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WE’RE BACK! After taking a year’s break due to the pandemic, Wigan Arts Festival is making a come-back with two weeks packed full of events and cultural activities on 30th July – 14th August. This year, The Old Courts, who have previously organised the festival, have teamed up with several partners and cultural organisations including Wigan Council, The Turnpike, WigLe Dance, Leigh Film Society, Spinners Mill, Wigan STEAM and Lancashire Wildlife Trust to help deliver the cross-borough festival. Wigan Arts Festival contains a range of performances, exhibitions and contact points across dance, visual art, music, spoken word and many more to get the cultural juices flowing. “I’m really excited to see the impact that the festival can have and I’d encourage people to seek out familiar favourites but also to experience something different. There will be a vast array to choose from! Collaborating with partners external to The Old Courts has always been something we have valued, and I think it’s a real mark of progress that this way of working is being scaled up. We hope to see you at an event!” - Jonny Davenport, Artistic Director at The Old Courts
“We’re really excited that Wigan Arts Festival is taking place again this year. The arts for us are all about building community and giving people a sense of belonging, and we need that now more than ever.” - Louise Robson, Creative Director at Wigan STEAM
“The Wigan Arts Festival is bringing so many different cultural events together for everyone to join in and enjoy. Leigh Film Society is proud to be a part of this celebration that will showcase so many different forms of art and culture.” - Paul Costello, Chair of Leigh Film Society CIO “We’re excited to be working with The Old Courts to deliver a vibrant two-week festival of activity across the borough. Interactive summer activities that are safe and attractive to people of all ages will be a key draw after a turbulent year and we look forward to seeing our borough thriving again.” - Councillor Chris Ready, Wigan Council
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///// For more information and tickets please visit www.wiganarts.com
Workshop
The Turnpike Centre Garden workshop The Turnpike | 30-Jul-21 | 11:00 Join Artist Frances Disley for this event centred on the new Turnpike Centre Garden, a space for recovery and renewal on Leigh Civic Square.
Exhibition
#LoveYourTwinTown
Leigh Library | 30-Jul-21 | 10:00 Go on a journey through Angers and Wigan borough, where you will discover their cultural richness through a selection of photographs. FREE
kids
Exhibition
Return to Nature
Haigh Woodland Park | 30-Jul-21 | 8:00 Photographers Mario Popham and Joe Roper have been working with people from across the Wigan borough to explore what coming outside again and immersing yourself in the green landscape means to them. FREE
Enchanted Trail & Dragon Hunt
Three Sisters | 30-Jul-21 | 11:00 Join Lancashire Wildlife Trust for the launch of the Enchanted Trail and Heritage Trail with artist run activities, including seed bombs and clay sculptures.
Exhibition
We are nature
Mesnes Park | 30-Jul-21 | 8:00 Photography students from the Wigan and Leigh College have explored what coming outside again and immersing yourself in the green landscape means to people from across the borough. FREE
///// For more information and tickets please visit www.wiganarts.com
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Exhibition
Return to Nature
Pennington Flash Park | 30-Jul-21 | 7:00 Photographers Mario Popham and Joe Roper have been working with people from across the Wigan borough to explore what coming outside again and immersing yourself in the green landscape means to them. FREE
Exhibition
We Will Always Be Together XX
The Fire Within | 30-Jul-21 | 11:00 We Will Always Be Together xx explores the extraordinary fantasies and new realities created by the computer age, investigating our transfigured lives, as we spend as much time online in digital worlds as we do in reality. FREE
Film
The Road to Happiness
Atherton Square | 30-Jul-21 | 11:00 This short documentary film explores how the people of Wigan & Leigh have found happiness in their everyday jobs and hobbies. FREE
Music
Sounds From The Street: Rivver | The Facades | Nocturnal Coast The Boulevard | 30-Jul-21 | 19:00 Sounds from the Street presents their debut line up at The Boulevard. Tickets: £5.50
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///// For more information and tickets please visit www.wiganarts.com
Outdoor
Theatre
Touch AR
The Turnpike | 31-Jul-21 | 11:00 The Brass Art collective have created immersive AR artworks inspired by the borough’s legacy of industry, mining and the renewal of wetlands.
KIDS
Artist led trail
Amberswood | 31-Jul-21 | Artist-led trail with additional art activity.
