Final preparations are underway on a community musical that will take place in Cockermouth shortly as part of a nationwide celebration linked to the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
‘Our Freedom: Then and Now’ is a new programme of community-based events in arts centres and libraries across the UK highlighting what ‘Our Freedom’ means to local people and their communities, to mark the 80th anniversary.
Cockermouth’s Kirkgate Centre has been chosen as the sole Cumbrian project to participate in the £2 million national creative programme.
Kirkgate Arts and Heritage is working with two local artists, storyteller Jessie McMeekin and musician JP Worsfold (who have collaborated with composer Dave Camlin), to create a community musical that will be performed by local people on-stage in Main Street at Cockermouth’s Christmas Lights Switch-On on Sunday, November 23 (1.30pm), and at The Kirkgate Centre on Sunday, December 14 (7pm).
A team of around 50 local volunteers has been recruited to help shape the musical and workshops have been taking place in recent weeks.
Kirkgate Chief Executive Emma Heys explained: “Jessie, JP and Dave have created the community musical, inspired by stories from Cockermouth at the end of the Second World War and in the post-war period. They have used research from the Cockermouth Heritage Collection, alongside reflections from the people living in the town today on what freedom means to them.
“We’re really excited to be working with Jessie, JP and Dave and can’t wait to see the final performances shortly.”
Jessie said: “It’s been a fascinating process, learning new aspects to the history of Cockermouth and the surrounding area, and then using that as a springboard to reflect on what freedom meant to people 80 years ago, and what it means to local communities today.
“One of the most striking memories we discovered was that, during the VE Day celebrations, the Billy Bowman band was hoisted onto the roof of the air-raid shelter in the centre of Main Street to play for the crowds, and we’ve worked that into the show. It was also really poignant to read the reminiscences of refugees who were housed at Moota after it became a YMCA hostel at the end of the war, and how music, singing and dancing were key themes which brought people together to mark key moments.”
Jessie and JP worked with members of the Cockermouth Heritage Group to learn more about its research into the town during World War II to create songs and stories for the musical.
They then worked with Cumbrian composer Dave Camlin to arrange the songs for a choir. Dave and JP have led singing workshops, creating a ‘scratch’ choir who have learned the songs and who will perform them live at the events, while storyteller Jessie will weave in the powerful stories of children evacuated to Cockermouth from the North East to escape the air raids, and refugees housed at Moota YMCA. A poem resulting from a creative writing workshop with local residents will also be performed.
“Alongside the research, we ran a series of creative workshops for people to reflect on the theme of freedom and the Freedom Road poem, written by Poet Laureate Simon Armitage for the ‘Our Freedom: Then and Now’ project,” said Jessie.
The £2 million national project is supported by the UK Government through Arts Council England, the Future Arts Centres and Libraries Connected initiative and will see 60 arts centres and libraries across Britain present community-led projects exploring the legacy of VE Day and VJ Day.
For more information on the project, contact Kirkgate Community Projects Officer Helen Johnston on 01900 829966 or helen@thekirkgate.com
To book a free ticket for the indoor performance on 14th December, visit the Kirkgate website at Our Freedom: Then and Now Cockermouth Musical Indoor Performance
Details on all Kirkgate Centre activities can be found here: https://kirkgateartsandheritage.org.uk/whats-on/
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NOTES TO EDITORS
Future Arts Centres (FAC) is a national network of over 170 arts centres across the UK. FAC champions the role of arts centres as vital public spaces that foster creativity, community, and cultural expression. In 2023, FAC became a registered company and an Arts Council England IPSO, providing sector support and leadership.
“Our Freedom: Then and Now”, is part of a £2 million national creative programme marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. Supported by the UK Government through Arts Council England, the Future Arts Centres and Libraries Connected initiative will see 60 arts centres and libraries across Britain present community-led projects exploring the legacy of VE Day and VJ Day. It empowers artists, veterans and residents to explore themes of past and present freedoms through 60 creative projects, including exhibitions, performances and installations running from June to November 2025.
Kirkgate is a charity based in Cockermouth, Cumbria. It operates an arts and heritage centre as well as working with towns and villages in West Cumbria to encourage a diverse programme of arts, culture and entertainment. Its vision is to ensure that creative talent is valued, developed and supported with opportunities for all to engage actively with, and enjoy, the arts, local heritage and community life.
The Kirkgate Centre brings the best cultural, theatrical and entertainment events to Cumbria. From the best feature and documentary films to live streaming of top London shows, to local talent, heritage exhibitions, music, theatre, comedy and more, there is something for everyone.
In the historic Kirkgate Quarter of the Gem Town of Cockermouth, sitting on the edge of the Lake District National Park, the Kirkgate Centre is the perfect venue for special occasions, conferences, meetings, courses, exhibitions or private film screenings.
Kirkgate manages Arts Out West which stages performances in community venues from Furness to the Solway, ranging from nationally-recognised theatre companies to international musicians with events that are as much a social occasion as a performance. It is a member of the National Rural Touring Forum supported by Arts Council England as a National Portfolio Organisation.
Follow @kirkgatearts on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
For more information:
Emma Heys 01900 829966 enquiries@thekirkgate.com www.kirkgateartsandheritage.org.uk
The Kirkgate Centre, Kirkgate, Cockermouth, CA13 9PJ