Mr Blackpool May 2026 – The Lowry in partnership with Word of Warning, Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts and Brighton Festival, Blackpool Grand Theatre  Image Credit Matt Crockett“At the end of the world there’ll still be a showgirl kicking her legs behind her ears and thank god for that” Salford, Brighton and Blackpool, prepare to be well and truly razzled and dazzled by Harry Clayton-Wright’s sensationalMr Blackpool returning in 2026 for its biggest performances yet. Following a spectacular pilot tour with performances at Northern Stage, the Southbank Centre headlining the inaugural KUNSTY Festival and Liverpool’s Unity Theatre as part of Homotopia Festival, Blackpool’s multi award-winning theatre maker Harry Clayton-Wright takes end-of-the-pier extravaganza Mr Blackpool on the road this May to the Quays Theatre at The Lowry, presented with Word of Warning, down to Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts for three nights as part of Brighton Festival and finishing off this stint in style with a very special homecoming gala at the beautiful Blackpool Grand Theatre. Rooted in the traditions of end-of-the-pier entertainment and set in the not too distant future against the decimated backdrop of climate collapse or late stage capitalism – you decide, could be both – Mr Blackpool draws on the town’s enduring connection to four performers, who have been nourished and sharpened by the salty air and coastal glamour. Mr Blackpool lays bare both the glitz and grit of the iconic seaside town in lurid technicolour and garish spectacle using autobiography, local legend, class and politics as inspiration for cabaret and variety turns. Clayton-Wright will be joined on stage by three of Blackpool’s finest delights: Aysh De Belle and Sam De Belle, a married dancing duo whose dazzling work has been seen on both stage and screen, and introducing Blake Rainey, a spectacular emerging young performer trained by the De Belles at House of Wingz in Blackpool and who was selected to be part of the prestigious Sadler’s Wells’ National Youth Dance Company (NYDC) cohort in 2025. Mr Blackpool was developed alongside some of UK theatre’s most brilliant creatives with dramaturgy courtesy of both luminary theatre maker, director and performance artist Ursula Martinez (C’est Duckie, La Clique, La Soirée, A Family Outing, Wild Bore) alongside acclaimed actor, activist and broadcaster Scottee (The Listeners, BBC One; Self Help; After the Tone; Loose Ends; BBC Radio 4). Choreographer, director and House of Ghetto founder, Darren Pritchard, as movement director and further dramaturgy, with costume design from Olivier-nominated and WhatsOnStage award winning Ryan Dawson Laight (La Cage aux Folles, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre; Troilus and Cressida, Shakespeare’s Globe, Ride the Cyclone, Southwark Playhouse; My Son’s a Queer (But What Can You Do?), New York, West End, Edinburgh Fringe, Turbine Theatre) and sound design from multidisciplinary artist and creative director Oliver Gregory, otherwise known as Miss Titty Kaka, who started their career at legendary Blackpool drag institution Funny Girls when they were just 18 years old. In a series of acts inspired by personal story and the town’s history, these Blackpool treasures promise pure escapism with flavours of cabaret, variety, drag, dance, magic and sideshow. Commissioned by leading UK producer of queer-led intersectional performance, Marlborough Productions, and Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts with public funding from Arts Council England, this theatrical spectacular will hit Salford, Brighton and come home to Blackpool, bringing these world-class artists to stages across the UK this May. My take: Harry Clayton -Wright is a trailblazer: fierce, funny, filthy and yet not afraid to go to the most vulnerable parts of his psyche. He’s a pleasure to spend time with, offstage and on. His audacious, beautiful and raunchy work makes ‘Drag Race’ looks like ‘Teletubbies’. A truth teller, and a badass with a soft fondant centre. Socials @hclaytonwright on Instagram / http://hcw.horse/ Listings Mr Blackpool The Lowry, Salford Presented in partnership with Word of Warning Saturday 2 May 2026 8pm (80 mins) | Tickets from £12 plus £3.50 booking fee https://thelowry.com/whats-on/harry-clayton-wright-mr-blackpool-cfs1 Attenborough Centre for Creative Arts, Brighton | Brighton Festival Thursday 7 – Saturday 9 May 2026 8pm | £20/£25 Members from 9am, Thu 19 Feb and General on sale 10am, Thu 26 Feb Blackpool Grand Theatre, Blackpool | Homecoming Gala Wednesday 20 May 2026 Time tbc | £15/£12 1894 Members Presale from 19th Feb, General Sale 20th Feb Age Recommendation and Content Warnings: 18+, Mr Blackpool features flashing lights, loud music, haze and smoke, and stage effects including pyrotechnics, and themes that some people may find upsetting. Creative Team A new show from Harry Clayton-Wright. Performed by: Harry Clayton-Wright, Aysh de Belle, Sam de Belle, Blake Rainey Created in collaboration with Oliver Gregory, aka Miss Titty Kaka, Aysh de Belle and Sam de Belle. Costume Design Ryan Dawson Laight Sound Design Oliver Gregory Lighting Design Simon Booth Stage Management Noah Sumptions Movement Direction and Dramaturgy Darren Pritchard Dramaturgy Scottee, Ursula Martinez Rehearsal Producer Catherine Mugonyi Magic Consultant Scott Penrose Sign Writing Lisa Wigham Featuring Interview Contribution by Millie Bracewell aka Millie B Produced by Sally Rose with Lee Smith for Marlborough Productions Executive Producers David Sheppeard and Harry Clayton-Wright Harry Clayton-Wright Harry Clayton-Wright is a critically acclaimed performance artist, award-winning theatre-maker and director hailing from Blackpool, with multiple international tours under his belt. Harry has worked with cabaret and circus ensembles, created and produced live theatre, short films, zines and durational performances and has been a commissioned artist on LGBTQ+ heritage projects across the country. Harry has been an Associate Artist with Marlborough Productions since 2016 and is the Creative Director of Queer Amusements, a multi-artform festival taking place in Blackpool launched in 2024 and returning in 2026. Sex Education, Harry’s debut solo theatre show, won a Brighton Fringe award and was nominated for a Total Theatre award at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Sex Education toured the UK and also was part of the Sydney Mardi Gras festival in 2020. Harry returned to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2025, directing the multi-award winning No Apologies by Emma Frankland which ran at Summerhall and sets out on a world tour in 2026. http://hcw.horse/ https://queeramusements.com/ |
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