Wonder
The Fire Within | 31-Jul-21 | 13:45 Our ‘Wonder’; Performance piece captures the experiences, emotions and essence of the impact of the Covid Pandemic upon our lives. FREE
Exhibition
Bubbles - Cross Street Arts
Cross Street Arts | 31-Jul-21 - 14-Aug-21 | Noon Since the beginning of lockdown in 2020 the word ‘bubble’ has taken on new meanings for everyone on how we position ourselves in an uncertain world. A sense of security can be created in our own support bubble with friends and family that protects our sense of community, connection and happiness. Boundaries can be established within our personal bubble that can also evoke feelings of isolation and disconnection from those around us affecting our mental health. Bubbles can also conjure memories in the simple joy of blowing bubbles in our milk as a child or the disappointment of expectations as our bubble is burst. Cross Street Arts studio and associate artists will examine this concept of bubbles across different mediums from painting to sculpture to mixed media. FREE
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Workshop
Cut & Paste - 11-17yrs
The Turnpike | 31-Jul-21 | 13:00 Join artist Andee Collard for a special ‘Health and Happiness’ themed project creating artwork for a new young people’s cafe in Leigh.
Dance
Digital Dance Trail
WigLe Studios | 31-Jul-21 | 10:00 Join WigLe Dance to explore dance in its many styles across the Wigan Borough. FREE
Workshop
KIDS
Artist-led trail at Low Hall
Low Hall Local Nature Reserve | 1-Aug-21 Artist-led trail with additional art activity.
Workshop
Witchy Woodland Workshops 11-14yrs The Turnpike | 2-Aug-21 | 11:00 Join our Witchy Woodland Workshops, a series of 7 workshops, concluding with a finale on 14th Aug as part of the project ‘These Lancashire Women are Witches in Politics’.
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Chalk Dance Workshop
TBC | 2-Aug-21 | 14:00 UrbanCanvas will inspire and ignite the imagination of neighbourhoods in both Wigan & Leigh with impromptu chalking art workshops involving residents and families.
///// For more information and tickets please visit www.wiganarts.com
OUTDOOR
Creative Foraging With art art activities
Film
Sing-a-Long Monday’s - Grease
Wigan Flashes Local Nature Reserve | 2-Aug-21 | TBC Launch of the stonecarvings and etchings on the Ochre trail.
Leigh Town Hall | 2-Aug-21 | 12:00 Weekly Sing-a-Long to musicals for lockdown community recovery, health and wellbeing. Tickets: £2.00
Workshop
Theatre
The railway Children Building Memories
Wigan Council Archives & Local Studies | 3-Aug-21 | 12:30 A 2-hour workshop for adults. with members of the ‘MemorabLEIGH’ group and local historian, Julie McKiernan. FREE
Haigh Woodland Park | 3-Aug-21 | 11:30am & 2:00pm This enchanting tale follows the fortunes and adventures of Roberta, Peter and Phyllis after they move form London to a house near a railway line near the country Tickets: £7.50
Outdoor
Turnpike Tots - Teddy Bears Picnic
Pennington Hall Park | 4-Aug-21 | 10:00 This summer our Turnpike Tots programme is getting outdoors through a series of Teddy Bears Picnics in Pennington Hall Park.
///// For more information and tickets please visit www.wiganarts.com
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Workshop
theatre
LOCALTALE National Play Day in Leigh
Leigh Town Hall | 4-Aug-21 | 10:00 Join us as we celebrate National Play Day here in Leigh Town Centre with a variety of free activities. FREE
Exhibition
WetLab
Pennington Flash Park | 6-Aug-21 |11:00 This floating laboratory created by Public Works and Assembly will invite people to look anew at the bio-diversity of our canals. FREE
LocalTALE
Leigh Spinners Mill | 6-Aug-21 | 18:50 4 winners of the Leigh Local Exchange Ambassadors Group playwriting competition 2021 will show across 2 evenings in The Den.
