WHAT’S ON IN THE ARTS IN OUR REGION

MARCH/APRIL/MAY/JUNE 2026

(Many of these events require pre-booking, make a charge and availability is not guaranteed. For other events and general opening times visit the websites)

BLACKBURN

Blackburn Cathedral Centenary Celebrations:   https://blackburncathedral.com/events/

To 29 April: A season of concerts & performances including:          

                                21 March – Blackburn Symphony Orchestra;

                                27 March – Fabric of Faith, a Century of Vestments;

                                28 March – Chamber Choir Passiontide Concert;

                                23 March to 12 Apr – Turin Shroud Exhibition;

                                17 April – Taylor Swift by Candlelight

Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery:  https://blackburnmuseum.org.uk

On now to 23 Dec        Get Crafty. Saturday free arts and crafts activities;

On now to 4 July          Saturday Art Club;

2 June                         Calligraphy Workshops

On now to end 2026    Monthly talks and regular concerts;

BLACKPOOL

Grand Theatre:                                                                          Winter Gardens

22 March                      Burlesque Cabaret;                           29 Apr to 3 May         Mamma Mia;

24 to 28 March              RSC Hamlet;

29 March                       Madama Butterfly;

1 April                            42^nd Street                                           9 to 13 June              Barnum                                                             

BOLTON OCTAGON:  https://octagonbolton.co.uk

15 April to 2 May       Waiting for Godot                                                     

19 to 23 May              The complete Works of William Shakespeare 1– a comedy

5 to 27 June                Murder for Two – a musical comedy

                                                              LANCASTER

Dukes Theatre and Cinema:  https://dukeslancaster.org

15/20/25/26 March:       EOS Turner & Constable – documentary on screen

7 April at Ashton Hall, Lancaster Town Hall:     Ruby Wax live

14 to 16 April on stage:    I Daniel Blake

The  Judges’ Lodgings  email: judgeslodgings@lancashire.gov.uk

A collection of GILLOW furniture is permanently on display.   LEIGHTON HALL, Carnforth https://www.leightonhall.co.uk/ is the home of the GILLOW family and is also well worth a visit.   

                                                                   LYTHAM

Lowther Pavilion Theatre – excellent and varied choice of events to check out on website https://lowtherpavilion.co.uk/ including:

2 -30 March               Adult Theatre Group – open to all over 18 (no not THAT sort of theatre!)

8 March                      NT Live Othello;

18 March                    Film – I Swear (Bafta winner).

Lytham Hall:  https://www.lythamhall.org.uk   Lots of events through the spring and summer including:

12 March                    Songs from Stage and Screen;

9 to 14 April               Flower Festival;

29 April                       Tennants’ Valuation Day;

16 to 21 June             A Midsummer Night’s Dream;

Plus craft & other events (marino wreath and arm knitting workshops & forest bathing)                                                                   

                                                               PRESTON

Harris Museum and Art Gallery:  https://theharris.org.uk

Now to 12 April              Edwin Williams – Nostalgic views of Preston;

On now, long term          The Tea on Tea Exhibition;

13/14/15 April                Mothers’ Day visit with afternoon tea.

Flower Bowl Cinema:  https://www.theflowerbowl.uk   & at local cinemas (dates may vary)

31 March                          Royal Opera: Siegfried;

16 April                              NT Live: Arthur Miller’s ‘All My Sons’;

21 April                              Royal Opera; ‘The Magic Flute’

Oscar nominated films coming in March: Sinners; Sentimental Values; One Battle after Another; Marty Supreme; The Secret Agent; Little Amelie; The Character of Rain.

                                         FURTHER AFIELD/FURTHER AHEAD

To 12 April    –   LONDON, Courtauld Gallery: SEURAT;    

Pre book- LIVERPOOL, Walker Art Gallery: guided tours of the PRE-RAPHAELITE collection;

To October  –   LIVERPOOL, Walker A G:  ‘VIVIENNE WESTWOOD – Designer in focus’;  

27 March to 2 May  – MANCHESTER Royal Exchange Noel Coward’s PRIVATE LIVES

Permanent collection at The Lowry SALFORD:  L S Lowry

BBC i-player –   L S  LOWRY: The Unheard Tapes;

Nov 2026 to Nov 2027 – PRESTON CECILIAN CHORAL SOCIETY Centenary Events – for details contact: www.cecilian.org.uk

Websites of interest:

STEPHANIE SMART – THE HOUSE OF EMBROIDERED PAPER: https://wwww.stephaniesmart.net