Another busy, fun Half Term at Blackpool’s Grand Theatre this October with Young People In The Arts!

Children, young people and their families got creative! They met and worked with talented artists as well inviting a tiger to tea, and seeing the Collodi classic, Pinocchio.

You might have seen little tigers wandering round Blackpool after children made their tiger masks and watched Judith Kerr’s book come to life with The Tiger Who Came to Tea. The theatre transformed into an urban jungle as children and their families took part in free mask making sessions in Matcham Court at the rear of the theatre.

While in theSTUDIO at Blackpool’s Grand, Fylde Coast Youth Dance Company and Preston Youth Dance Company took part in a 3-day dance residency with award-winning choreographer Joss Arnott.  The piece they collaborated on with the help of incredible music by James Keane.

The students will then get to perform their created piece on The Grand’s stage prior to Joss Arnott Company performing their triple bill (22 November).

In the same week, we launched our Grand Young Technicians – Bronze Arts Award. They were engaged in technical theatre, lighting design, sound, set design and stage management. Part of their 3 days included watching the Jasmin Vardimon Company and Grand Theatre technical team do a ‘fit up’ (building the set, designing the lighting, and sound) for Pinocchio. The group then met and interviewed our CEO Ruth Eastwood, Joss Arnott, Jasmin Vardimon as well as the Grand’s Front of House Manager.

At The end of the week (Saturday) the Theatre welcomed 26 children from two of our local Grand Junior Artists groups based at Fylde Coast Young Carers and Aspired Futures to do a Dance and Movement Workshop inspired by Pinocchio before watching the show.

Blackpool’s Grand runs a full programme of workshops for children and young people, in and out of school, focused on improving literacy, social skills and confidence.

Many children learn about Theatre, Performance and the Arts via their school. Last year, 10,000 school children benefited from discounted tickets to see performances at the theatre.  A further 3,000 young people performed on the stage and 30 local schools are part of our literacy project in partnership with the Royal Shakespeare Company.

We are continually asked how the general public and organisations can help to fund The Grand’s creative learning programmes – giving more opportunity to children in the local area.

So, Blackpool’s Grand has created School Gift Vouchers that can be purchased in denominations of £30 each, available from the box office.

These Vouchers provide an incredible way for the public or organisations to donate to their local school and support the great work they are doing. Schools are now under great pressure to make funding go further and sometimes the Arts is one of the first subjects to go.

Blackpool’s Grand believes these Schools Gift Vouchers will help parents, businesses, organisations help children gain a first experience in the arts.

We aim to be the theatre of choice for Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre and to offer opportunities to enjoy, participate and learn through the arts.

To purchase School Gift Vouchers call the theatre’s Box Office on 01253 290190.