Literature
BBC Novels That Shaped The World
Leigh Town Hall | 6-Aug-21 | 10:30 “I Am Not Friday” is a new humorous and imaginative re-telling of the Robinson Crusoe story. FREE
Workshop
What Makes Me Happy Zine Workshop
Wigan STEAM | 6-Aug-21 | 11.00 (Drop-in) What makes you happy? Join artists from Wigan STEAM and create your own artwork that represents what makes you happy, to feature in a zine that will be distributed across the borough. FREE
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///// For more information and tickets please visit www.wiganarts.com
Outdoor, Music
The Old Courts Out & About
Mesnes Field | 7-Aug-21 | 10:30 Tickets: £10
///// For more information and tickets please visit www.wiganarts.com
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MUSICAL
Music
Bloody Elle - A Gig Musical
Leigh Spinners Mill | 7-Aug-21 | 19:00 This uplifting, one-woman-show about falling in love for the very first time is written and performed by the brilliant lauryn redding directed by bryony shanahan. This stripped back, acoustic version of the show which reopened the royal exchange back in june. A heart-warming and belly-achingly funny story, stuffed full of those stomachflipping-time-stopping moments, a touch, a glance, a kiss, that everyone will recognise.
Thomas Headon + Hushtones
Turnpike Centre | 7-Aug-21 | 20:00 Get yourself down to Leigh Library and join Get It Loud In Libraries for a special gig in a unique location. Tickets: £9.00
Music
Exhibition
Fun and Games with the Archives
Leigh Town Hall | 7-Aug-21 | 10:00 Enjoy the new exhibition and get hands on with some of the games we have in our collection. FREE
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And Heavy Metal For Wigan XXIII: Redemption
The Boulevard | 7-Aug-21 | 18:00 Another installment of original metal from AHMFW! Featuring Shrike, Solarshift, Hollow Storm, and Bloodmores, with headline act Deified. FREE
///// For more information and tickets please visit www.wiganarts.com
Workshop
Workshop
What Makes Me Happy Zine Workshop
Wigan STEAM | 7-Aug-21 | 11.30 (Drop-in) What makes you happy? Join artists from Wigan STEAM and create your own artwork that represents what makes you happy, to feature in a zine that will be distributed across the borough. FREE
Music
Cap & Dove
Leigh Civic Square | 7-Aug-21 | 11:00 Cap & Dove is a travelling arts centre by artist Joshua Sofaer. The one day exhibition and public programme will explore themes of protest. FREE
Wigan Young Musician of the Year Finalist Showcase
Leigh Parish Church | 8-Aug-21 | Doors 17:45 An opportunity to hear some of the boroughs most talented young instrumentalists and singers live in concert. FREE
Theatre
Romeo and Juliet
Haigh Woodland Park | 9-Aug-21 | 18:00 Packed with live music, uproarious comedy and heartbreak, this vital and energised outdoor production from The Duke’s Theatre Company promises to pack a punch, whilst delivering the classical text with modern clarity and relevance. This story is as current and relatable today as it was 400 years ago. Tickets: £15 - £16.50
///// For more information and tickets please visit www.wiganarts.com
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Film
Sing-a-Long Mondays - Mamma Mia
Leigh Town Hall | 9-Aug-21 | 12:00 Weekly Sing-a-Long to musicals for lockdown community recovery, health and wellbeing. Tickets: £2.00
Workshop
Interactive Chalking Art
Wigan Town Centre | 10-Aug-21 | 12:00 UrbanCanvas will create beautiful and engaging floor art designs with the public FREE
Outdoor
Drift - Community Walks
The Turnpike | 10-Aug-21 | 17:30 A series of three walks led by artist Niki Colclough and co-created by members of the local community.
Workshop
Dark Writers
The Coffee Stop | 10-Aug-21 | 18:45 Enjoy trying out your creative skills and destressing by taking part in some simple writing activities around the theme of ‘Health & Happiness’. FREE
Theatre
The emperor’s new clothes and other stories
Haigh Woodland Park | 10-Aug-21 | 11:30 & 14:00 The Little Fir Tree’; starts our journey into the world of magic and wonder. Tickets: £7.50
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///// For more information and tickets please visit www.wiganarts.com
Workshop
THEATRE
Really Rubbish Weaving
Leigh Town Hall | 11-Aug-21 | 18:15 Create a fun, colourful and “rubbish” hanging piece of art whilst exploring amazing archive materials relating to textiles and banners in local protest movements through time, ’found’ and unearthed objects and local textiles production. Join artist Liz Chapman to create small scale woven hangings. Turn waste products such as packaging, plastic bags, scraps of fabric and threads into a treasured piece of art work. FREE
theatre
Fly Half the Play
Leigh Spinners Mill | 11-Aug-21 | 19:15 Fly Half is a new play with original songs that tells the tale of a rugby playing steel worker from South Wales. Set in an industrial town, this play is a celebration of working class families who head out to the match each week, stand pitch side with pride, supporting their local team. A lyrical hymn to one man’s passion for his family, his town and his beloved game.
