LAUGH OUT LOUD THROUGH 2011 WITH BLACKPOOL’S GRAND THEATRE
31-12-2010 | Author: Press Office
look on the bright side of life with Eric Idle’s ridiculously funny musical Spamalot starring Jodie Prenger
Blackpool’s Grand Theatre is keeping its resolution to bring top quality live comedy to its famous stage with a spectacular season of side-splitting shows announced for 2011.
Travel Up Pompeii with TV’s Damian Williams in his hilarious homage to Frankie Howerd; tune into BBC Radio 4 regular Count Arthur Strong with his Command Performance; prepare yourself for the inimitable Miss Behave with her vivacious variety show The Crack; strap yourselves in for outrageous Aussie duo Busting Out!; enjoy an evening with the legendary Ken Dodd; grab a glorious second helping of Victoria Wood’s dinnerladies; watch a wicked one night stand with acclaimed Irish comic Ed Byrne; look on the bright side of life with Eric Idle’s ridiculously funny musical Spamalot starring Jodie Prenger, Todd Carty & Phill Jupitus and spend the night with world-class entertainer Des O’Connor CBE.
Treat your loved one to some cheeky fun this Valentine’s Day with an updated version of the unforgettable BBC comedy Up Pompeii from Monday 14th February to Thursday 17th February starring Damian Williams (Sky 1’s Are You Smarter Than Your Ten Old?) as the irrepressible Lurcio the slave – a role made famous by the late, great Frankie Howerd. Set in ancient Pompeii (pre-eruption) with a whole host of double entendres, gorgeous girls and Damian’s acid asides - it’s guaranteed to be an orgy of laughter! Oooh errr missus...
Showbiz legend and revered raconteur Count Arthur Strong brings a clever touch of old-fashioned comedy on Tuesday 22nd February with his Command Performance as part of this year’s Showzam! festival. Count Arthur is a faded variety star with a failing memory and ever-loosening grasp on the English language. He started life at the Edinburgh Fringe in 1997 and has become a cult figure on BBC Radio 4, which has broadcast six series of his Sony Award-winning sitcom. The Count is currently working on a new BBC 2 gameshow which promises ‘a smorgasbord of showbiz fun involving celebrity guests, impossible riddle rounds and of course the opportunity for contestants to Challenge Arthur and win a shed load of wonderful prizes such as exercise bikes, matching polyester bedding and modestly-sized inflatable dinghies.’ An hilarious and heart-warming live show to be embraced by the whole family.
Dip into some decadent underground comedy cabaret as raucous ringmistress Miss Behave brings The Crack on Friday 25th & Saturday 26th February as part of Showzam!’s festival of variety. Acts include the wildly talented comic troupe Spymonkey (who brought the highly acclaimed performance of Moby Dick to the Grand last year); Blackpool-born magician, comedian and trickster extraordinaire Paul Zenon returning in a blaze of magic dust;
anarchic duo not to missed Raymond + Mr Timpkins; Bruce Airhead – a man, a giant balloon, and a bucket of giggles and many more.
Expect the unexpected. Come and be part of the mayhem...
Meet two bosom buddies from Down Under in Busting Out! on Tuesday 15th March as they star in their own laugh-out-loud and totally liberating show which is part stand up, part musical and all laughter. No matter what your age, gender, shape or (cup) size, this Australian hit comedy show is an uplifting celebration of bouncy songs, wobbly jokes, knicker-wetting sketches and practical demonstrations for your drooping assets! An unmissable night out for the girls (and the fellas will love it too) - you’ll be busting to tell your friends about the feel-good show of the year!
Get ready for five hours of rib-tickling fun at the Grand! The King Of Mirth Ken Dodd OBE is once again leaving the Diddy Men in the Jam Butty Mines of Knotty Ash to bring his famous Happiness Show on Saturday 26th March. Another evening full of plumptiousness is promised from Professor Chucklebutty, who has been honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the prestigious British Comedy Awards and also features in the Guinness Book of Records for telling 1,500 jokes in three and a half hours. That’s more than seven jokes a minute!
Shutters going up! Victoria Wood’s deliciously endearing stage play dinnerladies returns to the Grand with the uproarious new production second helpings from Monday 4th April to Saturday 9th April featuring many of the talented cast from last year’s smash-hit live show and starring original BBC TV cast members Andrew Dunn (Tony) and Sue Devaney (Jane) from the multi award-winning sitcom. Come back for more of Bren, Dolly, Jean Twinkle, Stan. Phillippa from Human Resources and Bren’s dreadful mother Petula as they bring you the delightfully funny day to day adventures from the staff canteen at HWD Components. But are they doing toast???
