Grand Theater, Blackpool

The Grand Theatre of Blackpool was designed in the Victorian style in 1893 by architect Frank Matcham. The theatre is located at 33 Church Street, at the corner of Church Street and Corporation Street, on the former site of Thomas Sergenson's Circus. The project was conceived and financed by local theatre manager Thomas Sergenson, who hired Matcham to build the "prettiest theatre in the land."

The theatre had cantilevers to support the seating tiers. This eliminated the need for pillars or columns inside, giving a clear view of the stage from all directions. The Grand Theatre was a great success through World War I and into the 1930s. It operated as a motion picture house outside the summer seasons until the Opera House was built nearby.

The popularity of television after World War II cut a swath through the theatre business of the Grand. The Grand narrowly escaped demolition in 1972. The theatre was a Bingo venue for three years. In 1981, the group of friends of the Grand, with the backing of the Council, reopened the Grand Theatre. The new stage of the Grand started with a performance of Willian Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice.

In 2006 the Grand Theatre was named England's National Theatre of Variety. It produces a wide range of events as family entertainment, comedies, musicals, and dramas. The auditorium has grand chandeliers, ceiling frescoes, and ornate surroundings. Food and drinks are available on each level and in the Matcham Court Bar.