The North(ish) Lass

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Tag: lancashire

  • Lancaster Footlights Presents: Bad Girls by Jacqueline Wilson

    Lancaster Footlights Presents: Bad Girls by Jacqueline Wilson

    The summer production from Lancaster Footlights at Lancaster Grand is Bad Girls, a novel by Jacqueline Wilson and adapted for the stage by Vicky Ireland.

    Bad Girls tells the story of Mandy, a schoolgirl who is being bullied by her classmates because of her “uncool” glasses and hairstyle. Mandy resents her mum, who won’t let her change these things. After being withdrawn from school, Mandy meets Tanya an older girl who shows her how to live a little, but Mandy’s mum thinks she’s a “bad girl”…

    Head to Lancaster Grand 13th – 21st to find out what happens next! Follow this link for tickets or go via the Box Office on 01524 64695 (Monday–Saturday, 10am–3pm).

    Ahead of the production Dress Rehearsals, I sat down with director Laura Creed to chat about the process of directing, and what it’s been like bringing Bad Girls to the stage…

    What made you want to switch from acting to giving directing a go?
    “It wasn’t a planned decision. During rehearsals for another Footlights production that I was acting in, the director (who is on the Production Board at The Grand) asked if I would like to direct the 2025 summer show. They thought I would be a good fit as I had already run several successful drama workshops for children at the theatre. I instantly said yes, as it was something I had wanted to do for a while, but hadn’t had the confidence to put my name forward. Seeing that the committee at The Grand had faith in me, it gave me the push to go for it.”

    “Watching the cast grow has been one of the most amazing things…”

    Laura Creed, Director

    Why did you choose ‘Bad Girls’ for your directorial debut?
    “The committee suggested Bad Girls, and I was on board straight away, as I had been a massive Jacqueline Wilson fan growing up. I was really excited about the idea of directing one of her stories, and bringing it to life for a new generation.”

    Rehearsals for Bad Girls
    Photo courtesy of Lancaster Grand Website.

    How have you found the experience so far?
    “I’ve loved every second of it. At the beginning I was a bundle of nerves, and very frantic – especially about the audition process – as I wasn’t sure how to run a rehearsal, or how to get a play from the page to the stage. Everything was completely new to me. But as time’s gone on, the process has become a lot easier, and it certainly helps being surrounded by such a great group of people.”

    What’s been the best thing about directing?
    “I think watching the cast grow has been one of the most amazing things. When you see an actor become more confident in their role and start adding their own nuances to it… it’s great! I loved working with and collaborating with all these different people who work in different ways. It’s just all been so much fun.”

    On stage rehearsals
    Photo courtesy of Lancaster Footlights.

    What has been the most challenging aspect?
    “I didn’t realise how much problem solving was involved when directing! For example, there are a lot of quick scene changes within the show, so figuring out how to stage them has been difficult. There has been a lot of liaising with our incredible backstage team to work out what’s possible and what’s not, and how to bring the scenes to life in the most authentic and seamless way possible.”

    Any spoilers you can give about what audiences can expect from the play?
    “The play has a mixture of really fun stylised imagination sequences, but at the same time it doesn’t shy away from the darker side and realities that some children face as they grow up. Mostly, however, it’s about friendship, and people bringing out the best in each other through it.”

    Bad Girls is being presented by Footlights at Lancaster Grand in arrangement with Nick Hearn Books. There are six performances to choose from between 13th – 21st of June.

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  • Weekly Recommendation: 30th May 2025

    Weekly Recommendation: 30th May 2025

    To Do

    Go and see SIX: THE MUSICAL (LIVE) screened at The Dukes in Lancaster. (Link for tickets)

    To Eat

    Deep fried black pudding and potato stack (with added bacon if you wish), poached egg, and chilli jam @ The Quayside, Glasson Dock. Open Thur-Sun. Read about the café in my article here.

  • Things To Do In Lancaster (In A Day)

    Things To Do In Lancaster (In A Day)

    A Morning in Lancaster

    Start off the morning by having breakfast in one of our many independent cafes, which you can read more about in my ‘Cafe Culture in Lancaster‘ series.

    Follow up the lovely breakfast by going for a tour of Lancaster Castle. This will need to be prebooked as the tour is guided, in small groups, by a knowledgeable tour guide. The castle has a history dating from the high medieval period right through to the present day (it ceased to be a HM Prison in 2011). Following that you can have a look around the Priory that is adjacent to the castle or have a wander down the hill towards the river to look at the ruins of the Roman Baths. There’s not a huge amount left of the ancient monument there, but it’s interesting to see evidence of just how long humans have been settled and building on the banks of the River Lune.

