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| Lee Mead is just one major act at Morecambe’s Platform this autumn |
The autumn winter brochure for Morecambe’ Platform is out now and packed with famous faces from stage and screen – and to celebrate the launch, the venue is offering an ‘early bird’ discount of 10% off pantomime tickets purchased before 1st September.
The early bird offer can be redeemed at local Visitor Information Centres
and through the Platform’s Box Office – this offer is not available for online
purchases via the website.
Here are some of the highlights…
Christmas wouldn’t be the same without a pantomime. So get your three wishes ready as Aladdin will be riding in on his magic carpet. Performances take place from Boxing Day 26th December – Monday 30th December. Tickets for this will make great Christmas gifts and cost £8 adult £7 child £26 family (2+2).
The new season begins on the weekend of the Seaside Festival. Take a trip down memory lane with Thanks for the Memory: They Played the Winter Gardens on Saturday 31st August at 12pm and 2pm. Presented by Duggie Chapman MBE, this show features rare film clips of comedy heroes, singers and music hall acts from the Edwardian era to the 1950s. Tickets are £5.
On Sunday 1st September local celebrity antiques expert Paul Hayes will be on hand to value your treasures. He will be offering free appraisals from 12pm then returning to the stage at 7.30pm for an evening of ‘Seaside Rock’. The Paul Hayes Collection are performing ‘Rock Back the Clock’ with a line up featuring Eric Faulkner (Bay City Rollers), Derek’s Dirty Hand and Hush. The evening is in aid of St John’s Hospice and tickets are £10 including supper.
This season’s highlight for fans of musical theatre will be An Evening with Lee Mead. The winner of Any Dream Will Do and star of West End smash hits: Joseph, Wicked and Legally Blonde, is bringing his solo show to Morecambe on Thursday 26th September. Lee will perform songs from his theatre shows and off his albums. He will also be bringing a superb band for an amazing night of music. The show starts at 8pm and Tickets are £25. This will sell out so it’s advisable to buy tickets early.
There is more musical theatre from the Morecambe Warblers (Youth Productions) as they present Bugsy Malone. This promises to be a great show of slapstick musical comedy where the weapons of choice are ‘splurge’ guns and custard pies! Performances take place on Friday 6th September at 7.30pm and Saturday 7th September at 2.30pm and 7.30pm. Tickets are £10/£8 concessions.
If high voltage rock and roll is your idea of a great night out don’t miss ‘For Those about to Rock’ with Livewire, a fantastic AC/DC tribute. This six man band perform hit after hit including ‘Back in Black’, ‘Rosie’ and ‘Highway to Hell’ until the cannons fire ceremoniously bringing the show to a superb crescendo. Plus the ZZ Tops are also on the bill! Tickets are £18 for this amazing show on Saturday 14th September at 7.30pm.
Rockers will also be pleased to hear that Whole Lotta Led are back on stage at the Platform. Celebrating the 40th anniversary of ‘Houses of the Holy’, the band will perform the album in its entirety and several classic Zeppelin songs. Don’t miss this performance from one of the most talented tribute acts in the UK on Saturday 21st September at 8pm. Tickets are £14/£13 concessions.
Traditional brass band music will be performed at the Last Night of the Proms by Wesley Methodist Church featuring the Pilling Silver Jubilee Silver Band on Friday 13th September at 7pm. Tickets are £9.
Morecambe Brass Band also brings their Remembrance Concert to the Platform on Saturday 9th November and they will perform their traditional Winter Showcase on Friday December 20 and the Christmas Concert on Saturday 21st December.
Hal Cruttenden is bringing laughter to the Platform this season. The ‘Tough Luvvie’ tour features Hal’s warm and catty, straight and camp mix that has made him a regular guest on televised comedy shows. In comedy circles, he is being tipped as ‘the next big thing’ and is on stage on Saturday November 23. Tickets are £14/£12 and the show is for ages 16 and over.
Vintage enthusiasts should make their way to the Platform on Sunday 15th September to see the venue transformed into a vintage village hall and tea room. It will be open from 10am – 4pm and is free to enter and browse the stalls selling vintage clothing and accessories with traditional tea and cakes also on sale.
Alexei Sayle will be on stage reading excerpts from his hilarious memoir of his confusing life as the son of communist parents. He talks about his family and the life and times growing up in Liverpool. He will also answer audience questions on his dazzling show business career. This show is on Monday 23rd September at 8pm and is suitable for over 18s only. Tickets cost £15/£14 concessions.
Politician Michael Portillo will be talking about his extraordinary life story in ‘Life: A Game of Two Halves’ on Saturday 5th October. He will recall his political rise and exit as well as what he has been up to since then. Listen to his story and feel free to question him about it. Join him at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £15/£13.
