"In terms of the arts the Kirkgate Centre in Cockermouth is where it all happens"Cumbria Life
The Kirkgate was converted from the former derelict All Saints School through the hard work and help of local people, charities and businesses. It is Cockermouth's main arts venue with an exhibition space and 125 seat theatre/cinema.
Managed and run entirely by volunteers and supported by over 200 members, it has a varied and exciting programme attracting many nationally acclaimed theatre groups and high quality musical events. The cinema group strives to show a wide range of films from the successful and popular to the less mainstream, notable and interesting films that international cinema has to offer.
The Kirkgate is located just off Cockermouth's Market Place, only 2 minutes walk from the town centre. For a location map click here.
To download a copy of the print version of our lattest programme click here (requires Adobe PDF reader)
the museum group
The museum group, with its large collection of photographs and artefacts, stages regular exhibitions and is happy to answer local and family history queries. www.cockermouthmuseumgroup.org.uk
tickets
Tickets also available from Billy Bowman's Music Shop, lowther Went, tel 01900 826708.
Box Office opening times:
Monday to Friday 10am to 1pm
Box office phone number:
01900 826448
All events can now be pre-booked and paid for by credit card. The Kirkgate also runs a discount scheme for all members. If you would like to become a member please email members@thekirkgate.com
Don’t forget you can also book for many of the spring programme events online. So for speed and convenience and to guarantee for your tickets visit http://www.quaytickets.com/?Venue=484 and book now!
Performances available online this season include sit-down stand-up comedian Laurence Clark; McGoldrick, McCusker and Doyle , 3 of the world’s top celtic musicians; Tees-side troubador Vin Garbutt; Scotland’s mighty Breabach and Ireland’s finest Lunasa.
The ancient town of Cockermouth - one of Britain's 51 "gem towns" recommended for preservation - is situated in the most beautiful corner of England, The Lake District in Cumbria.
This historic town has long held an attraction for writers, poets and artists - the most notable being William Wordsworth and Percy Kelly. It continues to be a culturally rich town with attractions like William Wordsworth's birthplace, the newly opened Percy Gallery. With some wonderful restaurants like the Quince and Medlar together with Jennings Brewery, The Toy and Model Museum, The Printing House to name only a few, Cockermouth is a very popular town to visit.
If you have any questions or queries about Cockermouth history contact museumgroup@hotmail.com
If you would like to advertise or sponsor this site please contact Red Raven for further details. If you would like to advertise or sponsor other Kirkgate publications please contact the Kirkgate Centre direct.
THE WIZARD THAT WAS
, Cockermouth Amateur Dramatic Society
show starts at 20:00, £7.50/£5.00
Performance dates : Friday 20, Sat 21, Fri 27, Sat 28 Jan 7.30pm
Saturday Matinees at 2.30pm
A traditional family pantomime by Richard Hills
The Wizard Wizbang has been commanded to magic a suitable Prince out of pantomime to marry Princess Rose. What can possibly go wrong ?
Adults £7.50, Senior Citizens £6.50, children £5, family £20.
ANONYMOUS (), 0mins Monday, January 30, 2012
, show starts 20:00
A big budget political thriller with an intriguing concept and a superb British cast. Set against the backdrop of Elizabeth I’s succession, it explores the (oft debated) suggestion that the works of William Shakespeare were in fact penned by the then Earl of Oxford, Edward de Vere.
FILM CLUB: Sunset Boulevard (15), 110mins Wednesday, February 01, 2012
, show starts 19:30
A LONELY PLACE TO DIE (15), 99mins Monday, February 06, 2012
, show starts 20:00
Set in the mountains of the Scottish Highlands, this stunningly shot film is the best British thriller for some time. When a group of mountaineers discover and rescue a young girl shut in a hidden chamber, they find themselves in a terrifying cat and mouse game with the girl’s captors.
WELCOME
by Matt Panesh, (Monkey Poet) Friday, February 03, 2012
, show starts 20:00
Radical Manchester-based comedian and poet Matt Panesh presents a show of two halves. The first, “Welcome! - to Afghanistan” is a hard-hitting account, funny and macabre, of Britain’s first entanglement with Afghanistan in the 1840’s. Based on contemporary first-hand accounts we see the development of the campaign as the Brits rejig government policy to see off the Russians by invading Afghanistan first, with disastrous and far-reaching consequences.
