Blackpool Shows are getting a whole new look – Blackpool’s Grand Theatre has been creating Season Guides since 1894.

The Grand has hosted some of the greatest of blackpool shows, with a long list of some the UK’s greatest performers. Iconic stars such as Gracie Fields, Noel Coward, Max Wall, Sir Roger Moore, Ronnie Corbett, John Inman, Sir Bruce Forsyth, Des O’Connor, Jimmy Osmond, Alfie Boe, Wayne Sleep, Dawn French, Michael McIntyre and many more have performed at Blackpool’s Grand.

The Grand’s list of historic Blackpool shows over the years include; Michael Crawford in Travelling Light with Harry Corbett and Julia Foster, Prunella Scales and Timothy West in Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice, Noel Coward premiered his plays Present Laughter, This Happy Breed and Blithe Spirit, Royal Ballet dancer Wayne Sleep OBE in Cabaret, Colin Baker in the Carla Rosa Opera HMS Pinafore, and a Royal Performance before HRH Prince of Wales in 1981 to name a few.

The Grand Theatre’s Blackpool Shows Guide started in 1894 and has transitioned over the years in its looks.

Here’s a look back at programmes over the years…

The Grand’s first Blackpool Shows guide was made in silk and perfumed with a scent made by a chemist on Church Street called ‘Tower Bouquet’. One of the few remaining copies of the opening night programme is displayed in the Dress Circle Bar.

For our most recent show guide Blackpool Grand’s Marketing Manager, Andrew Howard commissioned The NU Agency in Sheffield. They will be working with the theatre to create the next brochures going forward and many other design elements in its numerous advertising campaigns.

Blackpool’s Grand Marketing Manager Andrew Howard said ‘It’s been an incredible working partnership. We had an initial meeting back in 2017 to discuss ideas, what our customers liked, what we liked, our heritage and the future Grand, we held focus groups to understand the full use of the brochure and how people liked to read and digest what we provided.

‘How the new season campaign looks and how people digest it was a huge consideration; simplicity, bright and recognisable where just some of the key features we were asked for.

‘Moving forward one of our biggest challenges is crossing over both from print to digital, and digital to print. To tackle this, it was imperative for our new graphic designers to meet with the theatre’s digital partner SOAP Media, who have been working with the theatre since the redesign of its website in 2016. The company handle the theatres website aspirations and have developed in partnership with the theatre many customer focused advancements.

‘Most recently an ‘advanced’ search has been developed offering AI predictions as you type as well as offering video options. Next will be advancements in our personalising our homepage for each visitor. The theatres website will offer tailored viewing for each visitor and what they like, be it a family visitor, opera lover or those interested in the theatres creative learning activities.’

The theatre’s new season of Blackpool shows and its new look will be unveiled on the 27 February 2018 at a VIP guest event in front of well over 100 people including a Baroness, MP’s, Councillors, Hotel Ambassadors and Associations, Tourism Heads, local Food and Beverage chains, and many more local, regional and national guests.

The launch advertising campaign will begin on the 5 March 2018 and will include all manner of different channels from digital, radio, social, outdoor and transport.

All of The Grand’s Blackpool shows will be ready to book from 5pm on the 27 February 2018, visit blackpoolgrand.co.uk, call 01253 290190 or visit the Grand Theatre box office on Church Street.