The Stage

Desperate times

Published Monday 5 February 2007 at 14:45

Entertainment crisis-hit Blackpool, reeling under the government hammer blow of the rejection of its super-casino bid, is having to dredge the bottom of the showbiz barrel in a frantic effort to regenerate.

With no shows programmed to date for spring and summer for the barely surviving North Pier Theatre, parent company Leisure Parcs is also desperately struggling to find big name artists and shows for the generally empty Opera House - slammed as always freezing by many. Theatre managements also won’t pay for decent shows. Blackpool Grand Theatre, existing on unfounded repute as ‘The National Theatre of Varieties’, is having to resort to amateur productions from Blackpool children’s acting schools and the resort’s amateur operatic societies, topped up with shows such as The Horror Circus, Sing-A-Long-A Sound of Music and also the well played out Rocky Horror Show annually dominating The Grand. Won’t somebody please, please, help Blackpool.

Robert McDougall

Address supplied