

Those are things that we all have some connection with. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you are, it will speak to you’.

‘Because so many people knew the novel we had to think through how true we were going to be to

those expectations,’ he recalls. ‘Were we going to set a new challenge for people familiar with the book or were we going to try and comfort them? The choice we made was to invest in the character of Amir as the storyteller in the same way the novel does. Once we’d made that choice everything else became quite clear and I think one of the reasons it’s so successful is because you get inside Amir’s head the way you do in the novel.’

Having no narrator in the film was ‘a completely legitimate option but it changes the nature of the relationship of the audience to that story,” says Giles, who decided not to use a child actor to play Amir as a youngster, as he had been in the Stateside production. ‘You’re inside Amir’s head – the dilemmas he has, the emotional traumas he has, the journey of his memory and his guilt.

It seems to me that’s much more interesting and complex when you have one person playing both.’

‘They might be conflicted and some are better than others, but fundamentally it’s a human story and any story about forgiveness and redemption is worth telling whenever and wherever it’s set.

It’s something we need to be reminded of and it’s especially important to be reminded of what’s *Contains Adult themes and language

4 Don’t forget about our Under 26s Membership! Find out more at blackpoolgrand.co.uk/under26

happening in Afghanistan and to portray it not simply as a war-torn nation but as a place with a complex, interesting history and a wonderful culture.’

GILES CROFT, DIRECTOR ‘The Kite Runner Soars’.

THE INDEPENDENT

Tue 22 to Sat 26 May Sat 26 May 2.30pm

INSPIRATIONAL

A TRUE COMEDY LEGEND The Master of Mirth, and one of the greatest of men, Sir Ken Dodd is a Legend, a founding member of Friends of The Grand and a huge supporter of the arts.

Kenneth Arthur Dodd was born on 8 November 1927 in the Liverpool suburb of Knotty Ash, the son of a coal merchant.

Lady Anne, Dodd’s partner of 40 years - who he married just, prior to his passing, on Friday 9 March 2018 - said the world had lost ‘a most lifeenhancing, brilliant, creative comedian.’

She said he ‘lived to perfect his art and entertain his fans and ‘just wanted to make people happy.’

Ken’s first appearance in Blackpool was with Rocking With Laughter at the Hippodrome, Blackpool, September 4 1957. His first appearance at Blackpool’s Grand Theatre was in 1978 when he made a special one-night appearance to raise money for the Friends of The Grand on March 29.

Ken said, ‘I love Blackpool and I would love to play at The Grand which is the ideal size for a theatre.’

He added ‘I am prepared to be its first customer and would lease the theatre for the summer should the Friends Manage to buy it.’

Ruth Eastwood, Chief Executive of Blackpool’s Grand Theatre said ‘Ken wasn’t just a performer at Blackpool Grand, he was a huge supporter of the venue, giving his time and talent to help raise the funds to save the theatre from demolition, back in the 1970’s and then, every year since the theatre re-opened, he’s performed on our stage.

‘The thing that I will always remember about Ken was his huge generosity. He would meet and talk to fans before and after every show, signing autographs and sharing memories into the early hours of the morning. He was a proper star and he will be very sadly missed.’

Famous fans and friends also lined up to share their thoughts and anecdotes.

David Walliams said that ‘comedy flowed through him like water’.

‘Farewell to my fellow Liverpudlian, the tattyfilarious Ken Dodd,’ tweeted Sir Paul McCartney.

REST IN PEACE SIR KEN DODD OBE

LEARN KEY SKILLS

NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY MONTH WITH SEAN CONBOY

In 2000, Kodak announced that consumers around the world had taken 80 billion photos, an all-time record. The subsequent explosion of digital photography has rendered such statistics almost quaint. The average person has around 700 photos on their phone, 95 million photos are shared on Instagram every day, and since its founding, 250 billion photos have been uploaded to Facebook.

Since the first photograph was taken in 1838, cameras have become faster, cheaper, and easier to use. With such a heavy emphasis on visual culture and sharing more intimate moments, it would seem a shame to not make the most of taking the best photos possible!

In January, I went along to the gloriously opulent Grand Theatre to attend Photographic Session – The Basics with internationally-renowned photographer, Sean Conboy. Sean’s reputation takes him all over the world, and he has also worked with one of the most prestigious camera manufacturers in the world, Hasselblad.

Sean’s area of expertise is architectural photography. For many years, he has been capturing the awesome and iconic structure of Blackpool’s most famous and beloved sites.

His work is used in international advertising campaigns, and more close to home, is featured annually on the cover of our Blackpool Destination Guide.

PHOTOGRAPHIC SESSIONS Basic Sessions Mon 4, Tue 5 Jun & Tue 11 Sep Advanced Session Fri 21 Sep

Sean’s workshops last around five hours, and aim to teach you how to use your camera’s features to create beautiful shots. I was initially hoping that we’d be taught to identify great angles and which objects to focus on, but Sean encourages you to discover your own style, which meant fellow attendees were lying on the floor and climbing right up into the rafters to capture unique shots.

