"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 or the diary 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.
WAR HORSE (12), 146mins Monday, May 21, 2012
, show starts 19:00
Please note EARLY start
Based on Michael Morpurgo’s much loved children’s book and the hit stage play, this Steven Spielberg directed film is sure to be a heart-tugging, family-friendly triumph. A young lad follows his beloved and extraordinary horse from rural England to the WWI battlefields of France.
Cinemamas :THREE MUSKETEERS (12), 110mins Tuesday, May 22, 2012
, show starts 10:00
CINEMA FOR PARENTS, BABIES AND TODDLERS
FILM CLUB: Fight Club (18), 139mins Wednesday, May 23, 2012
, show starts 19:30
THE HONEYMAN
by Tyrone Huggins, (New Perspectives Theatre Co) Friday, May 25, 2012
, show starts 20:00
'How can I remember things I never knew?'
A fascinating and beautifully-detailed account of the unlikely relationship that develops one summer between Misty, a 15 year-old girl, and The Honey Man, an 'ancient' afro-caribbean man who has taken up residence in a derelict cottage at the edge of the picture-postcard English village where she lives.
It's a tale of growing up and growing old, of individual responsibility and shared history, of dying bees, healing herbs and (possibly) just a little magic.
Suitable for adults and older children.
£9 (£5 u.18) family £23 D
In association with Arts Out West
COUNTRY BOY’S STRUGGLE
by Maxwell Golden, (Contact Theatre) Friday, June 01, 2012
, show starts 19:00
Written and performed by
Countryboy's Struggle is a unique show which uses an exciting Hip Hop aesthetic to tell a very delicate, tender and honest story of one man’s search for a sense of belonging in a foreign environment.
It is inspired by Maxwell Golden’s own time spent growing up in the coastal community of Bude. It’s about what it’s like living in a rural area and wanting to make urban music, then moving to the city and finding it’s not what you expect – especially when your heart and soul is on the beaches and with the community you grew up in.
CountryBoy’s Struggle integrates music, poetry, MCing, as well as physical comedy to reflect both rural and urban environments.
This one-man show perfectly captures how it feels to grow up with a sense of isolation – a ‘fish out of water’ story – which is full of humanity, pathos and warm wit.
“Maxwell Golden delivers a searing beat monologue to music … An excellent piece that does a lot with a little.” **** British Theatre Guide, on Everything Must Go monologue.
£2
THE GAMES
, (Spike Theatre) Friday, June 15, 2012
, show starts 20:00
An ‘undiscovered’ Greek comedy incorporating sporting equipment with a thousand uses, an original musical score, clown, shadow puppetry and scenes of simulated nudity!
The Games is the story of three Greek nobodies caught up in a celestial bet between Zeus, Hera and Hercules. Our unwitting heroes: Stanzas (a terrible poet), Darius (the runt of the litter) and Hermaphrodite (born a girl) travel to compete in the ancient Olympics and take on the heroes of the sporting world with epic results for mankind…
‘A refreshing and masterful piece of original storytelling... Definitely worthy of a gold medal.’ – Three Weeks
‘Hilarious from beginning to end…’ – What’s On Stage
‘Packed full of energy and fit to burst with wit.’ – The Public Reviews
Recommended age 14+
Duration 70 mins (no interval)
ONLINE BOOKING AT WWW.QUAYTICKETS.COM
Cockermouth Festival
HANNAH JAMES AND SAM SWEENEY
Sunday, May 20, 2012
, show starts 20:00
Although still in their twenties, Hannah and Sam have been playing together since 2002, and were nominated for the Horizon award at the 2012 BBC Folk Awards. Sam is a member of folk supergroup “Bellowhead” , while Hannah plays and dances with the “Demon Barbers”. They play predominantly English songs and tunes on the Accordion and fiddle, and feature Hannah’s renowned clog dancing.
www.hannahand sam.co.uk
£10 (£5 u.18) D
Music Explorer - only £5 if booked with a Big Gig ticket (not available online)
THE MANDOLINQUENTS
Friday, June 08, 2012
, show starts 20:00
With mandolins of all shapes and sizes, and superb vocals, their infectious fun and off-beat humour influence everything they play. From classical showstoppers to beautifully sung Irish ballads, Scottish reels, traditional tunes for China, Brazilian tangos and hot swing and ragtime. In the 1930's mandolin orchestras were all the rage - every self-respecting town had one. Today the mandolin is back in favour with folk and world musicians. The Mandolinquents are:
Simon Mayor “Britain’s leading hot-fingered mandolin virtuoso”
Hilary James “One of the most stirring voices in British folk music
Richard Collins. Three time UK banjo champion.
Gerald Garcia .From Glastonbury to China (duetting with John Williams !) .
Simon and Hilary are well-established favourites with Arts Out West audiences.
Family ticket £35.
Online booking at www.quaytickets.com
COCKERMOUTH FESTIVAL: SONIC RE-CONNECTIONS CONCERT
Saturday, June 16, 2012
, show starts 20:00
At Christchurch, South Street,
Cockermouth Festivals Group proudly presents TWO WORLD PREMIERES of new works celebrating the lives and landscape of Cockermouth.
THE LAUGHING WATER DASHES THROUGH
Lee Patterson
Since autumn 2011, Lee Patterson has recorded in the rills, becks, tarns, and meres that make up the catchment area of the Derwent and Cocker, the rivers that have their confluence in Cockermouth.
Composed entirely from hydrophone recordings, The Laughing Water Dashes Through attempts to understand the life and energy of these waters through the sound they produce and contain.
AS TIME PASSES BY
By Mark Newport
Mark is a West Cumbrian composer, sound artist and traditional musician. His piece explores the history and culture of Cockermouth through the words and music of local people. This piece combines 3 dimensional recordings with adaptations of traditional tunes and songs played live, to create a delightful new sonic picture of the town from the perspective of the long-vanished Neddy the Clock.
Cockermouth Midsummer Festival
WHAT DID THE VICTORIANS DO FOR COCKERMOUTH? Monday, August 06, 2012
until Sunday, September 02, 2012
, 10:00 - 16:00
Local History Exhibition , including displays on Queen victoria's Jubilee celebrations of 1887 and 1897, when the town cwelebrated in grand style.
Admission Free
HERITAGE OPEN DAY LECTURES Friday, September 07, 2012
until Friday, September 07, 2012
, 10:00 - 12:30
10AM-11AM : Mark Graham , of Grampus Heritage & Training Ltd, will give an Update on the PAPCASTLE ROMAN DIG.
11.30am-12.30pm : Eric Cass, of Cockermouth Museum Grouop will talk on COCKERMOUTH MILLS AND INDUSTRY
