Ken Webster’s hypnotist show turns willing volunteers into the night’s comic stars at Viva Blackpool’s Festival Suite. Expect three hours of fast-paced, audience-led comedy backed by the town’s festival history and accessible seating.
Ken Webster’s hypnotist show turns willing volunteers into the night’s comic stars at Viva Blackpool’s Festival Suite. Expect three hours of fast-paced, audience-led comedy backed by the town’s festival history and accessible seating.
A hush falls across the Festival Suite as stage lights snap into clarity and the first volunteer walks forward, eyes bright with a dare. In Blackpool the sea air still smells faintly of salt through the windows, and Ken Webster’s voice — part showman, part coach — guides strangers into absurd, perfectly timed moments of communal laughter. The room feels like a temporary village where strangers agree to play.
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Viva Blackpool · Blackpool, Lancashire
A hush falls across the Festival Suite as stage lights snap into clarity and the first volunteer walks forward, eyes bright with a dare. In Blackpool the sea air still smells faintly of salt through the windows, and Ken Webster’s voice — part showman, part coach — guides strangers into absurd, perfectly timed moments of communal laughter. The room feels like a temporary village where strangers agree to play.
Blackpool’s promenade has been a public theatre for more than a century, shaped by Victorian pleasure piers and the rise of seaside entertainment. The Festival Suite at Viva Blackpool continues that tradition, trading ornate music halls for a compact, accessible performance space that leans into variety and crowd interaction. Geology is subtle here: flat coastal sands and reclaimed land make the town easy to navigate; culture is loud — fish and chips, arcades, and working-class humour that rewards immediacy.
Attend prepared: the show runs about three hours with breaks, and seating is generally accessible with wheelchair-friendly areas. Mobile tickets are accepted and arriving 20–30 minutes early simplifies entry. Expect audience participation: volunteers are selected for willingness, not daredevilry, and the atmosphere prioritizes consent and safety. Leave bulky bags at your hotel, bring a light layer for the windy promenade after the show, and plan transport ahead — the nearby tram stop and bus routes are most reliable late into the evening.
For travellers chasing local flavour, combine the performance with a walk along the North Pier, a curry on Church Street, or a dusk visit to Stanley Park to balance neon with green. The experience is as much social experiment as stand-up — a fast, funny night out that’s rooted in Blackpool’s long-running appetite for spectacle.
easy.
3 hours.
No special fitness required; suitable for all physical levels.
The performance lasts approximately three hours, including intermissions.
Content is comedic and involves audience participation; check age recommendations and consider whether minors are comfortable onstage.
Yes — the Festival Suite provides wheelchair-accessible seating and surfaces; notify the venue of any needs before arrival.
Volunteers are selected from willing audience members; participation is voluntary and you can decline if chosen.
Blackpool grew in the 19th century as a Victorian seaside resort; the town’s entertainment tradition evolved from music halls and piers to modern variety venues like Viva Blackpool.
Coastal crowds and events can strain local waste systems — use bins and avoid feeding birds; support local shore-clean initiatives when possible.
Viva Blackpool operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.


A hush falls across the Festival Suite as stage lights snap into clarity and the first volunteer walks forward, eyes bright with a dare. In Blackpool the sea air still smells faintly of salt through the windows, and Ken Webster’s voice — part showman, part coach — guides strangers into absurd, perfectly timed moments of communal laughter. The room feels like a temporary village where strangers agree to play.
A hush falls across the Festival Suite as stage lights snap into clarity and the first volunteer walks forward, eyes bright with a dare. In Blackpool the sea air still smells faintly of salt through the windows, and Ken Webster’s voice — part showman, part coach — guides strangers into absurd, perfectly timed moments of communal laughter. The room feels like a temporary village where strangers agree to play.
Blackpool’s promenade has been a public theatre for more than a century, shaped by Victorian pleasure piers and the rise of seaside entertainment. The Festival Suite at Viva Blackpool continues that tradition, trading ornate music halls for a compact, accessible performance space that leans into variety and crowd interaction. Geology is subtle here: flat coastal sands and reclaimed land make the town easy to navigate; culture is loud — fish and chips, arcades, and working-class humour that rewards immediacy.
Attend prepared: the show runs about three hours with breaks, and seating is generally accessible with wheelchair-friendly areas. Mobile tickets are accepted and arriving 20–30 minutes early simplifies entry. Expect audience participation: volunteers are selected for willingness, not daredevilry, and the atmosphere prioritizes consent and safety. Leave bulky bags at your hotel, bring a light layer for the windy promenade after the show, and plan transport ahead — the nearby tram stop and bus routes are most reliable late into the evening.
For travellers chasing local flavour, combine the performance with a walk along the North Pier, a curry on Church Street, or a dusk visit to Stanley Park to balance neon with green. The experience is as much social experiment as stand-up — a fast, funny night out that’s rooted in Blackpool’s long-running appetite for spectacle.