Dublin-born comedy star Ed Byrne drops in on Sunday 17th April with his blisteringly funny, brand new, one man show Crowd Pleaser. Ed is a Perrier Award-nominated, stand up comedian, actor and voice over artist who has presented numerous television shows from Uncut! Best Unseen Ads to BBC2’s Mock the Week and Just For Laughs, and is a regular guest on various TV panel shows. Ed’s chatty style of observational comedy and colourful anecdotes occasionally veer off into innovative ideas and threads, but he is continuing his quest to turn into a grumpy old man whether talking about his cat, cake, religion or potential fatherhood. Early booking is advisable as this show may sell out!
And now for something completely different... Monty Python’s marvellously mad musical Spamalot invades Blackpool’s Grand from Monday 18th April to Saturday 23rd April starring comedian, TV and radio presenter Phill Jupitus (QI, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, Hairspray) as King Arthur; Blackpool’s own Northern Nancy Jodie Prenger (winner of BBC’s I’d Do Anything and star of Oliver!) as The Lady of the Lake and Todd Carty (The Bill, EastEnders’ Mark Fowler, Grange Hill) banging some coconuts together as Patsy. Lovingly ripped off from the classic film comedy Monty Python and the Holy Grail by Eric Idle, Spamalot tells the legendary tale of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table and features a bevy (or possibly a brace) of beautiful show girls, witch burnings (cancelled - health and safety!) not to mention cows, killer rabbits and French people. The show features fantastic tunes He Is Not Dead Yet, Knights of the Round Table, Find Your Grail and of course the Nation’s Favourite Comedy Song (Reader’s Digest Poll 2009) Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life. It’s catchier than the plague! Do not miss on pain of death!
Don’t miss this rare opportunity to see a true showbusiness legend live on stage as world class star and ultimate entertainer Des O’Connor CBE brings a wonderful evening of comedy, laughter and music to Blackpool’s Grand on Sunday 24th April for one memorable night only. Des is one of only a handful of British entertainers to be acclaimed internationally on stage and television when he was given an American series which was syndicated to over 40 countries and seen by over 200 million people worldwide. Since landing his first TV series in the UK in 1963 he has also starred in his own mainstream TV show for over 45 years. Seats already selling fast! Book yours now!
For further information and bookings for:
Up Pompeii starring Damian Williams (Sky 1’s Are You Smarter Than Your Ten Year Old?) from Monday 14th February to Thursday 17th February.
Monday 8pm, Tuesday to Thursday 7.30pm, Wednesday matinee 2pm
Tickets from £12. Opening night all seats £15.
Count Arthur Strong – Command Performance on Tuesday 22nd February at 7.30pm as part of Showzam! 2011. Tickets from £16.
Miss Behave with The Crack on Friday 25th February & Saturday 26th February at 8pm as part of Showzam! 2011. Tickets £15. Suitable for 14+ (contains strong language and nudity)
Busting Out! on Tuesday 15th March at 7.30pm. Tickets £18. (contains nudity)
Ken Dodd on Saturday 26th March at 7pm. Tickets from £16. (Please note this show runs for approx 5 hours)
Victoria Wood’s dinnerladies: second helpings from Monday 4th April to Saturday 9th April starring original TV cast members Andrew Dunn (Tony) and Sue Devaney (Jane).
Monday 8pm, Tuesday to Saturday 7.30pm, Thursday & Saturday matinee at 2pm
Tickets from £17.
Ed Byrne – Crowd Pleaser on Sunday 17th April at 7.30pm. Tickets £18.
Monty Python’s Spamalot from Monday 18th April to Saturday 23rd April starring Phill Jupitus (QI, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, Hairspray), Jodie Prenger (winner of BBC’s I’d Do Anything and star of Oliver!) and Todd Carty (The Bill, EastEnders’ Mark Fowler, Grange Hill).
Monday to Saturday at 7.30pm, Thursday & Saturday matinees at 2pm.
Des O’Connor CBE on Sunday 24th April at 7.30pm. Tickets £20.
please call the Grand Theatre Box Office on 01253 290190, click on the website www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk or visit the Grand Theatre information sales point in the Houndshill Shopping Centre.
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Don’t forget - Parking is available at a discounted rate at the secure West Street Car Park, directly opposite the theatre’s entrance. Book your parking ticket when you book your show tickets from the Box Office and you can have parking from 5.30pm until 12.30am for only £2.50!
Ends…
Notes for Editors:
For further Grand Theatre press & marketing information, review tickets, images etc, please contact:
Andrew Howard
Marketing
Grand Theatre
Blackpool
01253 290111
or email andrewh@blackpoolgrand.co.uk
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