From variety, musicals and comedy giants to Shakespeare, ballet, drama and dance. Blackpool Grand Theatre caters for every age, pocket and personality. Take a look at what’s coming up and book your tickets today!

Heritage Tours at Blackpool Grand Theatre

Backstage Secrets Tours – 10.30am on 30 June. 90min | £20pp
Stand on the raked stage and discover the backstage workings of theatre. (Tour includes Stalls, Dress Circle, Walkway, Royal Box and Stage Door. Plus Fly Floor, Gallery, Dressing Rooms, Matcham Court & Stage). This tour ends with delicious cake and tea in the Dress Circle Bar.

Grand Opulence Tour – 12 noon on 16 July. 45min | £12.50pp
Discover the theatres history, front-of-house Grandeur and Opulence. (Tour includes Stalls, Dress Circle, Walkway, Royal Box & Stage Door).

Book your tickets here. Call 01253 290 190 or pop-in to the Box Office to book (& please mention Visit Fylde Coast!)

Friends of the Grand Theatre Coffee Mornings

The Friends of The Grand were formed in 1973 to save Blackpool’s beautiful Grand Theatre from demolition. An independent organisation, it’s provided financial and voluntary support to the theatre for nearly half a century. 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.

The Friends of The Grand hold a popular monthly Coffee Morning. They take place at 10.30am on the third Thursday of each month. Tickets are £5 and include choice of coffee or tea and a delicious cake selection. Each includes a fascinating live speaker and of course the famous Friends raffle with the chance to snap up some great prizes. Here’s the forthcoming guest speakers!

Annual membership of Friends of The Grand is just £20, with an under-18s and over-65 price of £10 per year. For more info please visit: www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk/join-and-support-us/how-to-support-us/friends-of-the-grand

Beauty and The Beast – Pantomime 2025-6 at Blackpool Grand Theatre!

Fri 5 Dec – Sun 4 Jan 2026, various times including matinee and evening performances. Accessible performances are also available.
Please call the Box Office on 01253 290190 or visit www.BlackpoolGrand.co.uk for bookings and further information.

The fabulous family pantomime at Blackpool’s Grand Theatre is always a laugh-a-minute extravaganza! Enjoy stunning sets, top musical hits, fantastic costumes and exciting special effects for audiences both young and old!

Blackpool’s No.1 Pantomime – Martin Dodd for UK Productions Ltd in association with Blackpool Grand Theatre will stage one of the most enchanting pantomimes of all time, Beauty and The Beast, with a sparkling fairytale production for all the family. Returning is Blackpool Pantomime legend and Britain’s Got Talent finalist Steve Royle.

With an award-winning script by Jon Monie (Great British Pantomime Awards, 2019), a cast of larger-than-life characters, side-splitting comedy, sumptuous costumes, fabulous scenery, and a thrilling transformation scene. Join Belle, The Beast, Fairy Bon Bon, the exuberant Polly La Plonk and her cheeky chappy son Louis La Plonk as they are transported to a cursed castle, under the spell of an evil enchantress. Can the wicked Hugo be defeated, can Belle see beyond the Beast and fall in love with her captor, will the Beast’s heart be melted by Belle’s beauty?

What’s On at Blackpool Grand Theatre – in 2025

Arrival – The Hits of ABBA 2025 – Sun 24 Aug at 7.30pm

Arrival – The Hits of ABBA are calling all ‘Dancing Queens’ – get ready to embark on a musical journey back to the 70s where disco reigned supreme and ABBA ruled the charts! This multi-award-winning show is returning in 2025 following sell-out shows in more than 30 countries worldwide.

Experience the outstanding celebration and timeless smash-hits of Sweden’s sensational pop group live on stage, featuring first-class vocals and musicianship, authentic replica costumes and fantastic interactive video footage. From ‘Waterloo’ and ‘Mamma Mia’ to ‘Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!’ and ‘SOS’, every song will have you singing and dancing in the aisles with a night of non-stop entertainment. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or discovering their music for the first time, Arrival brings to life the extraordinary song-writing talents of Benny and Bjorn, recreating the true feel and thrill of a live ABBA show!

BOOK YOUR TICKETS – Call the Box Office on 01253 290 190. (Please mention you saw it on Visit Fylde Coast!)  or visit the website

Sound of Silence – Thurs 28 Aug at 7.30pm

Blackpool Grand Theatre is proud to present ‘Sound of Silence’ in Blackpool as part of the Baton of Hope Tour 2025. Inspired by the real story of Ross McCarthy, the play explores the impact of a suicide on the wider family.