The day begins with an introductory presentation, with Sean sharing thirty years of technical experience to support your own practice. Sean covers how to use light to get the best shots, how to create rich images in indoor environments and how different weather conditions and times of the day can alter your results.

A lot of what you are taught is quite technical, as Sean’s ethos is all about adjusting your camera settings to take the perfect shot, rather than relying on automatic pre-sets. This could very quickly become confusing, but Sean supplies plenty of resources and is happy to sit with you and your camera for a more hands-on approach.

I then had the opportunity to take pictures of The Grand’s Grade II* listed interior to employ Sean’s advice. This is an unrushed process, and Sean is on hand to advise and adjust so that you feel satisfied that you’re learning to work with your personal kit and that you can take away shots to be proud of.

I feel that I need to head out and practice before taking the next step in learning more technical aspects of the craft, but it’s great to know that Sean also offers advanced sessions with smaller groups, where you can learn about using different focal lengths of a lens, to even having a practical demo of an interior shoot.

BY STEPHANIE EVANS

Don’t forget about our Under 26s Membership! Find out more at blackpoolgrand.co.uk/under26 5

HYSTERICAL

JUST FOR FUN

With so much great comedy coming up at The Grand we wanted to give you a giggle. We asked our comedy legends, Tim Vine, Jon Culshaw and Dave Spikey about the most unusual things that have happened to them on stage.

It was a blackout for Tim Vine on stage in Truro’s Hall for Cornwall. He tells us about the time there was a power cut mid show. ‘We were all plunged into darkness and the sound went down too.

I had to do fifteen minutes of shouting in the dark before the lights came back on. It was actually the best bit of the gig.’

Jon Culshaw remembers being introduced onto the stage at Saltend Labour Club in Hull as ‘Mr Don (burp, pardon me please) Mr Don Culstrone’. I was 21 in 1989. They also asked me to ‘please mention the sandwiches at the end of your act and that there’s no liver sausage tonight.’

It’s a Royal occasion for Dave Spikey. ‘I take you to the Royal Variety Show rehearsals. I am billed to go on third from last, between Ozzy Osbourne and Bryn Terfel and I am beyond nervous.

I am pacing about in the wings and suddenly need the loo so ask Ozzy Osbourne where the nearest toilet is and he points at a door which I thankfully rush through preparing for my urgent visit if you know what I mean. I dash through the door only to find myself on stage behind Will Young mid song. The production team are aghast but thankfully Will isn’t aware of my presence. I sidle off to be greeted by Ozzy and his (appropriately named on this occasion) mate Slash in hysterics.’

Catch Tim Vine (6 and 7 Jun), Jon Culshaw: The Great British Take Off (17 Jun) and Dave Spikey In Juggling on a Motorbike (4 Oct) at Blackpool Grand Theatre this Summer.

HEY THAT’S NEW! Brand new shows that have been announced!

WALK LIKE A MAN Mon 23, 30 Jul, 6, 13, 20, 27 Aug

THE MEAT LOAF STORY

THE WHITNEY HOUSTON SHOW Sat 3 Nov

Fri 2 Nov SOON TO BE ANNOUNCED

MAXIMUM R ‘N’ B Wed 31 Oct

MY MOTHER SAID

SAT 3 NOV Starring Belinda Davids

BOYZLIFE Starring Brian McFadden and Keith Duffy

Tue 9 to Sat 13 Oct

COUNTRY NIGHT IN NASHVILLE Sun 14 Oct

TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW

Visit blackpoolgrand.co.uk or Call 01253 290 190 6 See all the latest trailers on our gPLAYER blackpoolgrand.co.uk/gplayer

A GRAND ROYAL OCCASION The Royal Wedding is only weeks away (19 May 2018) with HRH Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s big day unfolding on our televisions.

Over 1,200 members of the public have been lucky enough to receive a personal invitation to attend the Windsor Wedding. We recap on some of the Grand Royal occasions...Blackpool’s Grand has hosted many a Royal occasion including Her Majesty The Queen, His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh and His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In May 1981, the theatre had a prestigious two-week visit by the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company with their Gilbert and Sullivan repertoire, and on Friday 29 May the ultimate theatrical honour of a Royal Variety Performance in the presence of HRH The Prince of Wales.

The Royal performance produced by Robert Nesbitt and included such stars as; Barbara Windsor (who also starred in the summer show that year The Mating Game), Anita Harris, Ray Cornell and his Dancers, Danny La Rue, Petula Clarke, Lennie Bennett, and local chorus Blackpool Operatic Players, Blackpool and Fylde Light Opera Company and Thornton Cleveleys Operatic Society, all hosted by then TV legend Russell Harty.

