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About Us
The Kirkgate Centre 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 mission:
“Creative talent is valued, developed, and supported with opportunities for all to actively engage with and enjoy the arts, our local heritage and community life”
Our values:
Commitment – Our staff and volunteers are dedicated to delivering our mission.
Inclusion – We aim to make art, heritage, and culture accessible to all our communities.
Sustainability – We aim to ensure that the organisation is secure for future generations from both financial and environmental perspective.
Nurturing – We aim to provide an environment that encourages growth, development of skills confidence and enjoyment for all.
WHAT’S ON
Bugonia (15)
2nd February 2026 8:00pm (Doors open at 7:00 pm)
Kirkgate Centre
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, ...
Bugonia (15)
4th February 2026 2:00pm (Doors open at 1:00 pm)
Kirkgate Centre
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, ...
The Choral (12A)
6th February 2026 2:00pm (Doors open at 1:00 pm)
Kirkgate Centre
A choral society's male members enlist in World War I, leaving the demanding Dr. Guthrie to recruit teenagers. Together, they experience the joy of singing while the young boys grapple with their impending conscription into the army. A quiet and consistent pleasure: an unsentimental but deeply felt drama which subcontracts actual passion to the music of Elgar and leaves us ...
CADS present – Once Upon a Time in Pantoland!
6th February 2026 7:30pm (Doors open at 7:00 pm)
Kirkgate Centre
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, ...