    Front Gate of Lancaster Castle

    If you need (or want) lunch after all of that, there are many pubs and eateries to choose from in Lancaster. I will be doing an article in the coming weeks about some of the pubs that can be found in the city, so keep your eyes peeled for that. Off the top of my head, I would suggest The Sun, the Three Mariners, Merchants 1666, or the Water Witch, which all do excellent pub food.

    Afternoon in Lancaster

    In the afternoon, depending on where your interests lie there are several different options. If you want to continue in the history theme of things, I suggest having a wander around Lancaster Museum, found in the middle of the market square. This fascinating museum takes you through the history of the region and the city from the earliest human occupation to the present day, including the links to the Wars of the Roses, the Witch Trials (the first convictions for witchcraft in the seventeenth century occurred in Lancaster), and the oft-glossed over involvement of the city in the English Slave Trade. For more information on the latter, a visit to the Lancaster Maritime Museum is also on the cards.

    Ashton Memorial

    If, however, you’ve been historied out by the visit to the castle in the morning, I suggest a visit to Williamson Park, the lovely open space to be found at the top of the city, with the in-situ Ashton Memorial looking out over the city and surrounding countryside in all direction. In the park you can also find a wildlife park and butterfly house, with lots of interesting critters and creatures to take a look at. If fauna isn’t necessarily your thing, then a wander around the park and surrounding woodland is a relaxing way to pass the time on a nice day, although it is worth being aware that the park and surrounding area is fairly hilly, and whilst it is accessible to wheelchairs and motorised scooters, those with ambulatory difficulties without aid might struggle a little, depending on conditions. If you’re up at the park as the sun begins to go down, you’re in for a treat, watching the sunset over Morecambe Bay with the Lake District Hills in the distance, a beautiful location to the end the day.

    Lancaster itself sits on the main West Coast trainline, so as your day comes to an end there are plenty of trains to take you either North or South, depending on where you want to go next. The city is also adjacent to junction 34 of the M6 motorway, so is easily accessible by car.

  • What’s On In May: Cultural Calendar

    There’s so much to do in Lancaster and Morecambe in May! The table below is a collection of events that I have gathered together happening in the local area throughout May. Check out the list and then head along to some of the events – our town is thriving and there’s always something going on, with lots of different genres and types, so there’s something for everyone.
    Note: This list is not intended to be exhaustive, and is just a selection of things happening in the area.

