Three-time Olivier Award-winner Sharon D Clarke is joined by Ncuti Gatwa ( Doctor Who; Sex Education ) in this joyful reimagining of Oscar Wilde’s most celebrated comedy. While assuming the role of a dutiful guardian in the country, Jack lets loose in town under a false identity. Meanwhile, his friend Algy adopts a similar facade. Hoping to impress two eligible ladies, the gentlemen find themselves caught in a web of lies they must carefully navigate. Max Webster ( Life of Pi ) directs this hilarious story of identity, impersonation and romance, filmed live from the National Theatre in London.

Seven-time BAFTA Award-winner Steve Coogan (Alan Partridge, The Trip) plays four roles in the world premiere stage adaptation of Stanley Kubrick’s comedy masterpiece Dr. Strangelove.

 When a rogue U.S General triggers a nuclear attack, a surreal race takes place, seeing the Government and one eccentric scientist scramble to avert global destruction. This explosively funny satire is led by a world-renowned creative team including Emmy Award-winner Armando Iannucci (The Thick of It, Veep) and Olivier Award-winner Sean Foley (The Upstart Crow, The Play What I Wrote).

What advice would you send into the future, or give to your younger self? Have you received life lessons from a teacher, friend, film or book that have always stuck with you? If you have a simple or strange rule to live by that you'd like to pass on then join the Advice Gratis workshop! The workshop will be inspired by a scrapbook found in The Whitaker collection known as a 'commonplace book' and accompanies Luce Bergman's exhibition Apologues, programmed for summer 2025. You'll work with Luce to explore meaningful messaging through illustration, mark making and typography and create an individual page which communicates your own version of 'free advice'. Your page will be bound along with the work of many others to create a new commonplace book for The Whitaker's permanent collection. No prior skills required, just come with a piece of free advice you'd like to share.

In this craft session, you'll be able to create your own wall hanging and take it home with you!

This half term, come and turn trash into treasure! Guided by our facilitator from the Earlybird Project, in this workshop, you'll make and take home your own creations, all made from materials that otherwise might be thrown away. Think cardboard boxes, tubes and plastic waste - all fun for you to make your own creations! Recommended age 3-11

Weavers, mill owners, poets, radicals and uprising. The lives of 19th Century Rossendale and Lancashire brought to you in their own words. Tonight's spoken-word performance is the culmination of research and discoveries: gathering material from the archives of Rossendale Reference Libraries; visiting the historic sites which have inspired and informed the texts; and finding poets and texts on the way. This is a presentation of that discovery: from dialect poetry to the last words of Haslingden weavers. With extracts from novels, diary and memoir, this is a stirring insight into the literature and struggles of the industrial revolution- the eye witnesses and the art. Performers will be Julian Hill Julian writes for theatre. He has had plays produced at Manchester Contact Theatre, (The Last Cry), Buty Met, (One) and the Kings Arms, Salford (Creditors, an adaptation of Strindberg). He trained as an actor at RADA and at Arden School of Theatre in writing for the stage. The stories of Rossendale and Lancashire have inspired me as a performer and writer, Ive discovered voices that are rich in their language, that still have a power that is vital and direct. Jennifer Reid Jennifer performs Victorian and Georgian Lancashire dialect work song and broadside ballads sung on the streets of Manchester. After collaborating with Jeremy Deller at the Venice Biennale in 2015, she has performed internationally and locally to support communities to express their identity and heritage by understanding global capitalism through song. She performs, researches, collects, teaches, writes, sings and talks to make sure the tradition is preserved in a way that everyone can access. There will be a post performance discussion.

David Gaffney is a senior relationship manager at arts council England and will speak about funding for arts and cultural projects including projects grants from lottery funds and the Developing Your Creative Practice fund. Full of tips to improve your applications and your chance of success.

In this latest heritage talk, we're celebrating the East Lancashire Railway, considering the importance of the railways in Rossendale, set within the context of the wider transport system of the area.

Join artist Diane Muldowney in this 'Introduction to Charcoal Drawing' workshop. In this 90 minute session, Diane will lead you through the basics of drawing with charcoal and willow, taking inspiration from the railways of Rossendale. All abilities welcome and all materials will be provided. Diane Muldowney is exhibiting 'Tracks Through Time' in our Corridor Gallery 5th June to 21st September 2025.

Join our monthly family craft session where this time, we'll be making decorations for our upcoming Pride festival and celebrating all things rainbow!

In this Heritage walk and talk, you'll learn about the Weavers Uprising of 1826, with specific reference to Rawtenstall and the Whitehead family. This walk will start and end at The Whitaker Museum and Gallery.

Join us as we celebrate the summer with our seaside themed crafts!

In this day long celebration of World Embroidery Day, you'll hear from our Curator Gina, discussing felting and the textile industry in Rossendale, seeing our collection of MASCO felt samples we hold at The Whitaker. You will then take part in a two hour session on felt applique, where you will stitch felt in a hoop to create a circular wall hanging of a cushion panel. Full kit included. Please note lunch is not provided but we have an on-site caf where you can purchase lunch between sessions.

Clive Seal will be delivering a talk on the history of Rossendale coalfields, considering the social history of the work as well as the physicality of the local environment

In this Heritage walk and talk, we'll be celebrating the young people involved in our latest teen project 'Sounds of the Past'. Funded by Historic England, a group of young people have been exploring our archive to uncover the forgotten history of Whitaker Park. In this walk and talk our Curator Gina and the young people will share their findings and tell the story of the music, noise and background of the park itself. This walk will begin at The Whitaker Museum and Gallery.

Early Years Studio, play based sensory sessions for children aged 0-5 years. These play based sessions are designed specifically for parents, grandparents and carers to enjoy time with their little ones. The Early Years team provide everything you need to allow your child to lead you on a multi-sensory journey of play.

Once upon a crossroads, a mysterious tree stands, and two travellers have come to tell a story. Where have they come from? Which way are they going? What exactly are they running from? This tree seems friendly enough, maybe they can stay here... forever? The Wizard needs your help to face his biggest fears, despite not admitting having any. The Mechanic needs your help dealing with the Wizard. Aid these two unlikely friends with their decision-making, taking an active role in the shape of things to come and helping to create a unique show just for the audience there on the day. Jump up and become part of the action yourself! Using masks, puppets, and ridiculous physicality, the Wizard and the Mechanic will guide you on a magical and very silly quest to finish their story. No one knows how it will all go, but it's certain to be a lot of fun getting there.

Join artist Sarah-Joy Ford, current exhibiting artist, as she discusses Dykeland, a body of work that investigates the history of dyke and lesbian lands in the UK through textile practice