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About Us
The Kirkgate Centre is an entertainment and cultural venue at the heart of the lively community of Cockermouth, Cumbria.
We celebrate our local talent and heritage, and bring top quality professional entertainment to
our town and many other communities across the area to the west of the Lake District National Park.
Whether you enjoy films on a big screen, live music, theatre, exhibitions, shows for children and families or community events, Kirkgate has something for everyone. Our quirky character makes us a special venue for weddings, parties, festivals and conferences.
Our mission:
“Creative talent is valued, developed, and supported with opportunities for all to actively engage with and enjoy the arts, our local heritage and community life”
Our values:
Commitment – Our staff and volunteers are dedicated to delivering our mission.
Inclusion – We aim to make art, heritage, and culture accessible to all our communities.
Sustainability – We aim to ensure that the organisation is secure for future generations from both financial and environmental perspective.
Nurturing – We aim to provide an environment that encourages growth, development of skills confidence and enjoyment for all.
WHAT’S ON
At The Drop of Another Hippopotamus @ Maryport Library – Arts Out West
20th February 2026 7:00pm (Doors open at 6:30 pm)
Maryport Library
We first concocted this show for the 2024 “Cockermouth Live!” festival. We find it goes down very well with a typical village hall audience (nostalgia plays its part, though you don’t have to be able to remember Flanders and Swann from first time around in the 1950’s !). You may find you already know the songs as soon as we ...
Nuremberg (15)
20th February 2026 7:00pm (Doors open at 6:00 pm)
Kirkgate Centre
As the Nuremberg trials are set to begin, a U.S. Army psychiatrist gets locked in a dramatic psychological showdown with accused Nazi war criminal Hermann Göring. Well-paced, expertly performed, and an urgent call to stand up to fascism, Nuremberg is a powerful, sweeping story of the attempt to bring an unthinkable evil to justice. Barry Levitt – Empire Magazine Starring: ...
At The Drop of Another Hippopotamus @ Loweswater Village Hall – Arts Out West
21st February 2026 7:30pm (Doors open at 7:00 pm)
Loweswater Village Hall
We first concocted this show for the 2024 “Cockermouth Live!” festival. We find it goes down very well with a typical village hall audience (nostalgia plays its part, though you don’t have to be able to remember Flanders and Swann from first time around in the 1950’s !). You may find you already know the songs as soon as we ...
Comedy@Kirkgate with John Lebbon
21st February 2026 8:00pm (Doors open at 7:00 pm)
Kirkgate Centre
John Lebbon is back with another night of laughs at the Kirkgate. This month joined by El Purnell, Molly Rob and Tony Carroll… El Purnell is a unique whirlwind of a crowd-pleasing comedy act. His energy and gags per minute are off the scale delivering many belly laughs and so much fun for the audience. Molly Rob'I'm a Beat The ...