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STILL RAVING IN YOUR 40'S?
Thursday, 19 March 2026
A funny, lyrical and highly relatable enactment of the fascinating and grimy world of rave culture.
BOB KETTLE
Friday, 20 March 2026
WAF is delighted to welcome Bob Kettle for an intimate tea time acoustic set. Singer, songwriter, activist and all-round stellar human being Bob is founding member of the legendary folk band Merry Hell.
NWA:CAROUSEL CARTEL
Friday, 20 March 2026
We are delighted to welcome Carousel Cartel - a Northwest-based 4 piece who write "stories of everyday battles". With a raw, almost bluesy feel, this band will sound mint in the intimacy of The Holding Cell.
PULSE FIELD
Saturday, 21 March 2026
Time slots from 10am 'til 10pm to experience this 8-minute immersive sound and light installation by luma:ratio.
THE QUEST FOR PLANET P
Saturday, 21 March 2026
The Quest for Planet P is a brand new, rhyming story presented by KnottedHawk Productions. Follow Ozmo & Orbi, two brave little aliens, as they set off on an amazing journey to find the perfect planet!
REAL:NORTH
Saturday, 21 March 2026
Experience the raw, unfiltered voice of the region with Real:North, a curated screening of five short films celebrating authentic Northern storytelling. Hosted as part of the Wigan Arts Festival, this showcase highlights powerful narratives centered on working-class lives, women’s voices, and the nuances of mental health.
SHEBA ARTS EXHIBITION LAUNCH
Saturday, 21 March 2026
Natasha Tingle will share her poetry and writings, and Martim Pocinho will perform a solo music set. The exhibition will also feature artwork created by participants from their Art Wellbeing sessions in Wigan and Leigh.
FUNK SOUL BROTHER
Saturday, 21 March 2026
A night of the very best Funk, Northern, Classics and Gritty Soul from one of the sharpest vinyl DJs.
ROBIN HOOD PANTOMIME
Saturday, 21 March 2026
Come hear our story of laughter and cheer, of villains to boo, and a hero so dear. Warm up your voices and sing out loud, Robin Hood's back, and he'll make us all proud! ...Oh yes he will!
MUSIC WALK & TALK
Sunday, 22 March 2026
The Music Walk and Talk is an opportunity to combine fresh air with a catch up and chat about albums that mean a lot to you and the reason why.
LOOSEN UP! DRAWING WORKSHOP
Sunday, 22 March 2026
Drawing can be playful and expressive! Come and learn how to free yourself of the worry of not being good enough and make art.
ROBIN HOOD PANTOMIME
Sunday, 22 March 2026
Come hear our story of laughter and cheer, of villains to boo, and a hero so dear. Warm up your voices and sing out loud, Robin Hood's back, and he'll make us all proud! ...Oh yes he will!
iCAN SOCIAL NIGHT
Sunday, 22 March 2026
inABLE Creatives Access Network returns for a social get together at Little Fifteen in Wigan. Featuring guest acts, open mic and networking.
EVERYDAY: POTTERY NIGHT
Monday, 23 March 2026
With the help of our ceramics facilitator and artist Anna FC Smith, you will be supported through the whole design process. From preparing the raw clay to sculpting your creation and glazing to finally firing your work, Pottery Night is perfect for beginners or the more seasoned potter who would like a space to get creative.
SOBER SCRIBBLES
Tuesday, 24 March 2026
Facilitated by writer and performer, Helen Jeffery, this 2 hour workshop is aimed at anyone who fancies creating and performing some poetry/spoken word. Don’t worry about spelling and grammar - this is about having space to play with language and share your words in a creative, alcohol- free space.
REEL MUSIC
Wednesday, 25 March 2026
Reel Music brings together a selection of musicians from different backgrounds and genres. Assigned 2 or 3 pieces of film, musicians will adapt to the given film and create brand new improvised score as two creative worlds collide in the moment!
ENUFF IS ENUFF WITH SHAUN GUFF
Thursday, 26 March 2026
A blend of corporate TED Talk, motivational seminar, and group therapy - if all three were led by a harmless moron.
EY-UP Exhibition
Friday, 27 March 2026
Ey-Up presents a group exhibition of local Wigan artists and poets. The Old Tones will be performing.
IMPROVERSED
Friday, 27 March 2026
Improversed brings together spoken word artists with three musicians in a performative combination that has never happened before.
SPACE
Saturday, 28 March 2026
The band have sold over 5 million albums worldwide and have been a cult and commercial favourite for a generation. With outstanding and genuinely memorable live shows, Space are a must see live band.
BOOKBINDING WORKSHOP
Sunday, 29 March 2026
Ever wanted to make your own zine or hand-bound booklet from scratch? This relaxed, hands-on workshop is a perfect introduction to DIY bookbinding and zine culture.
PIP'S PINEWOOD ADVENTURE
Sunday, 29 March 2026
With the forest in chaos, it’s up to you to help Pip solve magical mishaps, outsmart the wizard, and restore balance to nature. Can teamwork, bravery, and a little clever thinking protect the woodland before the magic gets completely out of control?
COME RHYME WITH ME
Sunday, 29 March 2026
Come Rhyme With Me is a cross-disciplinary project blending poetry, live art, site-specific performance, and food. Poems about Wigan’s identity inspire sculptural and spatial artworks, plus a chef-created dish unique to each venue. Through exhibition and interactive dining, audiences join a sensory dialogue between poet, artist, chef, and community.
TROUBLE, STRUGGLE, BUBBLE & SQUEAK
Sunday, 29 March 2026
Blending storytelling and stand-up, past and present collide in this tale of high jinks and resistance.
LOVE OVERWHELMING
Monday, 30 March 2026
Five characters, in completely different stories all bound together through their relationship with an old tenor saxophone.
THE WEIGHT OF THE LIGHT
Tuesday, 31 March 2026
‘The Weight of the Light’ is an early-stage Research & Development performance project by Joe Kiney Whitmore combining visual art, writing, poetry, monologue and painting. The piece explores themes of masculinity, mental health, addiction & recovery and spirituality, and uses performance as the primary carrier of narrative, presence and emotional truth.
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Wigan Arts Festival
Produced by Wigan Heritage & Arts Trust
The Old Courts, Crawford Street, Wigan, WN1 1NA
© Wigan Heritage & Arts Trust. All rights reserved.
This website and all associated assets are the property of Wigan Heritage & Arts Trust. Unauthorised use, reproduction, or distribution is strictly prohibited. To view our full Terms of Use policy please click here.
Website design and graphics by Zak Bretherton. Built using Wix Studio.
For more information, please contact marketing@theoldcourts.com.
Wigan Arts Festival
Produced by Wigan Heritage & Arts Trust
The Old Courts, Crawford Street, Wigan, WN1 1NA
© Wigan Heritage & Arts Trust. All rights reserved.
This website and all associated assets are the property of Wigan Heritage & Arts Trust. Unauthorised use, reproduction, or distribution is strictly prohibited.
Website design and graphics by Zak Bretherton. Built using Wix Studio.
For more information, please contact marketing@theoldcourts.com.
Wigan Arts Festival
Produced by Wigan Heritage & Arts Trust
The Old Courts, Crawford Street, Wigan, WN1 1NA
© Wigan Heritage & Arts Trust. All rights reserved.
This website and all associated assets are the property of Wigan Heritage & Arts Trust. Unauthorised use, reproduction, or distribution is strictly prohibited.
Website design and graphics by Zak Bretherton. Built using Wix Studio.
For more information, please contact marketing@theoldcourts.com.
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