Gypsy jazz, spellbinding wintry tales, a celebration of the life of an iconic theatrical star and a tasty blend of cooking and comedy all combine to highlight the Arts Out West programme of village hall activities for the second half of 2024!
Kirkgate Arts Out West is the Rural Touring arm of Cockermouth’s Kirkgate Arts and Heritage, now serving a large area represented by the boundaries of the recently-formed Cumberland Council.
Each year, it stages around 50 performances in venues from Millom to Burgh-by-Sands, ranging from nationally recognised theatre companies to international musicians. And the line-up for the second half of 2024 boasts the usual eclectic mix!
Highlights include:
- Gertrude Lawrence: A lovely way to spend the evening … Gertrude Lawrence was one of Britain’s brightest theatrical stars during the first half of the 20th Century. This show with music tells her story; funny, revealing and full of songs from Music Hall and Variety, to Kurt Weill and Noel Coward (September 25, Santon Bridge Village Hall; September 26, Loweswater Village Hall; September 27, The Hill Village Hall, Millom; September 28, Bassenthwaite Parish Room).
- Set Menu: The Best of George Egg … George Egg cooks food while making you laugh. In the last half-decade, he’s toured three shows (‘Anarchist Cook’, ‘DIY Chef’ and ‘Movable Feast’) and cooked over a thousand dishes, all of them in front of a live audience, none of them with a kitchen (November 7, Whitehaven Library; November 8, The Hill Village Hall, Millom; November 9, Muncaster Parish Hall, Ravenglass; November 10, Kirkstile Community Centre, Dean).
- On the Road – Christine Tassan at les Imposteures … It’s been 20 years now that Christine Tassan and the Imposteures have been making their mark around the world! Twenty years of spreading Gypsy jazz and swing songs, both on prestigious stages and in small villages far from major urban centres (November 16, Globe Hall, Ireby; November 17, The Settlement, Maryport).
- Light In The Darkness … Spend an evening embracing the wildness of winter with spine-tingling music and spell-binding wintery tales. Tatie Pot is a collective of Cumbrian singers, musicians and storytellers that weaves magical narratives through stories and songs (December 13, Silloth Library; December 14, St Bees Village Hall; December 15, Muncaster Village Hall, Ravenglass).
Kirkgate General Manager Emma Heys said: “We’re delighted to be able to bring some more top-class performances to some of our tiniest venues and the 2024 programme is proving as popular as ever.
“The scope of our operation has now changed, following Local Government Reorganisation, and we now encompass the whole of the Cumberland Council area. That means we can now include venues in places such as Castle Carrock, Wreay, Heads Nook and Burgh by Sands.
“We work with volunteers in village halls and other venues throughout the area and we’re 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.”
Kirkgate Arts Out West is supported by Arts Council England as a National Portfolio Organisation in partnership with neighbouring Rural Touring organisation, Penrith-based Highlights Rural Touring Scheme.
Full details of all Kirkgate Arts Out West events, including show start times and ticket prices, can be found online at Events Archive – Kirkgate Arts and Heritage
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 Instagram
For more information:
Emma Heys 01900 829966
www.kirkgateartsandheritage.org.uk
The Kirkgate Centre, Kirkgate, Cockermouth, CA13 9PJ