    When?What?Type?Where?Link?
    1st-4thLancaster Comedy FestivalComedyVarious VenuesLancaster Comedy Fest
    2ndTaylormaniaMusicLancaster Grand TheatreTaylormania 2025 | Live Music @ Lancaster Grand Theatre
    2ndNick HarperMusicThe Gregson CentreNick Harper – The Gregson
    3rd/4thSpring FairDays OutHolker HallHolker SpringFest 2025 – Holker Hall
    3rd/4thMorecambe Bay Guided Walk (Arnside to Grange-over-Sands)Days OutStarts in ArnsideGuide over Sands – Bay Walk, Charitable Organization, Bay Walk
    5thDog DayDays OutLeighton HallLeighton Hall :: Home
    6th – 10thPlay: Spitfire GirlsTheatreThe DukesSpitfire Girls › The Dukes
    6th – 11thLADOS Present Charlie and the Chocolate FactoryMusical TheatreLancaster Grand TheatreLADOS present Roald Dahl’s – Charlie and The Chocolate Factory | Live Musical @ Lancaster Grand Theatre
    8thVE Day 80 CelebrationsDays Out/HistoryVarious Venues
    9thThe Vintage ExplosionMusicThe Platform, MorecambeThe Vintage Explosion – Universe
    9thThe Camera Doesn’t Lie… But Photographers DoTalk/HistoryThe Gregson Centre, LancasterThe Camera Doesn’t Lie…But Photographers Do – The Gregson
    10thAnd Finally Phil CollinsMusicThe Platform, MorecambeAnd Finally Phil Collins – Universe
    10th/11thUK Truck and Tractor Pull 2025Days OutScortonUK Truck and Tractor Pull – The World’s Most Powerful Motorsport comes to Scorton
    10th/11thImaginary FriendsTheatreThe DukesImaginary Friends › The Dukes
    11thGresgarth Hall Open DayDays OutGresgarth HallGresgarth Hall
    11thIgnacio Lopez: Senor Self DestructComedyLancaster Grand TheatreIgnacio Lopez: Señor Self Destruct | Live Comedy @ Lancaster Grand Theatre
    12thThe Overtones: Up Close and PersonalMusicLancaster Grand TheatreThe Overtones – Up Close and Personal | Live @ Lancaster Grand Theatre
    14thMichael Murpurgo’s Farm BoyTheatreThe DukesFarm Boy › The Dukes
    14thMusic: Grace PetrieMusicThe DukesGrace Petrie › The Dukes
    15th – 17thNorthern Design FestivalArtsThe Storey, Lancaster
    16thKerry Godliman: BandwidthComedyLancaster Grand TheatreKerry Godliman: Bandwidth | Live Comedy @ Lancaster Grand Theatre
    17thCaton GalaDays OutCaton Village
    18thMorecambe Bay Guided Walk (Arnside to Grange-over-Sands)Days OutStarts in ArnsideGuide over Sands – Bay Walk, Charitable Organization, Bay Walk
    18thPromenade Concert Orchestra – Music From The ShowsMusicThe Promenade, MorecambePromenade Concert Orchestra – Music From The Shows – Universe
    21st – 24thPlay: Just Between OurselvesTheatreThe Dukeshttps://dukeslancaster.org/whats-on/theatre/just-between-ourselves
    22ndCharlie Connelly’s Attention all ShippingTheatreLancaster Grand TheatreCharlie Connelly’s Attention all Shipping | Live Comedy @ Lancaster Grand Theatre
    23rd – 24thTaming of the “Shrew”TheatreThe DukesThe Taming of the “Shrew” › The Dukes
    23rd – 25thSleazy Live: Punk and Ska FestivalMusicJohnny’s Warehouse BarSleazy live information
    23rdThe Swing CommandersMusicThe Promenade, MorecambeThe Swing Commanders – Universe
    24thTeddy Bears PicnicDays OutHappy Mount Park
    24thGive & Take DayCommunityThe Gregson Centre, LancasterGive & Take Days – The Gregson
    24th/25thMorecambe Bay Guided Walk (Arnside to Grange-over-Sands)Days OutStarts in ArnsideGuide over Sands – Bay Walk, Charitable Organization, Bay Walk
    24th – 26thLancaster Festa ItaliaCommunityVarious Venues
    24th – 26thChipping Steam FairDays OutChippingChipping Steam Fair New for 25
    25thAled Jones – Full CircleMusicLancaster Grand TheatreAled Jones – Full Circle | Live Music @ Lancaster Grand Theatre
    27th/28thSh*t Life CrisisTheatreThe DukesSh*t Life Crisis › The Dukes
    30thRich Hall – Chin MusicComedyLancaster Grand TheatreRich Hall – Chin Music | Live Comedy @ Lancaster Grand Theatre
    30thWitches, Dark Arts, and Demonology LectureTalk/HistoryThe Judges’ LodgingJudges’ Lodgings Museum – Lancashire County Council
  • Café Culture in Lancaster: Part Two

    Café Culture in Lancaster: Part Two

    Following on from last week’s post: Café Culture in Lancaster: Part One, this week it’s time for Part Two where I will look at four more independent (or smaller) coffee shops/cafés in Lancaster. The same pricing scale from last week still applies.

    Journey Social

    Features: Excellent Menu

    Price: £££

    Journey Social is a lovely café/restaurant to be found just behind the library in the town square. With a diverse menu and excellent coffee, it’s a great place to go for breakfast, brunch, or lunch, but you will need to take your appetites – plates are (in my experience!) quite large! Also be prepared to pay that little bit more for the great ingredients and the from-scratch cooking. Journey Social is one of the more expensive on this list, but definitely worth it as a treat or a special breakfast out. I particularly like the avocado and pea puree they add to various dishes, and from the cake display I’m a fan of their pastel del nata.

    Holm

    Features: Scandinavian Cuisine, Great Cakes (Fika!)

    Price: £

    A small café that is now looking to expand because it’s done so well, Holm is a café/bakery that specialises in Scandinavian food and fika. Fika is the Swedish name for cake and a hot drink taken in the afternoon, and Holm offers a deal on this Swedish tradition. The café is also in a moment of exciting expansion, as they’re about to expand to the empty shop next door, taking their capacity up from only three tables, to quite a few more!

    Last time I was there, mum had a dish with Salmon, pickled cucumber, rocket, cream cheese, and dill, with a lemon flavour. She enjoyed it, but she did say the portion was very large (she has quite a small appetite!). I had a bagel with cheese and salami.

    They also home bake all their cakes, and we took home a tart with berries and crème anglaise, which was delicious with a cup of tea later that afternoon!

