| All being well this will be our last month without our auditorium space! The work is on track and we’re looking forward to sharing some photo’s in our April Chronicle. It’s a busy month at the centre, and elsewhere as our Kirkgate Arts Out West season is in full swing. Did you catch Old Baby Mackerel last weekend? Two sell out shows on our rural touring circuit!
April sees the return of cinema, with our first film being Bridget Jones Mad About the Boy. If you’re a member of our ‘Friends of Kirkgate Arts & Heritage’ scheme then keep a close eye on your inbox today… We’ve got a special event just for you coming soon.
If you’d like to support us, while enjoying exclusive events (and the ability to book with confidence with ticket refunds available) do consider becoming a ‘Friend’. For just £30 per year you get first look at every Cockfrock sale, invitations to special events and more. Find out about becoming a ‘Friend’ here.
Bridget is closely followed by Paddington in Peru, the perfect family treat for the Easter holidays!
These two cinematic treats kick start a season of award winning films at the Kirkgate, check the website for all the upcoming titles. |
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@HOME@KIRKGATE
There’s always lots going on at the Kirkgate, as well as our many and varied public events there are many groups that use the centre for all sorts of activities.
Recently we have been hosting some cookery workshops, led by Manon Plouffe, for pupils from Mayfield School. |
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| Mayfield sixth form students have been taking part in a cookery workshop at the Kirkgate Centre in Cockermouth. The kitchen facilities there have recently been refurbished with the help of money from the Community Lottery fund.
Local caterer and food lover Manon Plouffe was invited in to school to meet the students. Manon discussed their food favourites and what they would like to learn how to make from scratch.
Thanks to the expertise of Manon, students have been learning how to make their own pizza dough and pizza base sauce, discovering new toppings and trying new things. To accompany this Italian theme, a pasta dish with the most gorgeous sauce was made by the students.
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| All of the ingredients were prepared completely by the students and they’ve had great fun learning new techniques and how to take the next steps in cooking beyond the basics.
Another theme was Street Food, and students made sweet and sour chicken, vegetable spring rolls, sticky spare ribs, homemade chips, fried rice & banana and apple fritters. It was all delicious. It’s an absolutely fantastic opportunity for our students, not only because they’re really enjoying themselves and experimenting with food, but also gaining in confidence and independence. The best bit is students get the chance to eat what they’ve cooked for their lunch, so happy days!
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| It’s wonderful to see the kitchen facilities put to such good use, and we love the smell of tasty treats wafting through the centre on workshop days! |
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| If that’s sparked your interest then keep an eye on the website for some more cooking@Kirkgate workshops later this year, and if you enjoy ‘joining in’ don’t forget our jam packed crafts@Kirkgate events too! Pick up a leaflet next time you’re passing to see what’s on offer.
We love to encourage participation, in all types of creativity, so to easily find events where you can get stuck in you can use the ‘join in’ events category on our what’s on page. |
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KIRKGATE HISTORY AND HERITAGE
Not too long now until we have our regular film-showings back at the Kirkgate. A little over 100 years ago magic lantern slide-shows drew in the crowds here in Cockermouth, where local draper William Youdale put on regular shows. His collection of glass slides record many aspects of Cockermouth life. During WWI, when Cockermouth Castle served as a VAD convalescent hospital, recovering soldiers were invited to attend slide-shows as part of their recuperation. |
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| Images above: The Magic Lantern, Youdale magic lantern slide late 19th c. Main Street. |
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| The Public Hall in Station Street (the former NatWest Bank site) was used for lectures, dances and the early cinema shows. However, when the Grand Theatre was built during WWI period, it became the main place in Cockermouth where to catch up on films. Billy Wharton was manager, and he would later marry one of the usherettes – Nellie Blaylock. The Grand Theatre was also home to the Cockermouth Amateur Operatics Society performances, Cockermouth Grammar School Speech Days, and later bingo sessions before becoming Limelighting. |
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| Images above: Grand Theatre film advert October 1947, and November 1947. Billy Wharton and Nellie Blaylock.
