Blackpool Grand New Season features Brassed Off and Poirot

The Blackpool Grand are hoping that drama lovers will find plenty to savour in their new season, starting with one of the world’s greatest love stories ever told, Eternal Love. This thought-provoking and passionate play is based on the true story of doomed lovers Abelard and Heloise and presented by English Touring Theatre and Shakespeare’s Globe.

The acclaimed comedy/drama Brassed Off takes to The Grand’s stage in April, which features live music from a brass band and stars John McArdle (Brookside, Firm Friends, Waterloo Road).

Black Coffee stars Robert Powell as the most famous detective of all time, Poirot. For comedy drama lovers, the season also features Olivier Award-winning Morecambe and Joe Orton’s black comedy Entertaining Mr Sloane.

Ballet fans' tastes are met with many productions, including a trio of ballet masterpieces performed by The Russian State Ballet and Orchestra of Siberia: Giselle, Swan Lake and every child’s favourite fairytale, Sleeping Beauty.

Other highlights include the return of Ellen Kent with the Opera La Boheme, Ballet Theatre UK with The Little Mermaid and Northern Ballet with Three Little Pigs (a ballet for children).

The Grand enters its second year of Arts Council National Portfolio status, with an emphasis this season on brand new dance works. The internationally acclaimed Hofesh Schechter opens the season with his hotly-anticipated piece Sun, followed by Dancing Partners' triple bill of exciting dance, which includes work by Norrdans, Company Chameleon and Thomas Noone Dance Company.

Later in the season, Fabulous Beast Theatre presents Rite of Spring and Petruska, the graduate dance company 12 Degrees North return with their new triple bill and finally, the incredible choreographer of the Rugby World Cup Opening Ceremony James Wilton stages his brand new work, Last Man Standing.

In February, the Grand Theatre proudly presents The Royal Shakespeare Company with their ‘First Encounter’ production of The Taming of The Shrew. This all-encompassing Shakespeare experience is coming to the theatre as part of The Grand’s three year involvement in the RSC’s Learning and Performance Network. First Encounter: The Taming of The Shrew uses a distilled version of the original text to create the perfect first experience of Shakespeare for all ages.

For more information about the Grand Theatre’s new season visit their website.