Stage at the Lake in Shibden Park – A Four-Day Celebration of Music, Comedy and Community

About

Shibden Park will host Stage at the Lake from 13 to 16 August, marking 100 years since the park opened to the public. The four-day outdoor festival will bring together internationally recognised performers, local talent and community creativity in a programme featuring musical theatre, comedy, classical music, brass bands and family-friendly entertainment.

Set against the lakeside surroundings of Shibden Park in Calderdale, the event forms part of Seasons of Culture – Nature 2026, an initiative from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority celebrating the region’s creativity, heritage and communities through the natural world.

Theatre at the Lake – Thursday 13 August

The festival opens with an evening dedicated to musical theatre, featuring songs from classic and contemporary productions. Audiences can expect performances from shows including Miss Saigon, The Wizard of Oz, Elf, Matilda and The Phantom of the Opera.

The production is led by acclaimed musical director Matthew J Loughran, whose theatre credits include Elf, Evita, Wicked and Les Misérables.

Performers include:

Laura Pick, Yorkshire-born West End star known for playing Elphaba in Wicked
Emma Williams, Halifax-born Olivier Award-nominated stage and screen performer
Ben Forster, known for roles in Jesus Christ Superstar and The Phantom of the Opera
Joel Montague, recognised for performances in Billy Elliot and Waitress

Debut at the Lake – Friday 14 August (10:00am to 3:30pm)

Emerging musicians from across the region will take centre stage during a showcase celebrating the area’s developing music scene. The programme has been curated in partnership with Grassroots Music Network and CalderGroove Youth Music Collective.

In addition to live performances, young people will have opportunities to gain practical experience in:

Sound engineering
Stage lighting
Event production
Backstage operations

Acts announced so far include:

Doogle – Indie and folky-pop musician
Grow – 1970s-inspired rock quartet
Herbie May – Singer-songwriter
The Incident – Brother and sister musical duo

The headline act and full line-up will be announced at a later date.

Laughter at the Lake – Friday 14 August (Evening)

Comedy takes over Shibden Park for an evening featuring established names from the UK stand-up circuit.

The event will be hosted by Cork-born comedian Kyla Cobbler, with a line-up including:

Russell Kane – Comedian, presenter and actor
Rich Hall – American comedian and writer
Louise Young – Edinburgh Comedy Awards Best Newcomer Show nominee

Proms at the Lake – Saturday 15 August (Evening)

A special Proms-style concert will feature performances by the English Chamber Orchestra and Halifax Choral Society, presenting well-known works from the classical repertoire.

The event will take place beside the lake at Shibden Park, which was officially opened as a public park by the Prince of Wales in 1926.

A newly announced addition to the programme is a performance from Northern Ballet’s Gentleman Jack, inspired by the life of Anne Lister, the influential Yorkshire landowner and former resident of nearby Shibden Hall.

Brass at the Lake – Sunday 16 August (Evening)

The festival concludes with a celebration of Calderdale’s musical and cinematic heritage.

Visitors will enjoy an outdoor screening of the British film Brassed Off, accompanied by a live performance from the internationally renowned Grimethorpe Colliery Band.

The event also marks 30 years since the film was shot at The Piece Hall, located nearby. A special in-conversation session for film enthusiasts will form part of the evening, with guest speakers to be announced.

Seeds of Hope Community Garden Trail

Running throughout the festival, the Seeds of Hope community garden trail will combine creativity, nature and performance.

Developed over the course of a year, the project is a partnership between Calderdale Council and UNESCO. Local schools and community groups have collaborated to design and create eight small-scale parklet gardens, which will be displayed together during the festival.

Visitors will also be able to enjoy an interactive performance from Mr Bloom & His Band, featuring the popular character from the CBeebies programme Mr Bloom’s Nursery.

Following the festival, the parklets will be relocated across Calderdale, creating a lasting legacy for local communities.