    Atkinson’s Coffee House

    Features: Great Coffee (own blend), Social Tables/Space, Dog Friendly

    Price: ££

    Atkinson’s has been coffee blenders and tea sellers in Lancaster for nearly two hundred years. Thomas Atkinson opened his tea warehouse in Lancaster in 1837, at which time his shop was one of six.

    There are also three different locations of Atkinson’s in Lancaster. There’s The Hall, which is the original café next to the coffee roasting shop; The Music Room on Sun Street; and The Castle Courtyard which can be found (unsurprisingly) in Lancaster Castle Courtyard. The Hall is a huge space on the main road heading towards Sainsburys out of town with smaller tables to work at, or bigger communal tables for chatting with friends or other coffee lovers. I like going into the hall and seeing all the coffee making experiments that they have going on – it looks like an alchemist’s lab in there!

    The Music Room is a smaller venue with an outdoor courtyard space which is gorgeous to sit in the spring and summer. The Castle Courtyard is a lovely café in an amazing historical location, but it’s worth noting that whilst it is all flat or ramped, it is a bit of a trek from the road up to the castle and it might be a challenge to someone with accessibility issues.

    The Storey

    Features: Social Space/Laptop Space, Garden Seating

    Price: £

    The Storey is a council owned building dedicated to the arts and learning. There are always exhibitions, classes, workshops, and other things going on within the building. There is also a little accessible café space with plenty of comfortable seating and tables for either enjoying a coffee with friends, or plugging in a laptop and catching up on some work. My old singing teacher used to have a classroom and singing space in the Storey, so I would often have a coffee and cake before going to my lesson. There is a little courtyard area where I sometimes sat outside in the late afternoon sunshine in the spring and summer.

    The Storey Gardens are also worth a visit, perhaps with a takeaway coffee. The Gardens are perhaps one of Lancaster’s best kept secrets, and beautiful to take a walk around. I’ll be doing a whole piece about the Storey Gardens and the history of the place at a later date.

  • Lunch @ The Inn at Whitewell

    Lunch @ The Inn at Whitewell

    Had a delightful lunch at the Inn at Whitewell for my mum’s 70th birthday earlier this month. The Inn is a sixteenth century coaching inn that sits in the middle of the gorgeous Trough of Bowland next to the River Hodder. As a family, we’d been to the Inn before and had a wonderful meal, so it was a no brainer to go back again for mum’s special birthday.

    The kitchen garden at the Inn

    The Inn itself isn’t the easiest place to get to, and unfortunately driving is the only option as it is rather remote, on a country road halfway between Lancaster and Clitheroe. It takes about half an hour from Lancaster, and the road is very twisty and turny, but through some beautiful North Lancashire countryside. Just be aware that in many parts the road is narrow (so passing places are used) and also open to the fields where there may be sheep and lambs on or very close to the road.

    Anyway, back to the Inn. I rang up before the day to ask for a bottle of Prosecco on the table when we arrived, and they were very happy to accommodate. In the eventuality we were early so it came just after we sat down – that wasn’t the inn’s fault that it wasn’t there, as I mentioned we were fifteen minutes early! I’d also asked whether they were able to do something with candles. As it transpired, they were able to put a candle in our shared pudding, so she could blow out a birthday candle and make a wish.

    The Inn itself has a reputation for excellence in food and service, with head chef Jamie Cadman now in his twentieth year of being there, producing excellent cuisine and highlighting produce from the local area. The Inn is particularly well known for its fish pie, of which they were able to do a smaller portion for mum for her main. This was great because she can often become over faced by large portions of food and be put off, so it was great that they were able to accommodate a slightly smaller appetite and do a half-portion. She’d had queen scallops to start with. It must have been serendipity that scallops were on the special’s menu on her birthday, as they are her absolute favourite. Must have known we were coming! I didn’t have a starter, instead choosing to have the roast beef (with deliciously cut sirloin) and two Yorkshire puddings (my favourite!) and then having room to share a sticky toffee pudding with mum. Anyway, it was absolutely delicious and when I rose from the table, I was pleasantly full, rather than overly stuffed, which is sometimes a side effect of eating in these nice places.

    The inn also has rooms, and other activities available for those who would like to stay. It is also very popular with walkers, as it is surrounded by beautiful rolling countryside, to go off for a nice amble or a more strenuous hike, before heading to the pub for lunch (Be aware that the pub serves lunch between 12pm – 2pm, so your party will need to order before 2pm). What a lovely way to spend a weekend morning and lunchtime!