Kirkgate Arts & Heritage

17/01/2025

From the Collection: This week, Anthony Simpson sent us this photo of a Cumbrian Beekeeper's Tea, probably taken in the 1950s. Anthony's grandfather Bert is front row, third from right.

Anthony thinks it maybe a Cumbrian, north Cumbrian or north Cumbrian/Dumfries group, and the photo might have been taken over the border as the photographer is L Searle from Ayr. Does anyone have any ideas on the location?

We like the hives in the foreground!

13/01/2025

Kirkgate corner with Market Place is closed for the next 3 weeks. The car park is still open and you can access it from the top of Kirkgate/Lorton Road.

If you're on foot you can still walk through, or come via Bitterbeck Car Park.

13/01/2025

Don't forget to join us this evening for our first Heritage Talk of the year!

Becks Skinner Hardheads Heritage will be talking about the work of the Women's Voluntary Service during the 2nd World War.

When we think of women in the 2nd World War, we often think about the glamorous pictures of the Land Army or Wrens, we often don't think of those women that remained at home. This talk celebrates the often forgotten story of one group of women; the Women's Voluntary Service, and the many vital roles they played to support their communities.

Monday, 13 January, 6pm
Tickets £4

Book in advance on our website

09/01/2025

THIS WEEKEND!

Live performance from Dominic Kelly in 'Mara'.

"Entertaining, immersive and moving, this solo storytelling performance is a whodunnit a dive into the dreamscape of Swedish folklore a love story a journey through Europe's ancient forests a playful look at our relationship with sleep and a rummage into what it means to be awake. Married into a family from northern Sweden, Dominic knows intimately the landscape, nature, culture and folklore of northern Sweden; in MARA, he takes you on an unforgettable journey into this place, though experiences we can all relate to."
https://youtu.be/oewOW0-aNL4?si=jrF1ypC13ygtJ-Jz

Get your tickets here- https://thekirkgate.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873666833

09/01/2025

Our first live music event of 2025 is already s0ld 0ut!
Bob Pritchard and Mike Ames will be entertaining a full house with their celebration of the comic genius of Flanders and Swann on Saturday 18th January.
Join the waiting list for returned tickets here- https://thekirkgate.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873666875

There's more for live music fans later in the month with Jazz@Kirkgate bringing us Eternal Triangle on Sunday 26th January.
Book here- https://thekirkgate.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873666359

08/01/2025

Places are limited but there is still time to enrol on our upcoming creative writing course at Kirkgate.

Sessions start next week, for more information and to book your place click here- https://thekirkgate.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873658485

08/01/2025

No Sunday session this weekend but our regular open mic/join in musical afternoons will return in February.

Are you a musician, looking for a place to test out your tunes?Do you sing/play and would love to meet up with other musicians to have a bit of a…

07/01/2025

THIS WEEKEND!

Live performance from Dominic Kelly, in 'Mara'.

Entertaining, immersive and moving, this solo storytelling performance is a whodunnit a dive into the dreamscape of Swedish folklore a love story a journey through Europe's ancient forests a playful look at our relationship with sleep and a rummage into what it means to be awake. Married into a family from northern Sweden, Dominic knows intimately the landscape, nature, culture and folklore of northern Sweden; in MARA, he takes you on an unforgettable journey into this place, though experiences we can all relate to.

Click here for more info and tickets- https://thekirkgate.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873666833

06/01/2025

Join us next Monday for our first Heritage Talk of the year.

Local historian Becks Skinner, Hardheads Heritage, will be talking about the work of the Women's Voluntary Service during the 2nd World War.

When we think of women in the 2nd World War, we often think about the glamorous pictures of the Land Army or Wrens, we often don't think of those women that remained at home. This talk celebrates the often forgotten story of one group of women; the Women's Voluntary Service, and the many vital roles they played to support their communities.

Monday, 13 January, 6pm
Tickets £4

Book in advance on our website.

06/01/2025

Happy New Year to all our customers!

If you're on our mailing list you'll already know that we are now underway with the next stages of our improvements around the centre.

Thanks to funding from Arts Council England, and The Benny Walker Charitable Trust which we were fortunate to receive, we are underway with installation of a new heat exchange ventilation system in the auditorium.

This is part of our ongoing works to improve the energy efficiency of the building, and create a more comfortable environment for audience and performers in our auditorium.

Next on our list is replacement of our stage lighting rig, to give us a safer, simpler and much more energy efficient rig. With LED stage lighting replacing the current lights (which anyone who has performed on our stage will know can be more than a little toasty!).

We are still very much open for business while the works are going on, with events being held in our downstairs bar while the auditorium space is out of use. Sadly we are not able to relocate our digital cinema equipment, for now our feature films are off the schedule but they will return (along with NTLive and other big screen events) as soon as possible.

