Showzam – Blackpool’s new annual festival of circus, magic and new variety
Showzam – Blackpool’s new annual festival of circus, magic and new variety
Friday 8 February–Sunday 24 February 2008
A wasp tamer, the circus parade reinvented (no real animals), fire illuminations, an Asian magical mela, and a burlesque ball are just some of the highlights of Blackpool’s first annual festival of circus, magic and new variety.
Showzam, 8-24 February 2008, builds on Blackpool’s history and heritage in entertaining people and showcases its world-class links in the areas of circus, magic and variety. It forms part of a programme of signature events in the resort over the next three years which are being supported by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA). Many events are free.
A complete events programme and details of special festival packages for short breaks can be found at www.showzam.co.uk or by calling 01253 478222
Highlights of Showzam include:
NEW VARIETY
The 12th birthday of cult Olivier Award winning new variety show Duckie –specially adapted for perhaps its spiritual home, the Tower Ballroom and featuring all your favourite stars including Amy Lamé, Ursula Martinez and Tina C plus some Duckie first timers, including 84-year-old Blackpool magician Mark Raffles. Saturday 23 February 2008, Blackpool Tower Ballroom, Central Promenade
The sexy, new variety Whoopee Club Carnaval Ball in the Tower Ballroom, complete with harlequin dancing girls, balletic Casanovas and 1920s burlesque stylings. Saturday 9 February 2008, Blackpool Tower Ballroom, Central Promenade
CIRCUS
Heat the Streets - Blackpool will be dressed with fire! The original circus parade will also return to the UK as performers take over the streets for a magical night time parade. Free. Saturday 16 February 2008, Blackpool town centre
The Insect Circus - dancing snails, trained butterflies, wasp tamers, the bearded ladybird, Tallulah the worm charmer, and balancing dung beetles – all robotic of course. Free. Fri 8 and Sat 9 February 2008, Pleasure Beach Blackpool, Ocean Boulevard
A travelling circus museum in a mahogany-lined, Bedford TK beetlebox lorry. Free. Fri 8 and Sat 9 February 2008, Pleasure Beach Blackpool, Ocean Boulevard
International Circus Carnival in the Tower - featuring world-class performers in 14 shows based in the Tower Circus. Monte Carlo Circus Festival Award Winner 2007 Elizabeth Axt will perform her amazing head-balancing act high up on the Washington Trapeze. Other acts include the Spider Flyers from China, The Gaucho Cowboys from Argentina, Sapu from Brazil, who will perform a stunning contortion act, acrobats the Gambats and Zulu, knife-throwers Patrick Brumback's Los Alamos and Romanian hand balance act Badea alongside your favourite characters from Blackpool Tower Circus.
The entire tower will be transformed with performers stationed throughout the building. Sat 16-Sun 24 February 2008, Blackpool Tower Circus, Central Promenade.
MAGIC
The Magical Mela of Asian magic. Headlined by illusionist and escapologist, former Magician of the Year and two-times Guinness World Record-holder, Shahid Malik. Also featuring sleight of hand and mind control expert Rajan The Magic Man, Bharat Patel and close-up illusionists Darius and Peter Mehtab. Free. Sat 16 February 2008, Pleasure Beach Blackpool, Ocean Boulevard
The World Junior Magic Championships. Tuesday 19 February 2008, Opera House, Winter Gardens, Church Street
Probably the World’s Greatest Magic Show - with the best magicians from around the world, including Sabrina Fackell & Gennady Kil and Jung, Junge! from Germany, Victor Voitko from the Ukraine, Juliana Chen and Jeff McBride from Las Vegas, Greg Frewin from Canada, The Great Nardini from Scotland and Jon Archer from the north east. Fri 8-Sun 10 February, Opera House, Winter Gardens, Church Street
PLUS
Showtown – a brand new exhibition of show posters from the Leisure Parc’s archives, featuring the stars who have performed at Blackpool over the years – Marlene Dietrich, Julie Andrews, Tony Bennett, Judy Garland, Sammy Davis Jnr to name just a few. Free.Fri 8–Sun 24 February 2008 11am-4pm weekdays and 11am-6pm at weekends, Winter Gardens, Church Street
A series of extreme magical stunts performed around Blackpool in the run up to and during Showzam.
Workshops and talks from world-leading experts in circus, magic and new variety
Street theatre – street performance at the train station, car parks, bus station, shopping centres, streets and hotels to bring a touch of magic, circus and variety to the whole town