The second half, “Welcome! - to the UK” is a set of satirical stand-up comedy poetry that questions national identity and what it means to be British nowadays.
Think Bill Hicks meets Mark Thomas mixing it up with Byron, Shelley, Keats and John Cooper Clarke, with a dash of rhyme thrown in thrown in for good measure, and you’ve got Monkey Poet.
Warning : contains strong language . Recommended age 16+
www.monkeypoet.co.uk online booking
YOU’RE NOT LIKE THE OTHER GIRLS, CHRISSY
by Caroline Horton, (Caroline Horton) Thursday, February 16, 2012
, show starts 13:45
An Arts and Allsorts presentation
January 1945, Paris is liberated. Christiane waits in Gare Du Nord for a ticket to England where she will be reunited her with her fiancé. Whilst she waits, this gloriously irrepressible Madmoiselle recounts the extraordinary love story between her, an eccentric, acutely myopic Parisienne and a tongue-tied teacher from Staffordshire. From a chance encounter at Cheadle tennis club, their story takes us on to cosmopolitan 1930s Paris before their inevitable separation by war. A separation which she hopes, today will finally come to an end. A fond, comical and ultimately poignant portrait of one woman's experience of love and war
www.carolinehorton.net
Tickets £5 (over 60’s £1)
PETER AND THE WOLF
, (Clydebuilt Puppet Theatre) Thursday, February 23, 2012
, show starts 16:15
A very popular large-scale puppet show for family audiences from this renowned Scottish company. Follow the adventures of Peter’s visit to his grandfather’s cottage at the edge of The Great Forest. Meet all the familiar characters – the Duck, the Cat, the Little Bird and of course, the wonderful life-sized WOLF!
£6 (children £4) Family £16 D
THE TWISTED TOONS OF RAYMOND SCOTT
Thursday, February 09, 2012
, show starts 19:00
Thursday 9 February 7pm
The Stu Brown Sextet
Drummer Stu Brown formed his band in 2008 to celebrate 100 years since the birth of band leader, composer, and inventor Raymond D Scott. His manic off-beat compositions, such as “Dinner Music for a Horde of Hungry Cannibals”, and “Square Dance for Eight Egyptian Mummies” lent themselves perfectly to the likes of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Road Runner and more recently The Simpsons. This fun family concert will also feature projected video animations specially created in workshops by local schoolchildren. www.raymondscottproject.com
£7 (u.18 £3) Family £17 D
Supported by Jazz Services and Cumbria Music Service.
MIKE MCGOLDRICK, JOHN MCCUSKER, JOHN DOYLE
Saturday, February 18, 2012
, show starts 20:00
This is a rare chance to see three of the world’s finest musicians share a stage together. Master of flutes, whistles and Uillean pipes Mike is a founding member of Flook and Lunasa and a current member of Capercaillie. John McCusker’s unique fiddle playing has earned him a worldwide reputation as one of the most gifted and versatile musicians of any genre. Joining the Battlefield band at just 17 John spent 11 years touring the world with the now legendary folk outfit. John Doyle’s gifts as guitarist, songwriter and vocalist have played an essential role in the ongoing renaissance of Irish traditional music. John was the recent musical director for Joan Baez and toured with her for 2 years. He is also a founding member of the internationally acclaimed Irish group Solas. (postponed from September)
£16.50 (£5 u.18) D Online booking
BIG GIG -buy a Music Explorer ticket for only £5 when you book for this show
VIN GARBUTT
Saturday, March 03, 2012
, show starts 20:00
Sat 3rd March 8pm
A welcome return for Teesides’ favourite singer-songwriter and raconteur. “Powerful, hugely moving, warm, humane, inspired, funny and gut wrenchingly honest”. These are just some of the superlatives used to describe Vin's performance. This international, award winning, national treasure is completing his 42nd year on the road. He is forever in demand and his shows continually sell out, so get your tickets early!
Winner of BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards "Best Live Act" Award 2001
BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards Nominee for "Best Live Act" Award 2007
£11 (£5 u18) D online booking
www.vingarbutt.com
