Theatres

King George’s Hall

Two great theatres in one magnificent building. King George’s Hall in the centre of Blackburn is one of the region’s premier live entertainment complexes and attracts top class, international performers from the worlds of music, dance, comedy and variety.

The Blackburn Classics Season welcomes the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestras, while ballet and opera ensembles from Vienna, Russia and Italy perform regularly in a year round programme of quality events.

Forthcoming performances include shows as diverse as Jason Manford, the Lancashire Hotpots and Swan Lake.

Northgate, Blackburn BB2 1AA. Tel: 01254 582579, www.kinggeorgeshall.com

Blackburn Empire Theatre

Opened as a silent movie theatre in 1910, the Blackburn Empire Theatre is now one of the North West’s finest arts centres, featuring the best in amateur and professional entertainment. Funded by local people and companies and opened in 2002, the new theatre prides itself on being built ‘by the people for the people’.

The programme features a diverse range of artists from The Four Tops, Howard Jones, The Lancashire Artillery Band and Elvis impersonators to psychics and modern dance revues.

Aqueduct Road, Blackburn BB2 4HT. Tel: 01254 685500, www.blackburnempiretheatre.co.uk

Darwen Library Theatre

Slightly further afield is the Darwen Library Theatre which has hosted many local performances and some more famous performers, such as Dave Spikey, The Grumbleweeds, Marc Almond, The Houghton Weavers and others.

Attached to Darwen Library, the theatre is a hub of community activity including several amateur dramatic clubs, a film society and a thriving reading group.

Comedian Paddy McGuinness recently played to a sell-out crowd and forthcoming performances include Mike Gunn & Sean Collins and Hugh Cornwell (the original guitarist, singer and main songwriter in The Stranglers).

Knott Street, Darwen, BB3 3BU. Tel: 01254 774684, www.darwenlibrarytheatre.com