INTERNATIONAL FLAVOUR AT SHOWZAM! 2015

More than 70 performers are set to perform at the five-day festival from February 14 – 18.

And a truly international flavour is promised with acts travelling from as far as South America, Canada and the USA, and closer to home with many performers from the Netherlands, France, Sweden, Belgium, Portugal, Germany and across the UK.

Michael Trainor, Artistic Director at LeftCoast, – the organisation commissioned to programme this year’s festival – said: “Adding such an international element to Showzam! creates even more excitement. There is always such a great buzz surrounding Showzam! and we’re looking forward to being part of what is the eighth year of this truly successful festival.

“There is a great variety of acts this year and when you couple that with the excitement of being able to welcome first class entertainers and performers from across the world it adds another dimension.

“Showzam! is Blackpool’s first big event of the year and it is an absolute delight to be working on a project that brings such an international and diverse feel to the town.”

Highlights of Showzam! 2015 include:

• The Columbian-based Circolombia – a circus school that works with street children training future circus stars. Circolombia will be performing daily throughout Showzam! in the Blackpool Tower Circus.
• The hugely entertaining Mysterieuse Coiffures from France – an act that will literally leave your hair standing on end as festival-goers in Showzam! Central are treated to a bizarre and very memorable new hair-do.
• Close Act from the Netherlands – giant, pre-historic beasts will take to the streets of Blackpool charging through crowds looking for food to calm their hunger. But there will be no need to panic as these “Sauruses” are strictly vegetarian!

Back by popular demand is the Carnival Ball – one of Blackpool’s biggest nights of the year as the Tower Ballroom is packed with party-goers seeking a night of entertainment, live music and dancing and this promises a truly international programme.

Acts this year include Abigail Collins (UK), a one-woman rollercoaster of death defying stunts; Magmanus (SWEDEN) with their wild acrobats, jugglers and Teeterboard extraordinaire, and the gorgeous Kitty Bang Bang (UK) with her whisky-soaked, fire-breathin’, chopper ridin’ Princess of British Burlesque. There will also be highlights from the truly spectacular South American circus company Circolombia, amazing aerial silk artists Starfiz (UK), extraordinary specimens from the Hocus Pocus Theatre (UK) ‘Sideshow of Curiosities’, awe-inspiring circus skills from Lost in Translation Circus (UK), Christophe Pavia (FRANCE) will transform you into the belle of the ball with his magical and stunning hair dos, and there’s a world of wonderment from variety supergroup Barnard, Hicks and Jones (UK).

There will also be musical performances throughout the evening with Balkan and Ska influenced band Kumpania Algazarra (PORTUGAL) inspiring rousing party energy and good vibration. The evening will be rounded off with the uber cool DJs, The Broken Hearts.

Michael added: “All the venues involved in this year’s Showzam! offer a truly international experience. From street theatre, the acts in Showzam! Central and the Carnival Ball to the Canadian Monsters of Schlock and Abi Collins in the Pavilion Theatre and the hugely anticipated Circolombia in the Tower Circus.

“There is no doubt that this is Blackpool’s big international festival of the year and we look forward to welcoming all the performers along with the many visitors and residents who we hope will flock to experience such a diverse programme while being entertained.”

Cllr Graham Cain, Blackpool Council’s cabinet member for tourism and leisure, said: “It’s fantastic to have such an international flavour to Showzam! this year. We’ve got a range of very exciting talents from around the globe to entertain people. We hope to also have visitors from far and wide and put on a wonderful week for everyone to enjoy.”

Showzam! 2015 runs from February 14 – 18. To find out more go to www.showzam.co.uk