Outdoor
Some People Feel The Rain by Kieran Knowles
Leigh Spinners Mill | 12-Aug-21 | 18:30 Sometimes it feels like the rain will never stop. That the world will wash away. Some People Feel the Rain is about a family sheltering from a storm, kicking as hard as they can to stay afloat. It’s about coming together while your falling apart. It’s about love, community, and hope. Written by Keiran Knowles, Directed by Hannah Sands.
Drift - Community Walks
The Turnpike | 12-Aug-21 | 14:00 A series of three walks led by artist Niki Colclough and co-created by members of the local community.
///// For more information and tickets please visit www.wiganarts.com
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Dance
Film
Leigh on Film WN Dance Company - Relaunched
WigLe Studios | 13-Aug-21 | 18:30 Bringing together emerging young dancers with professional performers to create a unique dance performance company and development opportunity. Tickets: £5.00
Leigh Town Hall | 13-Aug-21 | 13:00 & 17:00 Journey into Leigh’s heritage captured on film. In partnership and hosted by NW Film Archives. Tickets: £5.00
theatre
THEATRE
Some People Feel The Rain By Kieran Knowles
Leigh Spinners Mill | 13-Aug-21 | 19:30 Written by Keiran Knowles, Directed by Hannah Sands.
theatre
LocalTALE
Leigh Spinners Mill | 13-Aug-21 | 18:15 4 winners of the Leigh Local Exchange Ambassadors Group playwriting competition 2021 will show across 2 evenings in The Den.
THEATRE
Some People Feel The Rain By Kieran Knowles
Leigh Spinners Mill | 14-Aug-21 | 17:45 Written by Keiran Knowles, Directed by Hannah Sands.
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Catching Comets by Ransack Theatre
Leigh Spinners Mill | 14-Aug-21 | 19:30 After discovering a comet hurtling towards Earth, Toby snaps and turns into the action hero in his own movie on a mission to save the world. Flashback a year: Toby is knocked off course when somebody crashes into his life. A disaster movie about falling in love.
///// For more information and tickets please visit www.wiganarts.com
Workshop
Workshop
Hands on in the Archives
Leigh Town Hall | 14-Aug-21 | 10:00 Join Archives: Wigan and Leigh in Leigh Town Hall for a hands on fun day exploring archive collections and diving in to craft sessions that tell us stories about the local area. FREE
Outdoor
Ella Louise Jones Pop-Up: Squiggly Painting and Collage Workshop Turnpike Centre Garden & Community Day
Wigan STEAM | 14-Aug-21 | 11.30 (Drop-in) Join artist Ella Louise Jones for a squiggly painting and collage workshop inspired by the work made during her residency with Wigan STEAM. FREE
performance
Outdoor
Leigh Civic Square | 14-Aug-21 | 12:00 A day of activities on Leigh Civic Square, inspired by the new Turnpike Centre Garden.
These Lancashire Women are Witches in Politics The Turnpike | 14-Aug-21 | 13:00 The finale event for These Lancashire Women Are Witches in Politics, artists Anna FC Smith & Helen Mather’s major project in Leigh. This final performance closes their residency at The Turnpike and celebrates their inspirational work with local community groups and young people over the past two years.
Drift - Community Walks
The Turnpike | 14-Aug-21 | 14:00 A series of three walks led by artist Niki Colclough and co-created by members of the local community.
///// For more information and tickets please visit www.wiganarts.com
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# WIGAN PRIDE ‘21 BRIGHTER DAYS AHEAD
TRENCHERFIELD MILL
WIGAN PIER.
LIVE EVENT 14th August (limited tickets available)
DIGITAL STREAMING 22nd August www.wiganpride.com/Tickets
THANK YOU d really hard to ntributors have worke All our partners and co mmer in a safe su s thi exhibitions back bring live events and about seeing We’re all really excited and enjoyable manner. lly hope to rea mselves again and we everyone enjoying the see you at an event. ticket on the events including For more information m .co it www.wiganarts information please vis
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