Summer reopening for Blackpool’s North Pier Theatre

Published Friday 14 July 2006 at 18:20 by Robin Duke

Blackpool’s North Pier Theatre is re-opening for live entertainment this summer despite an earlier announcement that it would remain dark.

Three different shows are to be staged at the historic venue from next month until the end of October and venue owner Six Piers Ltd has promised further additions to the bill.

The news that the theatre was to remain dark for the first summer in its century-plus history was the latest of several blows for the resort, which has already suffered the cancellation of a season show at the Grand Theatre, the closure of the Winter Gardens and the lack of a major season run in the Opera House.

A campaign to save shows on North Pier Theatre received widespread support from theatregoers and accommodation providers throughout the resort and beyond.

“Subsequent to the campaign and other publicity we have had a number of producers approach us who were interested in bringing shows to the North Pier Theatre,” said David Chapman, operations director for Six Piers Ltd, the company which took over the running of all three Blackpool piers from Leisure Parcs earlier this year. “However the timescales did not allow us to pursue all the proposals but I am delighted to announce that we do now have three very strong shows that we have contracted for this season.”

The Grade II listed North Pier Theatre will now re-open on August 1 with Viva Las Vegas, starring vocalist Tony Benedict, guest singers and the Kings of Swing Orchestra. Halfway to Paradise - The Billy Fury Story, starring Colin Gold as Britain’s rock’n’roll icon, starts a weekly run at the North Pier Theatre on August 2. The Stars in Their Eyes winner is joined in the show by original members of Billy Fury’s band - Fury’s Tornados - and the production also combines live video archive footage projected on a huge screen.

Weekly from August 3 there will be The Kings of Swing - Rat Pack Party - again starring Tony Benedict. Featuring over two hours of swing classics together with the Kings of Swing Orchestra and four singers, the show includes the music of Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin, Tony Bennett, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jnr.

“We are also in negotiation with several other producers who may look towards bringing quality show productions into North Pier Theatre for one-offs during the Illuminations period,” Chapman added.