John Peel Theatre
The Little Theatre at the Heart of Wigton
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Our Next Production:
Murder is (Festively) Served
Tickets available online
or by phoning 01697 424624
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President: Melvyn Bragg
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Our Facilities:
Proscenium arch theatre
90 raked seats
Wheelchair access
Induction loop
Licensed bar
Real coffee
Ice cream & snacks
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Registered Charity No: 1178881
Entertaining Wigton
for 70 Years
Next event: 4th October
Running live in the theatre. Places must be booked via TicketSource
Check our Facebook page and newsletter for details.
7:30pm start
Find your voice in a relaxed and supportive environment. We invite artists to register and book a slot at no charge.
Entrance is also free for non-performers
Contact us to register or for further information:
openmic or via the theatre Facebook page.
Next event: 11th October 2024
Running virtually on Zoom.
Check our Facebook page and newsletter for details.
7:30pm start
Find your voice in a relaxed and supportive environment.
Pre-recorded videos and live performances are all accepted. Please check that your audio settings are optimised for music if you are performing live (this is a good guide on how to do it).
You can upload your videos here.
Contact Kate Jensen to register or for further information:
openmic or via the theatre Facebook page.
Folk at The John Peel
Jack Rutter
Yorkshire folk singer Jack Rutter has established himself as one of the standout voices of the folk, roots and acoustic music scene in recent years.
A hugely engaging stage presence, his soaring vocal, powerhouse guitar and bouzouki playing and masterful arrangements of traditional songs and contemporary covers have enthralled audiences from the largest festival main stages to the most intimate folk clubs.
Following on from his critically acclaimed second album Gold of Scar & Shale - 2022 saw the release of a brand new EP, with autumn 2023 bringing the successor to Gold of Scar & Shale in the form of a new album of traditional songs.
‘Among Britain’s finest traditional singers.’
- Folk Radio UK
‘An outstanding performer.’
- The Independent
‘You always want an exciting new discovery at a festival, and for many it was Jack Rutter who provided just that. What prowess he showed in music, he matched with his skills as a raconteur; his love and respect for the songs in turn made the audience joyful.’
- Louder Than War Magazine reviewing Underneath the Stars Festival
‘In the spirit of the old traditional singers, Jack Rutter takes a song, shapes it, lives with it and brings out something unique. This album makes my heart sing.’
- Kathryn Tickell OBE, BBC Radio 3
‘One of the best albums of its kind in recent times.’
- Mark Radcliffe, BBC Radio 2 reviewing Gold of Scar & Shale
www.jackruttermusic.com
Tickets £14
Folk at The John Peel
Charlie Dore and Julian Littman
The Man Who Built Christmas Tour
Following their fabulous concert in 2023, Charlie and Julian are back to delight us with their Christmas show.
The Man Who Built Christmas Tour
From the celebrated singer & songwriter of worldwide hits
Playing with the stellar multi-instrumentalist Julian Littman
Charlie Dore’s songs have been recorded by the good and the great including George Harrison, Tina Turner, Celine Dion, Martha Wainwright, Jimmy Nail and Ricky Ross, but her live shows reveal that she keeps the best songs for herself.
In a career of several decades, this multi-award-winner realised she had never written a Christmas song. Proving that there’s a first time for everything Charlie Dore presents her live show - The Man Who Built Christmas. Alongside her long-time collaborator Julian Littman of Steeleye Span the pair swap guitars, piano, harmonium, mandolin, ukulele and stories as they showcase these yuletide originals as well as favourites from the past nine albums and several songs never before heard live.
“My entire catalogue was a Christmas-free zone, which was fine by me. Except for one song, Santa and Edie, which I wrote for the Green Note’s Festive Show. This whet my appetite for approaching the whole Christmas thing from different angles, trying for unusual plots, like making miniature movies with the listener behind the camera.”
As one of the UK’s most respected songwriters her albums, described as ‘eclectic contemporary folk-americana with crunchy lyrics’ continue to win awards on both sides of the Atlantic, most recently Female Vocalist Of The Year (FATEA, 2020) and Best Lyrics (Like Animals, US Indie Acoustic, 2021). Charlie has also played major festivals including Glastonbury, Celtic Connections, Cropredy, Shrewsbury Folk and Ventnor and headlined some of the UK’s most prestigious venues including Kings Place and Liverpool Philharmonic.
Recent live sessions for Mark Radcliffe (BBC Radio 2) playing + co-hosting for Ricky Ross’/Another Country (BBC Radio Scotland) as well as an inclusion on Ken Bruce’s final BBC show prove Charlie’s relevance and ability to capture the imagination of an increasing audience. She’s also recently collaborated with Michelle Stodart of The Magic Numbers and rising folk star Katie Spencer.
