A GRAND SATURDAY NIGHT OF VIBRANT VARIETY
Join housewife superstar Mrs Barbara Nice and friends for the vivacious Variety Notes at Blackpool’s Grand Theatre on Saturday 13th February as part of the resort’s spectacular Showzam! ‘10 festival
Kick off your Showzam! ‘10 festival fun in sizzling style! Variety Notes brings an evening of extraordinary variety and musical entertainment to Blackpool’s Grand Theatre on Saturday 13th February.
Book your seats now for a sensational Saturday night out!
Variety Notes is hosted by the highly-talented housewife superstar Mrs Barbara Nice (fresh from her hit Edinburgh Fringe show and having supported Johnny Vegas and Peter Kay) and also includes the musical genius of Frisky & Mannish, sex-symbol Earl Okin, the gyrating hips of Elvis the Hula Boy and lots more.
Mrs Barbara Nice is the comedy creation of Janice Connolly. Barbara as in Streisand, Nice as in biscuit - is your average Stockport housewife who has given up the domestic bliss of Tupperware and Poundstretcher for the unpredictability of the comedy world. No audience is too rowdy for her to handle - she's already raised five teenagers. With the affectionate attitude of a playgroup leader at a wild Iggy Pop concert, Barbara is guaranteed to warm the heart of any audience and is the perfect host for Variety Notes.
Janice received 5 star reviews at this year’s Edinburgh Festival for her one women show Hiya and Higher and has supported top acts including Peter Kay, Johnny Vegas and Dave Spikey; worked with Paul O’Grady in pantomime and recently starred in Shelagh Delaney’s A Taste of Honey to great critical acclaim. Her extensive television work includes playing the God-fearing barmaid in Phoenix Nights and major roles in ITV’s Dead Man Weds and BBC2’s Thin Ice. Most recently she was in the Kabin with Norris on Coronation Street playing chatterbox Sheila Wheeler.
Have you ever found a pop song funny? Ever been so angry you exploded into a chorus of Beat It? Liberate your mind. Let the re-education begin. It’s Eternal Flame, Jim, but not as we know it! Experience Frisky & Mannish’s School of Pop at Blackpool’s Grand and you will never think of The Bangles the same way again...
Frisky & Mannish are the denizens of musical hilarity, the darlings of international cabaret and the very finest purveyors of twisted pop. Felicity Fitz-Frisky (an English eccentric) and Hansel Amadeus Mannish (a gypsy genius), hail from the world- renowned Leipzig Conservatoire and it is their manifesto to uncover the ‘unfamiliar’ elements dormant within the ubiquitous pop classics. It has become their mission to re-educate the world as to the plethora of possibilities hidden within such seemingly innocuous hits as Come On Eileen and Thriller, for example. And sometimes they just tit about with pop songs...
In reality, Laura Corcoran (Frisky) and Matthew Jones (Mannish) met at Oxford University and cut their comedy teeth with the Oxford Revue from 2004-2006. Laura is in fact the granddaughter of Alice Bell, an original Tiller girl, and daughter of the musical theatre actor Christopher Corcoran, while Matthew is a trained dancer and pianist.
Get ready girls for elderly statesman and sex god Earl Okin. Earl is one of those rare performers, sophisticated and witty enough to have made him perhaps the leading music and comedy act appearing alongside everyone from Paul McCartney and Van Morrison to Benny Carter, Stephane Grappelli and Cleo Laine. Earl takes classic Jazz and Bossa Nova, adds his own brand of comedy and pours the resulting mixture into a couple of secret ingredients including charm and just plain talent. The result is unique, wonderful and world class. No wonder he is in demand from the USA to Singapore and from Australia to Brazil! Don’t miss him at Blackpool’s Grand!
Craig Reid is Elvis the Hula Boy as seen on ITV1’s Britain's Got Talent. Craig expertly combines his background of gymnastic and acrobatics with his high skill level of hula-hoop and performs a slick, high energy and unforgettable hula-hoop act in the persona of the King of Rock and Roll. Hula-hooping to all the classic Elvis songs with the trademark white jump suit and dance moves to match, Craig certainly proves no one moves their pelvis like a hula-hooping Elvis. Thank you very much…
Showzam! ‘10 is a captivating festival for all, which is truly unique to Blackpool. Bringing together the skills, talents and theatrical expertise of world famous performers from circus, magic and new variety; Showzam! ‘10 is packed full of enticing entertainment, sensational new shows, wonderful wizarding workshops and much, much more!
Variety Notes is at the Grand Theatre, Blackpool on Saturday 13th February at 7.30pm as part of Showzam! ‘10.
Adult tickets £12, Child £8, Concessions available.
Book your seats now by calling the Grand Theatre Box Office on 01253 290190, online at www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk or at the Grand Theatre information sales point in the Houndshill Shopping Centre.
Keep right up to date with all the latest special ticket offers, discounts and new shows at Blackpool’s Grand Theatre with our innovative new TEXT service:
Don’t forget - Parking is available at a discounted rate at the secure West Street Car Park, directly opposite the theatre’s entrance. Book your parking ticket when you book your show tickets from the Box Office and you can have parking from 5.30pm until 12.30am for only £2.50!
Ends…
Notes for Editors:
Showzam! ‘10 is a ten day festival of circus, magic and new variety that runs every year in Blackpool during February, coinciding with the school half-term holidays.
This extraordinary and unique festival includes a number of high profile performers, street artists and never before seen acts, showcased throughout Blackpool’s famous landmarks and on the streets.
With a mix of ticketed and free events, family friendly and adult only shows, there's something for everyone, with everyone encouraged to engage and interact with the performances as well as enjoy the workshops and talks by established industry experts. A complete events programme and further details can be found at www.showzam.co.uk or by calling (01253) 478222.
For further Grand Theatre information, review tickets, images etc, please contact:
Sarah Jane Wright
Press Officer
Grand Theatre
Blackpool
01253 743252
or email sarahjane@blackpoolgrand.co.uk