The John Peel Theatre is a small, friendly community theatre on Station Road in Wigton, with a cosy 90-seat auditorium, an excellent sound system and a well-stocked bar. Its free open mic on the first Friday of most months is billed as one of the friendliest sessions in Cumbria, sitting alongside original productions and live music. An intimate, welcoming stage for local performers.
Wigton · Every 1st Friday of the month · No fee listed
The John Peel Theatre Open Mic
Wigton's open mic on the first Friday — named after John Peel.
Next night: Fri 4 Dec. Kick-off 19:30, sign-up from 19:30. 12-minute slots. No fee listed.
Nearby open micsUpdated 13 November 2026
At a glance
Checked 29 Sept 202619:30
Kick-off
Fridays
sign-up from 19:30Fridays
| Night | Every 1st Friday of the month |
| Sign-up | 19:30 |
| Slot | 12 min |
| Entry | No fee listed · all ages |
| Backline | PA provided |
01 — Inside the room
4 photosPhotos: Google
119
page views on GigXchange. Is it your night?
0 members voted to bring the venue onto GigXchange02 — The details
Before you goEverything you need to know
0
Member votes
votes to get this venue on GigXchange
| Capacity | c. 80 standing |
| Performer types | Musicians · Poets |
The check
| Status | Verified running |
| Last checked | 29 Sept 2026 |
| Checked against | Venue website |
03 — The night
Every 1st Friday of the monthHow the night runs
19:30
Kick-off
FridaysRunning order
19:30 Kick-off· 12-minute slots
23:00 Last songs
04 — Find The John Peel Theatre
Town CentreGetting there
Station Road,
Town Centre, Wigton CA7 9AE
Town Centre, Wigton CA7 9AE
The nearest station is Wigton (rail station), about 5 minutes' walk away.
05 — What's on stage
3 provided| PA system | Provided |
| Drum kit | Bring your own |
| Guitar amp | Bring your own |
| Bass amp | Bring your own |
| Keys / keyboard | Bring your own |
| 2 vocal mics | Provided |
| In-house engineer | Provided |
06 — About
Town Centre, WigtonAbout the night
The John Peel Theatre is Wigton's intimate community theatre — a cosy 90-seat auditorium with a well-stocked bar — and it hosts one of the friendliest open-mic sessions in Cumbria on the first Friday of every month, live in the theatre.
Sign-up process
7:30pm start. Places must be booked in advance via TicketSource — artists register and book a slot at no charge, and entrance is free for non-performers too. Contact the theatre or its Facebook page to register.
The venue
Proscenium-arch theatre with 90 raked seats, an excellent in-house sound system, wheelchair access, an induction loop and a licensed bar. A warm, supportive night in a proper little theatre rather than a noisy pub corner.
Also worth knowing
The theatre also runs a virtual open mic on Zoom on the second Friday of every other month (Feb, Apr, Jun, Aug, Oct, Dec), 7:30pm start — pre-recorded videos and live performances both accepted.
The John Peel Theatre is a small, friendly community theatre on Station Road in Wigton, with a cosy 90-seat auditorium, an excellent sound system and a well-stocked bar. Its free open mic on the first Friday of most months is billed as one of the friendliest sessions in Cumbria, sitting alongside original productions and live music. An intimate, welcoming stage for local performers.
Played here before?One tap
How was the night?
One tap. It tells the next act what to expect.
Run this room?
This night - and this page - is yours.
What you get | 01 | Correct the day, time and sign-up |
| 02 | Edit your profile and photos |
| 03 | Receive artist enquiries |
| 04 | Update backline and capacity |
Town Centre · Every 1st Friday of the month
The John Peel Theatre Open Mic
Wigton's open mic on the first Friday — named after John Peel. Starts at 19:30.
- Friday
- Open mic night
- May 2026
- Listed since
- 29 Sept
- Last verified
- No fee
- Entry
- 12 min
- Slot length
- Verified
- Listing status
Run a Wigton open mic? List it free — reviewed before it goes live
Last updated: 13 November 2026
The John Peel Theatre Open Mic — Quick Facts
The John Peel Theatre Open Mic runs on the 1st Friday of the month at The John Peel Theatre in Wigton, starting at 19:30 with sign-up from 19:30. Below: when it runs, sign-up and slots, the stage kit and how to get there.
Open mic status Last verified 29 Sept 2026
How sure we are
Verified active
Checked against the venue’s own listing See The John Peel Theatre’s venue page →
The night starts at 19:30 and runs to about 23:00. Sign-up is online, in advance, from 19:30. Each act gets about 12 minutes, so the night holds around 17 acts. There is a PA listed - ask what else is on stage before you load in.
Next nightFri 4 Dec · 19:30Starts in 21d 11h 50m
AgeAll ages
Sign-upOnline, in advance
Capacityc. 80 standing
Who playsMusicians · Poets
BacklinePA provided
Sound engineerIn-house, included
Directory statusVerified active
Member votes0 to get the venue on GigXchange
How do you rate this open mic?One tap, no sign-up required.
Spotted something wrong with this listing?Closed, moved night, different start time? Let us know. We review corrections within 7 days.
NightFridayEvery 1st Friday of the monthNext: Fri 4 Dec
Starts19:30until 23:00
Sign-up19:30Online
Slots12minutes eachRoom for about 17 acts
What’s on in Wigton this week — or see what’s on across the UK.