“…earnest and witty, tender and cynical all at the same time… profound, moving and oddly haunting.” RnR Magazine
“Subtle songs that pack a punch… absolute gems of modern songwriting.” Mike Harding
“.. one of our most intelligent and erudite singer-songwriters.” Fatea Magazine
“ …her dark wit sculpts her lovely lyricism her gentle, unique voice is one to die for.” Folk Wales
https://www.charliedore.com/
Tickets £16
Murder is (Festively) Served
By Jo West
14th December 2:00pm
Wigton John Peel theatre presents their latest murder mystery.
Celebrations are underway in Greater Mistry. Chez Venenos's new menu is to die for. A surprise birthday party among the festivities descends into chaos and not everyone is who they seem to be. Whose secret will be the most deadly?
Before the turkey is carved, someone is the victim of fowl play.
Can you follow the clues and reveal the murderer? Release your inner sleuth and enjoy some festive fun.
Tickets: Adult £12 Child £8
Price includes a glass of fizz (alcohol free available) or a party bag (child's ticket)
Folk at The John Peel
Miranda Sykes and Jim Causley
'The Last Of The Singers’ Tour 2025
Two of the UK’s most iconic voices have finally combined as a duo and will be touring a new album in 2025.
Miranda Sykes and Jim Causley have known each other for nearly 20 years and in 2024 they united with John Palmer to create and tour a show celebrating the centenary of the death of the song collector and author Sabine Baring - Gould.
They enjoyed working together so much and audience feedback was so positive that they made plans to record and tour an album together.
“The Last Of The Singers” is a collection of traditional, self penned and contemporary songs bringing their magical voices together.
Jim Causley
“The Finest Singer of his generation”
MOJO MAGAZINE
“Miranda Sykes has spent so much time working with Show Of Hands its easy to forget what a good solo performer she is...gorgeous and very compelling stuff”
ROCK N REEL
https://www.mirandasykes.com/
https://www.jimcausley.co.uk/
Tickets £18
Folk at The John Peel
Chris Wood
Reflections on minor league football, empty nest syndrome, learning to swim, Cook-in Sauce and of course, the Gecko as a metaphor for contemporary society!
Tom Robinson and Chris Difford are fans while Stick In The Wheel and The Unthanks look to him as an influence. In a world of soundbites and distractions Chris Wood is a truth seeker. His writing is permeated with love and wry intelligence, uplifting and challenging as he celebrates the sheer one-thing-after-anotherness of life.
Winner of 6 BBC Folk Awards, he's played with The Royal Shakespeare Company and was a key member of The Imagined Village along with Billy Bragg, Martin and Eliza Carthy. A wise and soulful craftsman, his concerts are a cliche free zone.
The Herald ***** 5 Stars
“As close as it gets to a perfect union of voice and guitar, lyrics and melody, compassion, irony, realism, wit, and humanity.”
The Irish Times ***** 5 Stars
“Nobody comes even close to equaling his bird’s-eye-view.”
Mojo **** 4 Stars
“a rarefied talent, both as writer and interpreter.”
http://chriswoodmusic.co.uk/
Tickets £18
Handbagged
by Moira Buffini
Handbags, hairspray and sensible shoes.
The monarch - Liz.
Her most powerful subject - Maggie.
One believed there was no such thing as society. The other had vowed to serve it.
'A satire full of mischief and gossip'
The Times
'A clever, funny and charming political comedy'
Guardian
Tickets: Adult £10
Folk at The John Peel
Chris While and Julie Matthews
With 30 years of unrivalled musical partnership and gathering numerous nominations, awards and critical acclaim along the way, much beloved British singer-songwriters Chris While and Julie Matthews celebrated a quarter of a century last year as one of the best loved and most prolific female duos to come out of this country.
They have played more than 2,600 gigs, appeared on over 100 albums, written hundreds of original songs and reached millions of people around the world. They are also part of female super group, Daphne’s Flight (Helen Watson, Melanie Harrold & Miranda Sykes) and Christmas band, St. Agnes Fountain with Fairport’s Chris Leslie. Now, 30 years after their debut, they sound as fresh and vital as ever.
Chris While (vocals, guitar, banjo, dulcimer, bodhran and percussion) & Julie Matthews (vocals, piano, guitar, mandolin and bouzouki) are stunning singers, songwriters, musicians and performers whose energy and commitment to their craft and their audience is boundless.
it's a real honour just to be an audience member but I've had the added honour of standing on a stage with them playing along in the background, things like that I'll treasure forever, truly gifted human beings"
Richard Hawley
"Chris While is the best singer in England" Eddi Reader
Froots simply called Julie Matthews 'awesomely talented'.
www.whileandmatthews.com
Tickets £18