World Book Day 2022 celebrates 25-years on 3 March! What better way to celebrate than by bringing your little bookworm’s favourite characters to glorious life on stage at Blackpool Grand Theatre?

This year’s inspirational theme for World Book Day is ‘You Are A Reader’ and our fabulous live family shows can also encourage a love of books by opening the door to the world of literature and introducing famous storybook stars from pre-school Peppa Pig right through to the Queen of Crime herself Agatha Christie!

World Book Day changes lives through a love of books and shared reading and its mission is to promote reading for pleasure, offering every child and young person the opportunity to have a book of their own. Reading for pleasure is the single biggest indicator of a child’s future success – more than their family circumstances, their parents’ educational background or their income.

Build on that love of literary characters with a visit to Blackpool Grand and show your little readers that stories and learning can be really fun!

World Book Day 2022 – Time to celebrate!

(C) David Walliams stage production Gangsta Granny (Birmingham Stage Company)

Bring the gang all together for the award-winning stage adaptation of David Walliams’ fabulous crime caper Gangsta Granny from Thursday 31 March to Sunday 3 April; Northern Ballet’s charming performance of Pinocchio is the perfect opportunity for little ones to enjoy their first experience of live ballet, music and theatre on Tuesday 5 April; and splash in muddy puddles with the irrepressible Peppa Pig and friends with her Best Day Ever on Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 July on a rip-roaring road-trip packed full of songs, games and laughter.

It’s a double delight for the magical fairy story Sleeping Beauty as the Classical Ballet and Opera House bring stunning choreography to Tchaikovsky’s sublime score on Saturday 20 November; and this year’s fabulous family pantomime Sleeping Beauty starring the superbly silly Steve Royle from Friday 2 December 2022 to Sunday 1 January 2023 will be a laugh-a-minute extravaganza with musical hits and exciting special effects!

Watch The Classics Live On Stage

Looking for something educational? Bring the classroom to life and give your little learners a flying start with bold and imaginative productions of George Orwell’s Animal Farm from Tuesday 19 to Saturday 23 April with incredible puppetry and award-winning design, or a thrilling new ensemble telling of Michael Morpurgo’s favourite work Private Peaceful from Monday 2 to Saturday 7 May. Teacher resource packs are also available online for these shows.

Older readers will be thrilled as Hilary Bonner’s hard-hitting political thriller Dead Lies takes the audience on a rollercoaster ride of unexpected twists and turns from Tuesday 17 to Saturday 21 May; take an emotional journey as Helen Forrester’s stunning period drama Twopence to Cross the Mersey comes to life from Tuesday 4 to Thursday 6 October and can you solve Agatha Christie’s marvellous murder mystery The Mousetrap on its sensational 70th-anniversary tour live on stage from Monday 19 to Saturday 24 June 2023?

Calling all bookworms! Liven up your commute by dipping into a copy of George Orwell’s acclaimed novel Animal Farm as you travel on the buses around Blackpool! Blackpool Grand Theatre is celebrating 25 years of World Book Day by popping 25 copies of George Orwell’s timeless tale of revolution and its aftermath onto 25 Blackpool Transport buses! Pick up the copy as you travel to work or college, immerse yourself in the classic story during your journey and then leave it on the bus for another lucky passenger to enjoy! Can you find a copy on your bus?

It’s the perfect way to introduce yourself to the joy of reading and the perfect background before visiting the powerful production of Animal Farm at Blackpool Grand Theatre from Tuesday 19 to Saturday 23 April.

Celebrate the 25th anniversary of World Book Day 2022 with a live performance of a favourite book or story and encourage a love of reading and theatre that will last a lifetime!

Call the Blackpool Grand Theatre Box Office on 01253 290190 or visit Blackpoolgrand.co.uk for full show listings, bookings and further information.

(Main image via Animal Farm Stage Production – Children’s Touring Partnership)