The Stage

Blackpool North Pier relaunches with pop line-up

Published Wednesday 5 October 2011 at 12:52 by John Carrick

Blackpool North Pier Theatre has signalled a change in programming with its relaunch next month, featuring Erasure and Beverley Knight as its headline acts.

After the shock closure of the theatre and subsequent cancellation of all its summer shows in early September, essential backstage renovation work and modernisation of dressing rooms and windows is currently being undertaken

“So much needed doing to make the theatre the kind of place able to attract modern headline names,” said pier owner Peter Sedgwick. “The work had to be done properly and it had to be done now if we were to stand any chance of bringing in acts for next year.”

According to organisers, acts such as Beverley Knight and Erasure were seen as the way ahead for attracting a new market to the end of the pier.

With the new dressing rooms almost complete and new windows in place plus further modernisation in the pipeline, Sedgwick said the venue should now attract attention from more major promoters and managers looking for a venue with a good capacity - the Pier has a capacity of around 1,500.

“We have to look to new markets and something like Erasure hasn’t been tried before but they are keen to do it and we are keen to have them,” he said. “A lot of people have said how important it is that the theatre stays open but they haven’t backed that up with buying seats. Hopefully by widening the variety of acts we book we will widen the market and introduce the theatre to a whole new generation who haven’t been here before.”

Recently installed pier manger Steve Marshall, a former member of the First Leisure and Leisure Parcs management teams, said he was looking forward to the challenge ahead.

“Free admission to the pier has seen a big increase in footfall and the new lighting along the walkway gives it a sense of being alive and open again,” he said. “We are keen on opening as often as possible throughout the winter months too. The theatre is the ideal size for acts who are too big for the Grand Theatre and not quite big enough for the Opera House in the resort. There is a lot of potential here.”

A children’s show and a concert by boyband Juice, both previously called off because of electrical problems at the theatre, have been re-scheduled for November 11 and 26, he said.