‘Jack’ appeared to have a great life – a partner, a young child, a great social life, supportive family – did they see the Jack they wanted to see and not the Jack whose emotional life was complex and chaotic. Would he have contemplated ending his life if he knew the support and love that was intrinsic in his life?

After the play there will be the opportunity to participate in a discussion about the audience’s own mental health challenges and those of their family, friends and colleagues.

BOOK YOUR TICKETS – Call the Box Office on 01253 290 190. (Please mention you saw it on Visit Fylde Coast!)  or visit the website

The Last Laugh – Tues 26 – Sat 30 Aug at 7.30pm

Direct from London’s West End, a “brilliant” (The Telegraph) brand new laugh-a-minute play. It reimagines the lives of three of Britain’s all-time greatest comedy heroes – Tommy Cooper, Eric Morecambe and Bob Monkhouse.

Filled with great gags and touching stories, The Last Laugh is nostalgic and poignant and guaranteed to be the ultimate comedy night out. The Last Laugh is written and directed by the award-winning Paul Hendy, and stars “a trio of sublime performances” (WhatsOnStage) by Bob Golding as Morecambe, Simon Cartwright as Monkhouse and Damian Williams as Cooper.

BOOK YOUR TICKETS – Call the Box Office on 01253 290 190. (Please mention you saw it on Visit Fylde Coast!)  or visit the website

The Illegal Eagles – Sun 31 Aug at 7.30pm

Celebrating over 50 years since the formation of the legendary West Coast Country Rock band The Eagles in 1971, The Illegal Eagles make a welcome return with a brand new production, promising more of their trademark musical prowess, acute attention to detail and incredible showmanship.

This critically acclaimed show features the very best from the Eagles’ catalogue of classics including ’Hotel California’, ‘Desperado’, ‘Take It Easy’, ‘New Kid In Town’, ‘Life In The Fast Lane’ and many more… Extremely tight harmonies & an acute attention to detail are synonymous with The Illegal Eagles, now in their 24th year on the road. Following a number of critically acclaimed UK & European Tours, The Illegal Eagles have established themselves not only as the ultimate celebration of The Eagles, but as one of the foremost authentic and talented shows in the world.

BOOK YOUR TICKETS – Call the Box Office on 01253 290 190. (Please mention you saw it on Visit Fylde Coast!)  or visit the website

Fish Fridays at Blackpool Grand – Friday 5 Sept at 5.30pm

Celebrate summer in true Blackpool style with Fish Fridays at The Grand.

Step into the rich history of one of Blackpool’s most iconic landmarks with a guided one-hour heritage tour of the magnificent Grand Theatre. Discover the secrets of its Victorian architecture, explore backstage areas, and hear captivating stories of the stars who’ve graced its stage over the decades. Following the tour, relax and enjoy a delicious, traditional fish and chips supper served in Matcham Court — a perfect spot to soak in the atmosphere of this historic venue.

Timings:
Heritage Tour – 5.30pm-6.30pm
Fish & Chips – 6.30pm

Menu:
Fish, Chips & Mushy Peas, Tea/Coffee
Vegetarian option available upon request
For an extra treat, you can add a glass of prosecco for just £6 per person or enjoy a refreshing tub of ice cream for £3 per person.

BOOK YOUR TICKETS – Call the Box Office on 01253 290 190. (Please mention you saw it on Visit Fylde Coast!)  or visit the website

Heritage Tour and Afternoon Tea – 6 Sept at 2pm

Celebrate Mother’s Day with an Elegant Theatre Experience She’ll Never Forget

This Mother’s Day, treat the special woman in your life to a truly unique celebration. Immerse yourselves in the rich history and timeless elegance of Blackpool’s iconic Grand Theatre with our exclusive Theatre Tours, followed by a sumptuous Afternoon Tea on the Stage.

BOOK YOUR TICKETS – Call the Box Office on 01253 290 190. (Please mention you saw it on Visit Fylde Coast!)  or visit the website

Northern Live – Sun 7 Sept at 7.30pm

Northern Live – Keeping the Faith to the original sounds of the underground movement that started on the dance floors in the North. The original sounds that started in the North and eventually swept the Nation including an 11-piece band with 4 lead vocalists performing over 30 original hits. At Northern Live, expect to hear:

Dobie Gray-“Out On The Floor”, R Dean Taylor-“There’s A Ghost In My House”, Frank Wilson-“Do I love You-Indeed I Do”, Gloria Jones-“Tainted Love”, Al Wilson-“The Snake”, Yvonne Baker-“You Didn’t Say A Word”, Jimmy Radcliffe-“Long After Tonight Is Over”, Garnet Mimms-“Looking For You”, Dean Parrish-“I’m On My Way” and many, many more.