Image below: The Grand Theatre |
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It will be good to have our own cinema shows back again very soon.
Gloria Edwards
If you would like to find out more about the Cockermouth Heritage Group you can contact our community projects officer, Helen. |
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| To celebrate thirty years of Kirkgate Arts we want to share your stories and memories of the centre too! If you have some pictures of times you have enjoyed here, or have a tale to share with us, perhaps meeting an artist you’re a fan of, or if you found a workshop or a class here particularly inspiring…
Let us know, share your stories with us. To send an article, however long or short, please contact katie@thekirkgate.com and if you can send over a photograph all the better- we love to see how the place has changed and evolved over the years. |
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| This month we’re looking back to the not too distant past… One of the perks of being a ‘Friend’, as mentioned above, is access to exclusive events. Our favourite of these types of events are definitely shows in development, where artists invite our ‘Friends’ to be the first to see their new shows, and even give feedback to help them develop the performances.
Last year we were lucky enough to have Stefan, Owen and Imogen (pictured below) with their show ‘Cockermouth- The Puppet Musical’ at the Kirkgate. This show is now on tour, and will be appearing in Silloth, Whitehaven and Dean over the next few weeks. Of course the title will change along the way, as this is a show about YOUR town, Imogen and Stefan lead you through creating the cast and developing the stories while Owen provides a live and improvised soundtrack!
Here’s what a couple of the audience members had to say about their experience of ‘The Puppet Musical’ in-development show… |
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| “After the Imitation Game, we have a fascinating musical version of what could be called the Improvisation Game. In the latest production by Ragged Edge, Stefan Escreet, its founder and director, is joined by Imogen Barnfather and Owen Jones to create music and mayhem with a plentiful supply of newspaper and an even more plentiful supply of energy and inspiration. The newspaper is in your hands, as you invent and create your own puppet character, and the story develops apace as Stefan, Imogen and Owen unleash your creativity. All is accompanied by Owen’s stunningly improvised lyrics. Allow yourselves to be transported into the realms of fantasy and fun. This is a show not to be missed on any account!” Derek C |
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| One of the characters created in the preview performance of The Puppet Musical at the Kirkgate Centre. Is that a saxophone we see?… |
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| “What a fun and entertaining experience being part of the Puppet Musical show. The cast were so talented and really got the best out of us amateurs in the audience. Definitely one for all the family from young kids to pensioners like me. Everyone joined in with gusto – a feel good night out!” Marion B |
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| It’s great to be able to share the new cinema titles coming to Cockermouth. I know our film programming group are over the moon to see films return to our big screen. It’s really exciting to see Marianne Jean-Baptiste back working with Mike Leigh after nearly 30 years in Hard Truths, and I’m very much looking forward to seeing A Real Pain. My husband has recently been researching his polish heritage so this film has particular relevance to us, and with a Bafta winning screenplay from Jesse Eisenberg it’s sure to be a good watch!
I’m also looking forward to a creative year with all our crafts@Kirkgate events now bookable on our website, plus more to come with cooking@Kirkgate. These events are a fantastic opportunity to try something new, with experienced professionals guiding the way. Coming up this month we welcome Roxanne Denny introducing us to fused glass making, where participants will have the chance to learn the process and create a unique piece of art.
The daffodils are nodding merrily outside the centre, in the beautiful blue sky, now that we are well into spring. Thanks again to Cockermouth Rotary for the splash of colour, we have our eyes peeled for the purple crocus bulbs too, which were planted as a symbol of Rotary’s worldwide campaign to eradicate polio. The colour represents the dye used to mark the finger of each child who has been immunised.
At the end of the month the Rotary will be turning the whole town yellow, with the annual daffodil displays. Life is so much better in multi-colour!
Emma Heys
Chief Executive |
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