One of the few remaining theatres of great architectural character, designed by Frank Matcham. It has a magnificent 4-level auditorium with 1,200 seats. All-year-round programme covering all live art forms. Lancashire's premier touring theatre and arts centre.

Guess How Much I Love You

23-24 August

The much loved children's book Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney, with illustrations by Anita Jeram, has been adapted for the stage by David Wood, the UK's leading writer and director of children's theatre, whose many successes include The Tiger Who Came To Tea, Fantastic Mr. Fox, The Gingerbread Man, The Witches and Babe The Sheep Pig.

Sometimes, when you love someone very, very much, you want to find a way of describing how great your feelings are. But, as Little Nutbrown Hare and Big Nutbrown Hare discover, love is not an easy thing to measure!

Lucy greets the audience and introduces us to Little Nutbrown Hare and Big Nutbrown Hare as they discover the delights of the seasons. In Spring, they discovered the seeds growing and the trees coming into bloom. They also quickly realise that Spring is the season for hares to go hopping! They discover young creatures in the field, the tadpole becoming a frog and the caterpillar growing into a butterfly. They see that everything is growing and sing a song about growing up.

As Spring turns to Summer we find out about the delights and pastimes that can be enjoyed as the season changes. After their Summer adventures, the weather turns cooler and the hares know that Autumn is on the way. They play in the Autumn leaves and have fun with a game of hide and seek.

When the snow falls, Winter is here! Lucy sings a song called A Winter’s Day and she feels really really cold. They all dance to keep warm.

After their adventures and all the fun, games and laughter, it’s time for bed. Little Nutbrown Hare asks Big Nutbrown Hare’s to "Guess How Much I Love You", ending with Big Nutbrown Hare saying "I love you right up to the moon – and back".

One Man Lord Of The Rings

12 September

Charles Ross, creator of the hugely successful - One Man Star Wars Trilogy, returns with his equally hilarious follow-up One Man Lord of the Rings - in which he recreates the enchanting world of Middle-earth, armed with nothing more than a pair of elbow pads and his outrageous imagination.

No props or costumes are required as Ross hurtles through the Tolkien trilogy The Fellowship Of The Ring, The Two Towers and The Return Of The King in just 3,600 seconds of unbelievable kinetic entertainment. If you’ve seen the films, read the books and named your first-born Frodo, don’t miss Ross’ zany take on the ever-popular epic saga.

Up 'n' Under

13-18 September

John Godber directs the 25th Anniversary production of his Olivier Award-winning comedy. Actress and TV personality Abi Titmuss, fresh from a critically-acclaimed performance as Lady Macbeth, stars as a gym instructor attempting to kick an unruly bunch of amateur Rugby League misfits into touch in just eight short weeks.

When Rugby League obsessive Arthur Hoyle bets his savings on the team from the Wheatsheaf Arms, a squad with a less than impressive reputation for losing every single match they have ever played, nothing short of a miracle can help.

Arthur has to turn the unwilling team into the best squad north of the Humber as they prepare to face their arch rivals, the Cobbler’s Arms. But help is at hand in the form of a gym instructor who may just have what it takes to prepare the boys for the match of their lives.

Love's A Luxury

20-25 September

Ian Dickens Productions are proud to present the classic period comedy Love’s A Luxury by Guy Paxton and Edward V. Hoile starring Emmerdale heart-throb Ben Freeman who played Scott Windsor, Richard Walsh (London’s Burning’s “Sicknote”) and Hollyoaks’ Jennifer Biddall who played Jessica Harris with two of Ian Dickens Productions’ most popular actors, Giles Watling (who played the vicar, Oswald in Bread) and David Callister.

Charles Pentwick, a flamboyant and successful theatrical producer is a very lucky man. He’s always surrounded by gorgeous actresses and attractive chorus girls. Only one problem. His wife is a jealous and suspicious woman. With just cause!

To escape being henpecked, he and his actor friend Bobby Bentley flee to a country cottage. Ah the peace and quiet! Expecting to be greeted by the housekeeper, plain Mrs Harris, they find she is replaced by her pert and pretty daughter, Molly, whose eyes alight with delight on Bobby. Then the tantalising French starlet, Fritzy Villiers, who fancies Charles, descends on the cottage. So that when, unannounced, Mrs Charles Pentwick arrives, she reacts. Vehemently! Events spin deliriously out of control and soon the whole cast are romping through a series of hilarious misunderstandings and mistaken identities.

This glorious comedy is a delicious cocktail full of zest and fizz – guaranteed to send the audience home with a spring in their step and a twinkle in their eye.

For more information on these and other great shows  - visit the Grand Theatre website