Do you love theatre and like getting together with Friends? Dance down to Funny Girls cabaret bar in Blackpool with The Friends of The Grand for their sparkling Summer Show and Buffet on Thursday 11 July. It’s a glamorous night out for the whole gang!

The Friends have also brewed up a wonderful new series of monthly Coffee Mornings at Blackpool Grand Theatre to bring chatter and cheer from June right through to November with fascinating guest speakers.

The Friends of The Grand were formed in 1973 to save Blackpool’s beautiful Grand Theatre from demolition. They are an independent organisation that has provided financial and voluntary support to the theatre for nearly half a century and early Friends included such names as Violet Carson (Ena Sharples), Alistair Cooke, Leslie Crowther, Tim West and Prunella Scales, Billy Pearce, Johnnie Casson and founding member Sir Ken Dodd OBE. Over the last 25 years, The Friends have contributed in excess of one million pounds towards much-needed Grand Theatre projects including the provision of new carpets, seating and technical equipment.

Do your part by snapping up tickets for the extra special ‘Friends’ Funny Girls Summer Show and Buffet fundraising event for Friends of The Grand members and their guests. This exciting event will be hosted by Friends members and offers exclusive use of the balcony at the popular entertainment venue (access via staircase) with private seating, buffet and bar and, of course, the Fun Friends’ Raffle. Funny Girls is the UK’s premier ‘Drag Show Extravaganza’ and has been captivating audiences for 30 years with stunning costumes, amazing choreography, and hilarious comedy routines. It’s a sparkling night out that is not to be missed!

The Friends of The Grand popular monthly Coffee Mornings take place at 10.30am on the third Thursday of each month. Tickets for each coffee morning are £5 and include choice of coffee or tea and a delicious cake selection. There will also be a fascinating live speaker at each social event and of course the famous Friends raffle with the chance to snap up some great prizes.

And we can now spill the beans on the guest speakers!

· Thursday 20 June will be ‘Mr Punch and Judy’ Martin Scott Price.

· Thursday 18 July will be Beryl Johnson presenting The Golden Years of Variety with theatrical film clips of stars of the 50s and 60s.

· Thursday 22 August will be ‘Blackpool’s Mr Tram Man’ and Chair of The Grand Theatre Trust, Bryan Lindop.

· Thursday 19 September will be previous Chair of The Grand Theatre Trust, David Coupe.

· Thursday 17 October will be musical entertainment from Hillbilly Heaven

· Thursday 21 November will be Pat Abram presenting the 200th anniversary of the RNLI.

It’s Grand to be Friends!

An annual membership for Friends of The Grand is just £20, with an under-18s and over-65 price of £10 per year. For more info please click HERE

The ‘Friends’ Funny Girls Summer Show and Buffet is at Funny Girls, Dickson Road, Blackpool, on Thursday 11 July at 8 pm. Doors open at 7pm.

Tickets are £15 per person and can ONLY be purchased PRIOR to the event from Blackpool Grand Theatre Box Office.

Please note – This is an aged 18+ event. Boxes at Funny Girls contain three, four or five seats, & unless all the seating is purchased within the Box, you will be sharing the Box with other customers.

Friends of The Grand Coffee Mornings will be held in The Space at Blackpool Grand Theatre on Thursdays 20 June, 18 July, 22 August, 19 September, 17 October, and 21 November 2024 from 10.30am to 1pm. Tickets are £5.

Please note – The Friends of The Grand coffee mornings will be a pay-on-the-door event and the entrance will be via Matcham Court at the rear of the theatre via the lift or stairs.

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

Funny Girls Summer Show and Buffet – Thu 11 Jul at 8pm

Friends of The Grand Coffee Mornings

Thu 20 Jun at 10.30am to 1pm

Thu 18 July at 10.30am to 1pm

Thu 22 Aug from 10.30am to 1pm

Thu 19 Sep from 10.30am to 1pm

Thu 17 Oct from 10.30am to 1pm

Thu 21 Nov from 10.30am to 1pm