05/01/2025

John Lebbon is back with another night of live stand-up in February 2025.

He'll be joined by...

Sam Avery
Award-winning stand-up, bestselling author, renowned speaker and viral blogger.
In 2018 he embarked on his debut national tour, selling out venues across the UK and culminating in two nights at London's prestigious Leicester Square Theatre.
Since then he has amassed over 15 million views for his hilarious online videos, become a regular fixture on TalkSport, BBC 6 Music, 5 Live and in 2025 will tour the UK for a fifth time.

and Oliver Bowler
A comedian who's naturally funny from Bolton . He's also an actor! Oliver has fulfilled various roles in theatre productions and British television, working alongside acclaimed British actors such as Samantha Bond and Sheridan Smith.

https://thekirkgate.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873666834

04/01/2025

2025 brings us a whole new selection throughout the region with Kirkgate Arts Out West, and we're kicking off the rural touring year with the return of the legendary Dommy B!

In ‘Make Some Noise’ Dommy B shares a surprising story about growing up, finding a brilliant (but naughty) imaginary friend, becoming ‘Junk the Punk’ and joining a great school band (Whizzkid and the Veggie Burgers)! There’ll be rhymes, jokes, and lots of opportunity to make some noise in a celebration of the power of sound and friendship.

Dommy B has said: “I am thrilled to be working again with the amazing Big Imaginations on a show I’m so happy with, and is quite different to the other Dommy B shows so far. Hope to be seeing you in a theatre near you!".

book your tickets here- https://thekirkgate.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873668461

03/01/2025

We're continuing our Sunday Sessions from 9th February 2025!

Come along and join in, or just enjoy a drink in the bar and have a listen...

https://thekirkgate.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873663392

02/01/2025

“That was a night and a half: witty, understated storytelling with a huge emotional punch; ancient trees rooting themselves on the stage, the audience, completely spellbound during the show, couldn’t stop talking afterwards”. Marion Leeper, Programme Director, Cambridge Storytellers

“Mara was a total experience. The extraordinary cinematic style made me feel like I was watching a film - or rather, standing physically in the scene with the characters. I was swept along. Fantastic!” Joe Dodd, audience member, Yorkshire

Coming very soon! What promises to be a really special performance from Dominic Kelly, as 'Mara' comes to the Kirkgate.

More info and tickets here- https://thekirkgate.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873666833

01/01/2025

For our 8th day of Christmas we're bringing you a chance to learn how to use live sound engineering equipment safely and effectively.

Thanks to funding from The Lakes to the Sea Panel, we have been able to invest in some new speakers- which will be in good use in the new year with this set of three training sessions.

The course will give participants:
An overview of the sound equipment needed for a live event, from microphones to mixing desks.
An understanding of technical terminology and language what it means, including XLR’s, balanced and unbalanced cables, dynamic and condenser microphones, decibels, phantom, power, EQ’s, reverb etc.
A clear understanding of how to safely set up, plug in and power up the equipment for a live event, and in what order.
A basic understanding of the fundamentals of sound engineering including the operation of the mixing desk and individual channels, setting up for sound checks for individual instruments and vocals including gain, EQ adjustment and effects, Front of House and monitor mixes and the live mix.

At the end of the course, if you feel the training has sparked an interest in learning more there will be an opportunity to arrange more in depth one to one training with a view to joining our sound engineering team.

Sessions will be at the Kirkgate Centre on Tuesdays from 4-7pm for three consecutive weeks, booking for this event confirms your place for all three sessions. (14th, 21st & 28th January) https://thekirkgate.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873667157

31/12/2024

Do you have some young superstars in the making at home? Kirkgate Youth Theatre is the perfect place to gain confidence, learn to work as a team, and hone your acting and performance skills. For ages 10-18, the Youth Theatre meet for rehearsals on Thursday evenings in term time.

Visit our website to find out more...
https://kirkgateartsandheritage.org.uk/youth-theatre/

30/12/2024

On Saturday 18th January we're host to Bob Pritchard and Mike Ames with their celebration of the comic genius of Flanders and Swann!

At the Drop of Another Hippopotamus promises to be a hilarious night of musical entertainment, and all for a great cause with the proceeds being shared between Kirkgate Arts and Bridgets Magical Music Pot.

Bridget continues to inspire music and fun with this wonderful tribute to her enthusiasm, if you haven't heard about this fund already where on earth have you been hiding!!?? Find out more here- https://www.cumbriafoundation.org/fund/bridgets-magical-music-pot/

And make sure you book to come and enjoy Bob and Mike's show- https://thekirkgate.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873666875