The Founding Father
Basil Newby MBE opened Funny Girls in a corner shop on Blackpool’s Queen Street in 1994 and it was an instant success.
1994
A Place To Call Home
The 1939 Odeon is a Grade II listed building on Dickson Road with many original features now rare elsewhere. It was acquired by In the Pink Leisure who converted the former stalls area at a cost of over £2M to create the world famous Funny Girls Showbar, repairing and restoring many of the original art-deco features. Funny Girls was opened by the Queen of Hollywood, Joan Collins, in July 2002.
2002
A Royal Show
On Monday 12th November 2005, Funny Girls put on an outstanding show at the Royal Variety Performance with ‘Swine Lake’ in the presence of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The Funny Girls were joined on stage by Andrew Portasio from the English National Ballet and this hilarious one-night-only performance was unforgettable.
2005
Guardian Documentary
Sean Smith, photographer and film-maker, took a step behind the Funny Girls curtain as Christmas show rehearsals took place to create a documentary for The Guardian. Sean met with the Funny Girls cast and choreographer to show the world the graft that goes into making each and every show a night to remember.
2013
New Beginnings
When Basil Newby MBE retired in 2018, Lancashire-based Daniel Thwaites bought Funny Girls. Securing 80+ jobs in Blackpool and a bright and steady future for the beloved cabaret show, the Thwaites purchase brings investment and a new chapter for Funny Girls.
2018
The 25th Anniversary
In July 2019, Funny Girls turns 25-years-old. With the likes of DJ Zoe and Betty Legs Diamond still gracing audiences night after night, this unforgettable cabaret show is here to stay. Why not celebrate with us? You can book your tickets here.
2019