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
The Christophers (15)
5th August 2026 2:00pm (Doors open at 1:00 pm)
Kirkgate Centre
A dark comedy in which once-celebrated artist's children enlist a forger to access his unfinished canvases in a deceptive bid to secure an inheritance when he dies. “Terrifically exhilarating and funny, as bracing as a large vodka and tonic before lunch: fast, literate and funny with a key plot progression elliptically and unsentimentally managed”. Peter Bradshaw – The Guardian Starring: ...
‘Turandot’ on Sydney Harbour
6th August 2026 7:00pm (Doors open at 6:00 pm)
Kirkgate Centre
Turandot on Sydney Harbour This Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour production, directed by Chen Shi-Zheng, is known for its lavish sets, including a 25-meter dragon and a 20-meter pagoda, and its use of contemporary cinema and Chinese acrobatics. The production features a cast of world-class singers, including Dragana Radakovic as Turandot and Riccardo Massi as Calaf, and is known for ...
Crafts@kirkgate Block Printing
7th August 2026 10:00am (Doors open at 9:30 am)
Kirkgate Centre
Join Emily from Market Place Print Studio to play and experiment with a range of hand carved printing stamps. Animal, plant and shape blocks can be printed to create your own unique designs and repeat patterns. In this family-friendly workshop you will learn how to apply ink to the print blocks, how to make vibrant prints and how different types ...
Northern Soul – Still Burning (15)
7th August 2026 7:00pm (Doors open at 6:00 pm)
Kirkgate Centre
The musical and cultural phenomenon of Northern Soul has kept burning for over six decades. Discarded black soul artists in the US became underground legends across the UK's Northern Soul clubs through rare vinyl records and legendary all-nighters. This epic story of Northern Soul, from its working-class origins to super clubs like Wigan Casino, burns ever stronger with a new ...