On 22 July 1994 on the eve of the Grand Theatre’s centenary Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh attended. Her Majesty was greeted and escorted throughout by Samuel Lee Chairman of the Grand Theatre Trust Board. Mr Lee introduced Her Majesty to a selection of people including; George Thomson Vice Chair of The Trust Board and Chair of the Friends of The Grand, Mr David Coupe Chairman of the Arts and Entertainment Board and Mr Will Quekett Theatre Manager.

Miss Rebecca Brookes (Aged 5) presented Her Majesty with a posy. Her Majesty was escorted to the Stalls for an opportunity to view the Theatre and see a dress rehearsal for the Centenary Gala to be held the following evening. After the rehearsal an informal meeting of some of the artists. Her Majesty then had the opportunity to view a small display of archive materials of the theatre’s history.

Finally, in the Dress Circle Samuel Lee invited Her Majesty to unveil a plaque commemorating the Centenary of the Theatre.

See all the latest trailers on our gPLAYER blackpoolgrand.co.uk/gplayer 7

FAMILY FAVOURITES

A GUIDE TO MINDFULNESS

There’s plenty for the little ones to enjoy this season, from television favourites to a re-telling of a classic fairy-tale check out our highlights:

RUBY WAX ‘FRAZZLED’

Northern Ballet’s Ugly Duckling Wed 20 Jun Ugly Duckling is the perfect opportunity for your little ones to enjoy live ballet, music and theatre for the first time.

Drop dead gorgeous, sassy and smart, Ruby Wax brings her new one-woman show to the stage.

Based on her number one best seller, “A Mindfulness Guide for the Frazzled.” She’s been honoured with the title of poster girl for mental illness; once crazy now less so, she gives a tour of the mind – how to use it, not lose it. Ruby Wax if you don’t know is a much loved, U.S. born comedy-actor-writer of incredibly successful books and TV shows including script editor of “Absolutely Fabulous” and is a mental health campaigner.

Peppa Pig’s Adventure Sat 23 and Sun 24 Jun Join Peppa on a camping trip to the woods with George and her school friends full of games, laughter and live music!

This event is your passport to saner living and is a follow up to her previous sell out show and book, “Sane New World.”

By the way, she graduated from Oxford with a Masters in Mindfulness–based Cognitive Therapy (at a late stage) three years ago so she should know her stuff.

Teletubbies Sat 6 and Sun 7 Oct Join Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa and Po in a show full of love and laughter as they explore the magical world of Teletubbyland.

RUBY WAX: FRAZZLED

Thu 5 Jul

THE FATHER’S DAY HE DESERVES With Father’s Day just around the corner, why not treat your dad to one of our upcoming shows – belly laughs and dad dancing guaranteed.

ROY ORBISON STORY

UK PINK FLOYD EXPERIENCE

THE BON JOVI EXPERIENCE

LANCASHIRE HOTPOTS

The one and only Barry Steele takes to the stage to commemorate this legend in The Roy Orbison Story.

Recreating the sights and sounds of the legendary Pink Floyd live in concert, this highly authentic show features over 50 years of hits by this iconic band.

The Bon Jovi Experience are the world’s first and finest tribute to the great Bon Jovi and are the world’s ONLY tribute to have performed live on stage with Jon Bon Jovi himself.

They’ll be raising the roof with all the Hotpot classics you know and love: Chippy Tea, I Fear Ikea and Egg, Sausage Chips & Beans.

Fri 8 Jun

Thu 21 Jun

Sun 20 May

Sat 7 Jul

THE GRAND’EST OF ALL SHOPS Blackpool’s Grand Theatre has launched a new collection of Grand themed merchandise, in a brand new online shop!

All reasonably priced and now available for purchase online and these can be delivered to your home or collection from the box office.

Why not add a little something special to the next time you book your show tickets!

Visit blackpoolgrand.co.uk/shop

Don’t forget to explore the Grand Theatre, Blackpool in virtual 3D with #goVR. 1 www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk/goVR 2 Click the

icon in the virtual tour window

3 Follow the on-screen instructions

Grand Theatre Blackpool, 33 Church Street, Blackpool, FY1 1HT | Box Office t. 01253 290190 | e. box@blackpoolgrand.co.uk INFORMATION CORRECT AT TIME OF GOING TO PRESS AND OFFERS MAY ONLY BE VALID AT SELECTED TIMES. ALL TICKETS SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY. SOME SHOWS HAVE AGE GUIDANCE. © Blackpool Grand Theatre (Arts & Entertainments) Ltd. Registered number (England and Wales) 2825229. Registered Charity No. 1022754.

DESIGN: THE NU AGENCY

A beautifully created collection of postcards, a poster of the collection, tote bag, stress ball, a stunning soft touch embossed notebook, a mouse mat and more.