BOOK YOUR TICKETS – Call the Box Office on 01253 290 190. (Please mention you saw it on Visit Fylde Coast!)  or visit the website

Russell Kane: Hyperactive – Sun 14 Sept at 8pm

Whirlwind, FitBit-breaking comedian, presenter, actor and author Russell Kane is out on the road again with Russell Kane: Hyperactive, setting it on fire with his unique recipe of sharp wit and “storming physical comedy” (Mail on Sunday).

The brand-new tour for 2024 and 2025 comes with a safety warning: wear strong underwear – pants will be spoiled. Russell is high-energy, high-octane, and hyperactive!

BOOK YOUR TICKETS – Call the Box Office on 01253 290 190. (Please mention you saw it on Visit Fylde Coast!)  or visit the website

Kailey – Tues 16 Sept at 7.30pm

Kailey’s mum’s been sent to prison, and she needs to grow up – fast. She’s just turned eighteen; first job, her own place, big nights out. This might just be freedom after all. But when you’re young and your parent is taken away, who do you turn to when things get a little too messy?

Inspired by writer Kerry Wright’s own lived experience, KAILEY is a bold new play that shines a light on society’s forgotten young people. Funny and searingly honest, KAILEY doesn’t ask for sympathy; it demands you look closer.

THIS SHOW WILL BE PERFORMED IN THE BLACKPOOL GRAND STUDIO

BOOK YOUR TICKETS – Call the Box Office on 01253 290 190. (Please mention you saw it on Visit Fylde Coast!)  or visit the website

The Greatest Love of All – starring Belinda Davids – Weds 17 Sept at 7.30pm

The Greatest Love of All – Whitney Houston’s musical legacy is brought to life in this critically acclaimed tribute concert described as “mind-blowingly spot on.” Be stunned by the breathtaking vocals of Belinda Davids – as seen on Britain’s Got Talent, Showtime at the Apollo and winner of the BBC’s Even Better Than the Real Thing.

The two-hour international production will fill you with joy, nostalgia and wonderment as it takes you on a heartfelt journey through all of Whitney Houston’s greatest hits including I Wanna Dance With Somebody, I Will Always Love You, Greatest Love of All, How Will I Know, One Moment in Time, I Have Nothing, Run to You, Didn’t We Almost Have It All, I’m Every Woman, Where Do Broken Hearts Go, Queen of the Night, Higher Love and more.

Davids is accompanied by her live band and backing vocalists plus glorious state-of-the-art sound, lighting, vision and theatrical FX, making this a beautifully crafted tribute to one of the world’s most revered singers.

BOOK YOUR TICKETS – Call the Box Office on 01253 290 190. (Please mention you saw it on Visit Fylde Coast!)  or visit the website

Ice Cream On The Beach – Fri 19 Sept at 7pm

A dream move becomes a ticking time bomb. Secrets, sparkle, and a family on the brink. Expect Northern humour, soaring songs, sharp moves, and a bingo night like no other. Glitter, grit, and a storm behind the sparkle.

A Yorkshire family moves to Blackpool chasing a fresh start — but buried tensions bubble to the surface, threatening to tear them apart. One family member harbours a dark secret, the other has a desire burning inside — and their eyes set on the spotlight at Funny Girls.

THIS SHOW WILL BE PERFORMED IN THE BLACKPOOL GRAND STUDIO

BOOK YOUR TICKETS – Call the Box Office on 01253 290 190. (Please mention you saw it on Visit Fylde Coast!)  or visit the website

Harry Hill: New Bits and Greatest Hits – Sat 20 Sept at 7.30pm

The Badger Parade is back on with Harry Hill: New Bits & Greatest Hits Join me, Harry Hill on my Diamond Jubilee lap of honour as I celebrate 60 Glorious Years of fun, laughter and low-level disruption!

Marvel! As I offer new insights into the hot topics of the day such as the demise of the SCART lead, The Culture Wars, the differences between crab sticks and rhubarb and the origins of Tirimisu! Guffaw with delight! As I delve into my back catalogue using my patented ‘Old Bit Randomiser’ for old favourites like ‘Interspecies Tennis’, ‘The time I went up in the Space Shuttle’ and ‘When Nan got her hair caught in the knitting’ !

Cough Awkwardly! As Gary,(my son from my first marriage) attempts to take over the business again. Tap your Feet! As Stouffer The Cat spits a little Steflon Don! Watch in Wonder! at the return of The Badger Parade with guest appearances from The Knitted Character and Abu Hamster. Plus one lucky audience member will get to join me in a double act!