Jazz fans can hear the James Taylor Quartet play their latest album ‘Closer to the Moon’ on Saturday 28th September. Bringing a new sound to their trademark styling, the worlds of jazz and classical music collide and result in a brilliant and unexpected marriage. JTQ fans will be delighted to hear James’ first ever lead vocal performance on ‘Closer to You’. Tickets cost £16.
Recreating the legendary music of Queen is tribute band, Magic. They will be performing all their greatest hits with a talented band capable of performing the complex harmonies of Queen’s trademark sound on Friday 4th October at 8pm. Tickets £16.50.
Get your tiaras and bow ties at the ready and help raise funds for St John’s Hospice at the Diamonds are Forever black tie charity evening. Dress to impress and receive a free Martini (shaken not stirred) on entry. Be dazzled by the sounds of Solid Silver, joined by special guests and dancers. Win big on the charity raffle and bid high in the auction to help raise funds for this worthy charity. Tickets for this event on Saturday 12th October are £8 per adult and £4 per child and include a buffet and free drink.
Later with Jools Netherland brings a non stop mini festival with an eclectic mix of indie/rock/folk/acoustic/tex mex/country and classic rock on Friday 18th October. Suitable for over 18s or 16 and over with an accompanying adult. Tickets are only £10 and these popular gigs often sell out.
Swoon along to ‘An Evening of Frank Sinatra’ featuring the Moonlight Serenade Orchestra on Saturday 19th October at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £13.
If the king of rock and roll is more to your taste get those blue suede shoes on and enjoy One Night of Elvis. This spectacular show is on Saturday 26th October at 8pm. Tickets cost £20 for this celebration of Elvis’s career from the 1950s through to the Vegas years headed by Lee Memphis King and his world class band and backing singers.
Keep little ones amused during October half term with How to Catch a Star. Based on the best selling children’s book, this adaptation includes music, storytelling and puppetry to bring to life the story of the little boy who loved stars very much…. A great show for small people aged 3-7 and grown up star gazers! There are two shows on Monday 28th October at 11.30am and 2pm. Tickets cost £6 adults/£5 child/£20 family (2+2).
Brian Kennedy has worked with Van Morrison and shared stages with Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Ray Charles and John Lee Hooker and is coming to the Platform on Friday 1st November at 8pm. Tickets cost £17.50.
On Saturday 2nd November, dazzling costumes and authentic musicianship come together for a night with Beatlemania. Be transported from their mop-top roots to the psychedelic Sgt Pepper era and beyond to make you feel like it was only ‘Yesterday’. The event starts at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £17.50.
One of the best loved entertainers that Ireland has ever produced, Dominic Kirwan, is coming to the Platform to perform his latest concert ‘My Ireland’. This promises to be an evening spanning folk, country and popular music at its best on Friday 8th November. Tickets cost £18.50
Local film director Chris Abram presents Times Past 3 featuring new clips obtained from the North West Film Archives from long lost promotional films captured in the 1930s. Chris will also be showing excerpts from his latest award winning local heritage films on Saturday 16th November. Tickets cost £10.
Join the Promenade Concert Orchestra as they perform Music for You – Your Hundred Best Tunes on Sunday 17th November at 3pm. This concert features harpist Maxine Molin as soloist. Tickets cost £14 adult, £12 concession and £6 child.
Celebrate St Andrew’s Day with a Ceilidh with music from Striding Edge and a hot pot supper on Friday 29th November. It will be a great night of dancing and music – no experience necessary as the expert callers will explain all the dances and call the moves.
Celebrity magician Paul Daniels is showcasing his First Farewell Tour;
From Legend to Leg End on Saturday 30th November. Performing some of his
best loved tricks with a few new ones up his sleeve, catch him before he
hangs up his magic wand. As always, he will be joined by the lovely
Debbie McGee. Tickets cost £16.
In December, two talented folk bands are performing. The Houghton Weavers promise to deliver a fun and friendly evening of music and anecdotes on Friday 13th December at 7.30pm whilst Steeleye Span, one of the most successful British folk rock bands ever, are performing on Saturday December 14 at 7.30pm. Tickets for the Houghton Weavers cost £14/£13 concessions and for Steeleye Span £19.50.
Have you arranged your Christmas night out yet? If not, get your tickets to Jools Netherland’s Big Xmas Night Out and join us for a fantastic evening of festive food and top class live entertainment from the show band. There are two party nights to choose from – Tuesday 17th and Wednesday 18th December from 8pm. Tickets cost £25 and include mulled wine and a hot carvery supper.
• More details about these acts and the many more on offer are available in the Autumn/Winter edition of The Platform brochure. The brochure is available to download online at www.lancaster.gov.uk/platform
If you would like to receive a copy of the brochure by email please send your details to: platform@lancaster.gov.uk
• Brochures are available to collect from the Platform, Central Promenade, Morecambe, visitor information centres and town halls in Lancaster and Morecambe and Salt Ayre Sports Centre, Lancaster.
• The Platform also has a Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Morecambeplatform and a Twitter account @theplatformlcc