Month: May 2022
Viva Celebrates 10th Anniversary Season
1 May 2022
Blackpool’s Viva Showroom celebrates its 10th anniversary with a action-packed calendar of brand new shows, it’s first ever West End Musical, top-class comedy and much more.
Opened in 2012, Viva has been entertaining 150,000 visitors annually with a top-class programme of live entertainment produced in house by owners Martin Heywood and the ever-popular outrageous host Leye D Johns.
This Summer sees the most exciting new line up of shows ever produced in its unique cabaret style theatre with a different attraction every night from June through November.
For the first time ever, Viva will stage a full West End musical, ‘Boogie Nights The 70’s Musical’. The hilarious and heart-warming musical featuring a hit soundtrack of our lives will feature
Shane Nolan as the lead. Jon Conway, the show’s original London director and will stage this Viva version, said, “Boogie Nights always had a terrific party atmosphere on previous Blackpool visits and I’m really excited we have secured a large and talented cast of established musical theatre performers to stage the show at Viva.”
Resident host Leye D Johns will headline ‘Viva The Show’ a vibrant new spectacular production with a glamorous cast of singers and dancers showcasing the very best of showbiz glitz at the heart of Blackpool’s Golden Mile.
New for 2022 ‘Viva Country Legends’ starring Danni Graham as Dolly Parton features a foot stomping live band onstage in a tribute to country icons including Johnny Cash, Garth Brooks, Glen Campbell and many more.
Seasonal favourites return by popular demand including hit shows ‘Oh What A Night’ starring The Jersey Beats, celebrating the hits of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons and ‘Voulez-Vous’, a true celebration of Europe’s original pop four-piece Abba!
Viva will become the home of family entertainment as part of it’s 10th anniversary celebration welcoming the hilarious ‘Crazy Comedy Company’. An exciting new show which has been a hit at Butlins resorts for the last two years and the Edinburgh Festival. The show brings a zany mix of cirque skills and family comedy in a perfect teatime show during all school holiday breaks.
Big name stars will return including top comedians Joe Pasquale and Billy Pearce. For those who like the comedy a little more adult, the legendary Joey Blower is set appear every weekend lunchtime from April until October.
In a nonstop year of celebrations, Viva is set to welcome more new attractions, shows and events including Bingo Loco the ultimate party night and a range of terrific tributes to artists including Amy Winehouse, George Michael and many more.
Viva will hold a celebratory ‘10th Anniversary Command performance’ on 12th August 2022, welcoming a star-studded line up 10-years to the day since opening its doors for the very first time.
Owners Martin Heywood and its popular outrageous host Leye D Johns, comment.
“It’s been a spectacular 10-years and an amazing privilege to play an integral role in Blackpool’s resurgence as the UK’s favourite family destination. Through hard work, dedication and a huge wealth of talent Viva has become an entertainment mecca, welcoming thousands of visitors each season.”
“As well as a top-class programme of entertainment featuring a wide range of brand-new shows and returning favourites, over £250,000 with the support of the Arts Council is set to be invested to ensure we continue to grow, producing the best in live entertainment in the heart of Blackpool”
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Queens Jubilee Celebrations in Blackpool
Blackpool will be celebrating the Queens Jubilee with a wide range of events across the resort in June.
The headline event will be a unique one off ‘Heritage Tram’ parade on the afternoon of Thursday 2nd June – as a fleet of trams will come out of retirement and travel in convoy from Blackpool Pleasure Beach to the North Pier, before being available for the public to take journeys on them North and South on the promenade.
Other Queen’s celebrations will take place on the Blackpool Comedy Carpet, including a giant picnic, a special beacon lighting at three locations across Blackpool (including the iconic Blackpool Tower Ballroom), and a spectacular fireworks display launched from Blackpool Pleasure Beach on the night of Saturday 4th June.
To commence the two bank holidays at the start of the four-day holiday weekend. on Thursday 2nd June a grand parade of heritage trams will take place along the seafront, a giant outdoor picnic and free entertainment on the Comedy Carpet, a light and laser show, and a burst of fireworks at the top of The Blackpool Tower.
Staged in association with Blackpool Transport and the Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID), the parade will see around a dozen trams from the heritage fleet travel in convoy from the Pleasure Beach to Little Bispham, creating one of the largest tram parades the resort has seen.
The convoy, which sets off at 2.30pm, will pause at the Tower Festival Headland opposite the Viva Showrooms and the Viva Vegas Diner for a unique photo opportunity.
Between 3pm and 7pm, people will be able to relax at The Big Comedy Picnic, an al fresco eating out area opposite The Blackpool Tower and the Viva venues, with free live entertainment – including our very own Jersey Beats and Viva cast!
Then, between 9pm and 9.45pm, there will be further entertainment before the resort joins the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Beacons, followed by a light show and a burst of fireworks on The Blackpool Tower.
Although the historic trams were officially “retired” when new European-style trams were brought into service on the seafront route in 2012, a number of them were retained and thanks to an army of volunteers have been brought back into regular use. They now form one of the finest heritage fleets in the world.
Blackpool is one of thousands of locations and landmarks across the UK where beacons will be lit. In true Blackpool style, it will be adding its own unique twist to the ceremony. Beacon lighting has long been associated with celebrating major milestones, including Royal Jubilees, weddings and coronations. Dating all the way back to 1897, beacons were lit to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. Most recently, beacons have been used to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day and Her Majesty’s 90th birthday in 2016.
A spokesperson said: “We are thrilled that Blackpool Transport and the Tourism Business Improvement District are partnering with us to create a unique celebration of this very special royal milestone.
“A parade of heritage trams on this scale is something that has not been seen for many years and it promises to be a spectacular sight. The addition of a burst of fireworks at the top of The Blackpool Tower will create a magnificent finale at the end of the first day of the holiday.”
The parade and beacon lighting ceremony form part of a brilliant programme of events across the resort to celebrate the special royal milestone. These include:
- The lighting of The Blackpool Tower in red, white and blue throughout the four days.
- Jubilee-themed events and live entertainment at Blackpool Pleasure Beach throughout the four-day holiday weekend including late night riding, fireworks and a Jubilee Concert on Saturday 4 June.
- A chance to take afternoon tea in one of Blackpool’s magnificent heritage venues including the magnificent Blackpool Tower Ballroom, the Imperial Hotel, the magnificent Mazzei Café in the Winter Gardens, and the Art Deco Café overlooking the Italian Gardens in the award-winning Stanley Park.
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