BOOK YOUR TICKETS – Call the Box Office on 01253 290 190. (Please mention you saw it on Visit Fylde Coast!)  or visit the website

A Grand Show – Celebrating JC Dance 20th Showcase – Sun 21 Sept at 2 & 6pm

Fylde Coast dance school, JC Dance, will stage its 20th annual show, “A Grand Show” this summer. More than 120 dancers from across the Fylde Coast will take part, performing 28 numbers over two shows.

Showcasing a range of dance styles from Ballet to Acro, Tap to Jazz, students have been rehearsing hard for months for this special event and are so excited to showcase their talent.

BOOK YOUR TICKETS – Call the Box Office on 01253 290 190. (Please mention you saw it on Visit Fylde Coast!)  or visit the website

The Shawshank Redemption – Tues 23 – Sat 27 Sept at 7.30pm

THE ACCLAIMED STAGE PRODUCTION OF THE HIT MOVIE RETURNS. Bill Kenwright Ltd presents JOE McFADDEN AS ANDY DUFRESNE, BEN ONWUKWE AS ELLIS ‘RED’ REDDING, BILL WARD AS WARDEN STAMMAS. Based on the novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption by STEPHEN KING

Fear will hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free. Despite protests of his innocence, Andy Dufresne is handed a double life sentence for the brutal murders of his wife and her lover. Incarcerated in the notorious Shawshank facility, he quickly learns that no one can survive alone.

Andy strikes up an unlikely friendship with the prison fixer Red, and things start to take a slight turn for the better. However, when Warden Stammas decides to bully Andy into subservience and exploit his talents for accountancy, a desperate plan is quietly hatched…

Based on Stephen King’s 1982 novella, this thrilling stage production examines friendship and hope behind the claustrophobic bars of a maximum-security facility. The 1994 feature film was nominated for seven Academy Awards.

BOOK YOUR TICKETS – Call the Box Office on 01253 290 190. (Please mention you saw it on Visit Fylde Coast!)  or visit the website

Penned Up – A new play by Danusia Iwaszko – Mon 29 Sept at 7.30pm

The Hal Company in association with Suzanna Rosenthal Productions presents Penned Up – A new play by Danusia Iwaszko. Can words be the great escape?

Welcome to HMP Ditchfield, where each week a group of prisoners are tasked with writing their own plays. From boxing rings to the Brazilian rainforest, from tragic pasts to wildly imaginative futures, these men learn that theatre is more than words on a page – it’s a way to reclaim their voices.

But as creativity collides with authority, tensions rise, secrets unravel, and laughter turns to rebellion. Witty, raw, and full of heart, Penned Up is a powerful celebration of storytelling, second chances, and the unexpected bonds that form behind bars.

Written by award winning playwright Danusia Iwaszko, who uses her more than 15 years’ experience of teaching playwriting to prisoners to explore what life is actually like behind bars. Think Porridge meets Brassed Off – both a laugh riot and a gut-punch.

BOOK YOUR TICKETS – Call the Box Office on 01253 290 190. (Please mention you saw it on Visit Fylde Coast!)  or visit the website

Chat Sh*t, Get Hit – Sat 27 Sept at 7pm

What if your anger just simmers underneath? If it never quite reaches boiling point, but it’s present, burning your insides.

Combining spoken word, football chants, live art and theatre, Chat Sh*t, Get Hit dives into women’s anger: how it fuels, how it festers and how it is swallowed. A funny and uncompromising new show about recovery, solidarity and the suppression of women’s rage.

THIS SHOW WILL BE PERFORMED IN THE BLACKPOOL GRAND STUDIO

BOOK YOUR TICKETS – Call the Box Office on 01253 290 190. (Please mention you saw it on Visit Fylde Coast!)  or visit the website

Johnny Cash Roadshow – Thurs 23 Oct at 7.30pm

The Johnny Cash Roadshow is heading into its 20th year on the road and stronger than ever! A fast paced, energetic, constantly evolving show that’s now the longest running and most critically acclaimed show across the UK and Europe. ‘Clive captures my Grandfather JUST as he was’ – Caitlin Crowell, Granddaughter of Johnny Cash.

Set on a Grand ‘Ole Opry style stage the Roadshow bring you the gift of the best of Johnny Cash catalogue of songs in one night’s entertainment. Award winning Clive John who is described as an exceptional Cash pays homage Channels his spirt his own warming unique way. Alongside his iconic wife June Carter (Meghan Thomas) and some of the best musicians in the world playing Authentic double bass, fender telecaster and acoustic guitars, drums, piano, trumpet and four-part vocal harmonies.

