Stars of stage, screen and sport are set to shine a light on the entertainments scene in West Cumbria as the region emerges from the darker days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cockermouth’s Kirkgate Centre is preparing to welcome back visitors in a socially distanced and COVID-safe way on Monday, May 17, after five months of enforced closure in the lockdown since Christmas. To mark the re-opening, Kirkgate has put together an extensive list of events for summer, with new activities joining old favourites and all badged under the programme title ‘SHINE!’
Our summer begins on May 17 with an exciting line-up of films and screenings of West End productions that includes:
• The return of the Kirkgate’s popular film season – starting on Monday, May 17 with 6 Minutes to Midnight (repeated on Friday, May 21),
the fact-based WWII drama starring Eddie Izzard, Dame Judi Dench, James D’Arcy and Jim Broadbent; and continues with Oscar-winning Nomadland starring Frances McDormand; Sir Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Coleman in The Father – another BAFTA- and Oscar-winning film; and Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan in Ammonite.
• Screenings from the West End – including 42nd Street, with Bonnie Langford leading a dazzling tap-dancing and show-stopping ensemble cast; Matthew Bourne’s The Red Shoes, winner of two Olivier Awards, an enthralling tale of obsession, possession and one girl’s dream to be the greatest dancer in the world; and Funny Girl with Sheridan Smith as Fanny Bryce.
• Live big screen coverage of England’s games in the Euro 21 football finals, including the much awaited England v Scotland fixture.
Kirkgate’s 2021 live events schedule begins with International Make Music Day on June 21 (a participatory music day for all ages), and the return of Cockermouth Live! (July 2/3), featuring headliners Kathryn Tickell, Ian MacMillan and Luke Carver-Goss.
The full programme will be announced, Government public health restrictions permitting, later in the season.
Kirkgate Chair Marion Bowman said: “We recently had three really popular weekends running an outdoor community café at the Kirkgate hosting friends socialising safely again. Next week, we’ll be ready to welcome people back through our doors into our cinema, the only place in Allerdale where films will be on the big screen over the summer. We’re particularly excited because we’re rearranging our bar to accommodate more people for longer opening hours and can’t wait to get the place buzzing again, all done with the safety of visitors, volunteers and staff front and centre.”
Details of SHINE, Kirkgate’s ‘Welcome Back’ schedule of events, is available at www.kirkgatearts.org.uk
Doors Open as follows for the cinema and screening events:
Mondays – 19:00 with film starting at 20:00. Friday and Saturday films/screenings – 18:00 with screenings at 19:00
Marion added: “Customers are requested to reserve their seats on-line, where they can also pre-order drinks from our newly refurbished downstairs bar. We look forward to welcoming you back. You can also find out more about future plans and how you can get involved, volunteer or donate on www.kirkgatearts.org.uk.”