Heywood Civic to reopen with arts programme following multi-million investment

Heywood Civic is set to open its doors again this February following a major redevelopment.

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 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 brings a whimsical reimagining of Lewis Carroll’s iconic character from Fri 20 Feb – Sat 21 Feb, while NHS anaesthetists-turned-stand-up Ed Patrick stops by with side-splitting show Catch Your Breath on Fri 27 Feb.

MASSAOKE: 80s vs 90s Live is a high-energy singalong party on Sat 28 Feb, a free family fun day takes over on Sun 1 Mar, Bach Reimagined is a striking fusion of classical music and dance on Thu 5 Mar and there’ll be a musical showcase of emerging local talent on Sat 7 Mar.

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 daytime programme of health, wellbeing, and creative sessions for adults and young people will be announced soon. You can find out more here.