You will experience the versatility and depth of these timeless songs as all the hits are delivered back-to-back such as Walk the Line, Ring of Fire, Jackson, Orange Blossom Special and Boy Named Sue along-side some of the darker more troubled material from the later American Recordings such as Hurt. This year’s show is an emotional roller-coaster through Cash’s career, packed together in one fantastic, unforgettable evening’s entertainment.

BOOK YOUR TICKETS – Call the Box Office on 01253 290 190. (Please mention you saw it on Visit Fylde Coast!)  or visit the website

Blackpool is the home of entertainment

Presiding over it is the ‘Grand’ Old Lady. From opera, ballet and Shakespeare to variety, musicals and comedy giants. The Grand Theatre caters for every age, pocket and personality.

Go into the Victorian auditorium of the Blackpool Grand Theatre and you’ll understand what ‘the glorious Grand’ means. This Frank Matcham designed masterpiece offers ornate, gilded plasterwork, baroque ceiling and cavorting cherubs. The cantilevered balconies give every seat a clear view of the stage.

125 Glorious Years!

The Grade II* listed Grand Theatre celebrated its 125th Birthday in 2019. The doors opened on 23 July 1894 – now one of the few surviving examples of the work of Frank Matcham.

The Grand Theatre has hosted a multitude of stars since its opening. From Lily Langtree to Michael Macintyre, Gracie Fields to Ken Dodd, Arthur Askey to Lee Evans…and the list goes on!

Photo: Sean Conboy

It attracts the very best in award-winning touring companies. Including The National Theatre, English Touring Theatre, The Royal Shakespeare Company, Opera and Ballet International and the Russian State Ballet.

A varied programme

It’s a programme of quality drama, comedy, dance and children’s theatre at The Grand Theater Blackpool. They also play host to the outstanding talents of local performers from groups across Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde.

By the early 1960s theatres across Britain were closing due to loss of audience to television. In July 1972 the then owners, the Tower Company, applied for permission to demolish it. In its place they proposed to build a department store. By then, the theatre is listed as a Grade II* building. So there had to be a full public enquiry.

Early in 1973 the Friends of the Grand Theatre was formed. After legal and financial wrangling, together with EMI and the local council, put together a deal. It involved leasing the theatre for £10,000 per annum and final purchase for £250,000.

• Find out more about the history of this amazing building here

Grand Returns to its Original Footprint – for the first time in more than 40 years

The Friends of The Grand, after thirty-five years of fundraising, have, at last, achieved their long-held ambition to return the Grand Theatre to its original architectural footprint.

When Frank Matcham, the famous Victorian theatre designer, was commissioned to create the Grand Theater Blackpool in 1893 its owner, Thomas Sergenson, briefed him to incorporate a number of small shops on Church Street into the design.

However, back in 1981, when the Friends purchased the Grade II* listed building from the then owners, EMI, these units were not included in the sale. Ever since, the Friends have been saving in a special fund for the day when it might be possible to buy them.

Well, that day has come and John Buck, Chairman of the Friends of the Grand said “it’s like a dream come true. We’ve been saving for this day for years; selling raffle tickets, lapel badges, holding coffee mornings and, even as recently as April we received a bequest from our long-serving Treasurer, Alan Sears, who sadly died earlier this year. It came with the specific instruction that it should only be spent of the purchase of the shops. Alan will be smiling down on us this day”.

Reopening The Grand Theater Blackpool

John was one of the original group who raised the money to save the theatre from demolition in 1973.  Along with other passionate and dedicated Friends, he cleaned, repaired and painted in their spare time. They got the building back on its feet ready for its reopening and dedication from HRH The Prince of Wales in 1981.

“We were invited to buy the shops back in the 1990’s” remembers John. “But, back then, the owners wanted more than a million pounds for them. We thought we’d never be able to raise that much. And we were right! Obviously, times have changed, and, thankfully, we’ve been able raise enough to buy them for less than half that price”. With the purchase complete, the deeds of the properties will be donated to the Grand Theatre Trust. The heritage conservation charity which owns and cares for this beautiful historic building.

Roger Lloyd Jones is Chairman of the Trust. He said “there are many, many people who have made this wonderful purchase possible. I would like to thank everyone who has helped. The theatre is now 122 years old and, as you can imagine, needs constant care and attention. We hope the shops will prove an asset to the theatre. It’s a small but much-needed rental income to be re-invested in the upkeep of this precious architectural gem”.

The Friends of the Grand is a registered Charity.

The Friends of the Grand volunteer their services as Front of House staff, envelope-stuffers and runners of the theatre’s coffee stall. Last year, they provided 13,174 hours of voluntary service for the theatre at a value of £88,000.