Plus! This season we are offering free tickets at all our Library shows AND
half-price tickets to under 18’s (under 25 SEN) for all shows in the former
Copeland area – use code ‘COPELAND3’ to get your half-price tickets!
An eclectic mix of shows – including Every Brilliant Thing, The Zimmer of Love and
Emmeline Pankhurst – Angel or Anarchist? — all combine to highlight the Arts Out
West programme of village hall theatrical activities for Autumn/Winter of 2026.
Kirkgate Arts Out West is the Rural Touring arm of Cockermouth’s Kirkgate Arts and
Heritage, serving a large area of Cumberland from north to south. Each year, it
stages around 40 performances in venues from Millom to the Solway, ranging from
nationally recognised theatre companies to international musicians.
And the line-up for Autumn/Winter of 2026 boasts the usual intriguing mix!
Highlights include:
• Every Brilliant Thing … You’re seven years old. Mums in hospital. She finds
it hard to be happy. So, you start to make a list of everything that’s brilliant
about the world. (Sept 23rd – Millom Library, Sept 24th – Kirkgate Arts,
Cockermouth, Sept 25th – Florence Arts, Egremont, Sept 26th – The Globe
Hall, Ireby)
• A Brief History of Music … 600 years of musical history in 90 minutes!
Beginning in the Middle Ages and ending up in the 20th century…this fun and
fast-moving show is a whistle-stop tour of Western musical history. (Oct 2nd –
Loweswater Village Hall, Oct 3rd – Bassenthwaite Parish Room, Oct 4th –
Santon Bridge Village Hall)
• The Zimmer of Love … Merv is a firm favourite around the villages of
England… His sometimes wicked but always affectionate sense of humour
brings warmth and joy to audiences who are happy to laugh both at his life
and their own. (Oct 9th – Ullock Village Hall, Oct 10th – Burgh by Sands Parish
Hall, Oct 11th – Muncaster Parish Hall)
• Fake … It’s pretty, but is it art? Through magic, comedy and storytelling, Chris
Cook shares the story of a faker so skilled he had to forge his way to
freedom… (Oct 15th – Whitehaven Library, Oct 16th – The Hill Village Hall, Oct
17th – Brigham Village Hall)
• Emmeline Pankhurst – Angel or Anarchist? Although they were eventually
successful, many suffragettes suffered terribly during their fight…Many people
saw Emmeline as someone who had hindered the fight rather than helped it.
But what was the truth? (Nov 1st – Kirkgate Arts, Cockermouth)
• Séamus Óg Trio: The Shared Song … Séamus Óg is a musician from
Belfast bringing a mix of workshops and live music on the road with his
trio…it’s a chance to connect through the music, hear the stories behind the
songs, and see where the sound takes the audience on the night (Nov 7th –
Kirksanton Village Hall, Nov 8th – Maryport Settlement)
• La’l Tethera … Based in the rainy Lakeland Fells, Georgie Rix, Ada Wood
and Leo Rix (viola, fiddle and accordion) combine broad, textural
arrangements with close vocal harmony, to create a tight and intentional
sound, full of groove, grit and lilt. (Nov 14th – St Bees Village Hall, Nov 15th –
Kirkgate Arts, Cockermouth)
• George and the Drag Queen … Maddy has a story to tell: a former St. John
Ambulance volunteer, she recollects the strange encounter she once
witnessed between George, a fellow volunteer, and Usman, a refugee, at a
village summer fete. (Nov 19th – Beggars Theatre, Nov 20th – The Globe Hall,
Ireby)
Kirkgate General Manager Emma Heys said: “It’s as much a social occasion as a
performance. A good night out is guaranteed and all on people’s doorsteps with no
driving necessary!”
Kirkgate Arts Out West is supported by Copeland Community Fund and also Arts
Council England as a National Portfolio Organisation in partnership with
neighbouring Rural Touring organisation, Penrith-based Highlights Rural Touring
Scheme.
Emma added: “We work with volunteers in village halls and other venues, including
libraries, throughout Cumberland, providing local audiences with high quality
professional performances of music, drama and dance.
“We’re also affiliated to the National Rural Touring Forum, which helps to ensure we
have access to the very best national and international talent who are touring
England to entertain people in tucked away places.”
Details on all Kirkgate Centre activities can be found
here: https://kirkgateartsandheritage.org.uk/whats-on/
ENDS …..
NOTES TO EDITORS
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 Instagra