The doors to Heywood Civic are set to be thrown open again from February with a series of launch events and a diverse opening season on sale now.
Funded by Arts Council England, Rochdale Borough Council and Your Trust Rochdale, a multi-million pound redevelopment has transformed the civic building into a modern, accessible space that will host a full programme of events and community activity. The refreshed venue will offer comedy, theatre, music and much more, alongside a range of community-led events.
The reopening will be celebrated with a packed season of live events, designed to appeal to families, theatre-goers and music lovers alike. Early highlights from the spring programme include:
-
Meet The Hatter – a whimsical reimagining of Lewis Carroll’s iconic character, kicking off festivities on 20th – 21st February at 3.00pm.
-
Ed Patrick: Catch Your Breath – an unmissable comedy show from the NHS anaesthetist-turned-stand-up on 27 February at 7.30pm.
-
MASSAOKE: 80s v 90s Live – a high-energy live band sing-along party on 28th February at 7.30pm.
-
Family Fun Day – a free community celebration for all the family on 1st March from 1.00pm, featuring activities inspired by Wimbledon and more.
-
Bach Reimagined – a striking fusion of classical music and dance on 5th March at 7.30pm.
-
Inspire Young Producers – a music showcase of emerging local talent on 7th March at 7.30pm.
Further events throughout March and April include puppetry adventures, inspirational theatre and Celtic-flavoured celebrations, ensuring there’s something to enjoy for every member of the community.
Alongside the events programme, Heywood Civic will also feature a brand-new bar and kitchen, creating a welcoming social space housed in the new glass-fronted extension.
The investment has also seen improvements made to the auditorium and backstage facilities, while overall accessibility has been greatly enhanced. The building now includes a lift to the first floor, accessible toilets on both the ground and first floors, a Changing Places facility, and a lift from ground to stage level for performers, ensuring the venue can be enjoyed and used by everyone.
Heywood Civic is also the new home of arts charity Cartwheel Arts and will act as a key resource for local artist development programmes, supporting artists at all stages of their careers and helping nurture the next generation of creative talent in the borough.
Estelle Rowe, Chief Executive at Your Trust, said: “We are incredibly excited to be reopening Heywood Civic and welcoming people back into this important and much-loved cultural space.
“This relaunch is about much more than a building – it’s about creating a hub where communities can come together to work, connect and experience creativity in meaningful ways.
“The vision for Heywood Civic is to deliver a fun, high-quality programme of events that is diverse, accessible and affordable for the people of Heywood and the wider Rochdale Borough.
“The venue will host a mix of commercial shows, community events and high-quality touring productions, ensuring there is something for everyone, while continuing to open culture to new audiences and support artists and young people to develop their skills.”
Alongside the season of live events and entertainment, a day-time programme of health, wellbeing and creative sessions for adults and young people will be announced soon.
You can read more about the upcoming events and activities here: https://heywoodcivic.co.uk/
