World Book Day – Thursday, 6 March! Blackpool Grand Theatre celebrated this year’s theme of Read Your Way by taking an extra special trip to Blackpool Central Library to bring Malorie Blackman’s critically acclaimed novel PIG HEART BOY to life for some lucky Lancashire schoolchildren.

Pupils from Our Lady of The Assumption Catholic Primary School in Blackpool and Hodgson Academy in Poulton were invited by The Grand’s Cultural Education Manager, Jo Cleasby, to be Story Ambassadors for the day and dive into Blackpool Central Library to enjoy a reading of Malorie’s uplifting tale of family, friendship and the profound choices we make.

Story Ambassadors are young people chosen by their schools to promote the power of written stories that also appear on The Grand stage, and they raced back to class after their library trip to tell everyone all about it! These lucky pupils will then join their classmates to visit Blackpool Grand Theatre in May to see the fabulous new five-star stage production of Malorie Blackman’s Pig Heart Boy, which will bring their favourite characters from the book to glorious life.

‘Is it better to have a pig’s heart that works … than a human heart that doesn’t?’

World Book Day – Pig Heart Boy

Cameron is thirteen years old and has always dreamed of living a normal life: making friends, going to school, and diving to the bottom of his local swimming pool. But his world is turned upside down when he is diagnosed with a serious heart condition and faces an urgent need for a heart transplant. With time running out, Cameron is finally offered a new heart, but then finds himself having to face an incredibly difficult decision. Just how far is he willing to go to get the life back he so desperately wants?

This hugely acclaimed new production of multi-award-winning writer Malorie Blackman’s beloved novel has been adapted for the stage by renowned playwright Winsome Pinnock in a Unicorn Theatre co-production with Sheffield Theatres and Children’s Theatre Partnership – marking a thrilling collaboration between leading institutions dedicated to creating thought-provoking theatre for young audiences.

Make a splash this World Book Day and celebrate with a live performance of a favourite book or story at Blackpool Grand Theatre this year and encourage a love of reading and theatre that will last a lifetime!

First little readers will love the roar-some new live production of Tom Fletcher & Dougie Poynter’s best-selling children’s book The Dinosaur That Pooped on Saturday 15 March; Rachel Bright and Jim Field’s chuckle-out-loud tale of The Koala Who Could on Thursday 1 May; a riotous musical comedy production of Kenneth Grahame’s The Wind in The Willows from The Grand’s very own Musical Theatre Summer School from Thursday 14 to Sunday 17 August, and why not bring the classics beautifully to life for younger ones with the very accessible RSC’s First Encounters adaptation of William Shakespeare’s The Tempest on Monday 28 and Tuesday 29 April?

Older readers will adore Anne Marie Casey’s beautiful new stage adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s classic tale of sisterhood, courage and ambition Little Women from Tuesday 25 to Saturday 29 March; the multi-award winning musical stage phenomenon Dear Evan Hansen that inspired its own novel from Tuesday 20 to Saturday 24 May; Stephen King’s gripping tale of friendship from behind bars in The Shawshank Redemption from Tuesday 23 to Saturday 27 September, and Caroline Graham’s captivating crime chiller Midsomer Murders: The Killings at Badgers Drift reveals its thrilling theatrical premiere from Tuesday 10 to Saturday 10 February 2026! What’s not to love?

And don’t forget this year’s fabulous family pantomime Beauty and The Beast from Friday 5 December 2025 to Sunday 4 January 2026 adapted from the classic fairytale by French novelist Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve and starring everyone’s favourite comic and Britain’s Got Talent Finalist Steve Royle as Louis La Plonk with full star casting to be announced…

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. World Book Day 2025 celebrates that children are more likely to enjoy reading when their choices are championed, and we make reading fun. Reading for pleasure improves children’s life chances across a range of social, educational and well-being measures. Read Your Way calls on everyone to let go of pressure and expectations, giving children a choice – and a chance – to enjoy reading.

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

Malorie Blackman’s Pig Heart Boy is at Blackpool Grand Theatre from Wednesday 14 May to Saturday 17 May with performances at 10am, 2pm & 7pm.

Tickets from £15.50 with school/group rates and concessions available.

Age Recommendation  9yrs+, Pig Heart Boy is a thought-provoking theatre experience for children aged 9-12yrs (an ideal choice for Key Stage 2 and 3 students)

An educational Resource Pack is also available to download at www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk/event/pig-heart-boy

Please call the Grand Theatre Box Office on 01253 290190 or visit www.BlackpoolGrand.co.uk for full listings, bookings and further information.

LISTINGS

Malorie Blackman’s Pig Heart Boy – Wed 14 May to Fri 16 May at 10am & 2pm

Sat 17 May at 2pm & 7pm

Grand Theatre, 33 Church Street, Blackpool FY1 1HT

Box Office 01253 290 190

blackpoolgrand.co.uk

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