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Kirkgate Arts and Heritage Cockermouth Venue Theatre Films Music Kirkgate 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 vision is to ensure that creative talent is valued, developed and supported, with opportunities for all to actively enjoy the arts, local heritage and community life as well as being thoroughly entertained!

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WHAT’S ON

Palestine 36 (12A)

26th January 2026 8:00pm (Doors open at 7:00 pm)

Kirkgate Centre

Category: Film

Palestine, 1936. The uprising that took on an Empire. As villages across Mandatory Palestine rise against British colonial rule, Yusuf drifts between his rural home and the restless energy of Jerusalem, longing for a future beyond the growing unrest. But history is relentless. With rising numbers of Jewish immigrants escaping antisemitism in Europe, and the Palestinian population uniting in the ...

Palestine 36 (12A)

28th January 2026 2:00pm (Doors open at 1:00 pm)

Kirkgate Centre

Category: Film

Palestine, 1936. The uprising that took on an Empire. As villages across Mandatory Palestine rise against British colonial rule, Yusuf drifts between his rural home and the restless energy of Jerusalem, longing for a future beyond the growing unrest. But history is relentless. With rising numbers of Jewish immigrants escaping antisemitism in Europe, and the Palestinian population uniting in the ...

Bugonia (15)

30th January 2026 2:00pm (Doors open at 1:00 pm)

Kirkgate Centre

Category: Film

Two conspiracy-obsessed young men kidnap the high-powered CEO of a major company, convinced that she is an alien intent on destroying planet Earth. The characters might be demented, but Bugonia is a crueller, funnier, sharper proposition, more grounded and gritty than the wigged-out weirdness of the film on which it is based. (Wendy Ide – The Observer) Starring: Emma Stone, ...

CADS present – Once Upon a Time in Pantoland!

30th January 2026 7:30pm (Doors open at 7:00 pm)

Kirkgate Centre

Category: Amateur Theatre

Once Upon a Time in Pantoland, full of laughter, fairy dust, and… total chaos. When the Spirit of Pantomime is kidnapped by the wicked witch Mouldywart, it’s up to pantomime dame Tallulah Tickle and her plucky children Tommy and Tilly to bring the funny back to town. With the help of the ever-hopeful PC Pete, his loyal police dog Baxter, ...
Testimonials

I remember fondly our time at the Kirkgate a couple of years ago, the warm and intimate atmosphere and the friendly welcome.

Kiki Dee

 The Kirkgate is my ideal venue. Intimate and warm, staffed by passionate folks who really care about The Arts and about their local community. It has a beating heart, even more so due to the eager enthusiastic volunteers who help run it.

Snake Davis

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Cockermouth and had a great evening at the Kirkgate, the venue and staff were fantastic. We look forward to returning sometime in the future.

Kevin Morris & Dr Feelgood