About This Open Mic
The John Peel Theatre is Wigton's intimate community theatre — a cosy 90-seat auditorium with a well-stocked bar — and it hosts one of the friendliest open-mic sessions in Cumbria on the first Friday of every month, live in the theatre.
Sign-up process
7:30pm start. Places must be booked in advance via TicketSource — artists register and book a slot at no charge, and entrance is free for non-performers too. Contact the theatre or its Facebook page to register.
The venue
Proscenium-arch theatre with 90 raked seats, an excellent in-house sound system, wheelchair access, an induction loop and a licensed bar. A warm, supportive night in a proper little theatre rather than a noisy pub corner.
Also worth knowing
The theatre also runs a virtual open mic on Zoom on the second Friday of every other month (Feb, Apr, Jun, Aug, Oct, Dec), 7:30pm start — pre-recorded videos and live performances both accepted.
The kit on stage — equipment and backline at this venue, verified regularly.
PA systemProvided
Drum kitBring your own
Guitar ampBring your own
Bass ampBring your own
Keys / keyboardBring your own
2 vocal micsProvided
In-house engineerProvided
The Night at a Glance
How The John Peel Theatre’s Friday night runs.
Next nightFri 4 Dec · 19:30Starts in 21d 11h 50m
Sign-up opens · Kick-off19:30Online, in advance
Music ends23:00Last act finishes
Slots12minutes eachroom for about 17 acts
How often
Every 1st Friday of the month
Coming up
Fri 4 Dec · Fri 1 Jan · Fri 5 Feb
Kit
The John Peel Theatre provides a PA system, 2 vocal mics and an in-house sound engineer; bring your own drum kit, guitar amp, bass amp and keys.
First time here?
Book your slot online, in advance, then arrive in time for 19:30 with a set that fits 12 minutes.
Find The John Peel Theatre
Station Road, Town Centre, Wigton CA7 9AE
AddressStation Road
AreaTown Centre, Wigton
PostcodeCA7 9AE
DirectionsOpen in Google Maps →
Getting there
The nearest station is Wigton (rail station), about 5 minutes' walk away. You'll find The John Peel Theatre in Town Centre, Wigton; CA7 9AE is the postcode for sat-nav and ride apps. Check the venue's website for parking and the nearest station.
Open mics nearby
Kirkgate Centre, Royal Oak, Scotby, The Pocket Cafe Bar and Drovers Rest
Station data: NaPTAN, Department for Transport (Open Government Licence).
Planning Your Friday Night
Book your slot online, in advance, then arrive in time for 19:30. The open mic runs until about 23:00. The John Peel Theatre provides a PA system, 2 vocal mics and an in-house sound engineer; bring your own drum kit, guitar amp, bass amp and keys.
The scene Live music in Wigtonthe venues, the gigs and where it happensGet gigs How to get gigs in Wigtonpay, venues that book, how to pitchBands Find a band in Wigtonacts to book or play alongsideGigs Upcoming gigs in Wigtonevery listing, sorted by dateArtists Browse artist profilesfind acts to play or collaborate withOpen mics UK Open Mic Finderfree stage time, night by night
What should you charge for paid gigs? Most open mic musicians are ready sooner than they think — try the Rate Calculator for live UK rates by role, city and venue size. Part of the Wigton live music scene.
Common Questions
9 things people ask before turning up at Wigton's The John Peel Theatre open mic.
Sign-up via online. See all Wigton open mic nights.
The John Peel Theatre provides a PA system, 2 vocal mics and an in-house sound engineer; bring your own drum kit, guitar amp, bass amp and keys.
12 minutes per act — typically 3 songs solo.
No entry fee is listed for The John Peel Theatre's open mic - most open mics are free to play and to watch, but check with the venue before you go. Browse Wigton open mics.
Ask the host before bringing a full band — solo and duo acts are the usual open-mic format.
Station Road, Town Centre, Wigton CA7 9AE.
Mostly fellow musicians, friends and Wigton regulars across the Wigton open mic scene. Wigton open mic crowds tend to listen attentively.
The nearest station is Wigton (rail station), about 5 minutes' walk away. For sat-nav and taxis, the postcode is CA7 9AE. (Station data: NaPTAN, Department for Transport, Open Government Licence.)
Sign-up is online, in advance. GigXchange doesn't publish venue phone numbers or emails. Browse other Wigton open mics.
Venues Near The John Peel Theatre
No other gigs are listed at The John Peel Theatre in the GigXchange directory yet — these are the rooms around it, their size, kit and live nights.
08 — Keep up with Wigton
One email a week. Gigs near you.
Keep up with Wigton
One email a week with live music near you. Free, and it keeps grassroots rooms full.
Help keep grassroots venues open in Wigton
—A UK venue stops hosting live music every 5 days — and turning up is what keeps a room open. Get a free weekly email of gigs in Wigton. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy.
See what’s on in Wigton over the next four weeks →
The John Peel Theatre open mic in brief. The John Peel Theatre open mic runs every 1st Friday of the month from 19:30 (no fee listed); sign-up opens 19:30 and slots run about 12 minutes. The John Peel Theatre’s venue page lists its kit and capacity if you want to come back with a full band. The open mics near Wigton are listed by day, for another night this week.
Booking or playing in Wigton? The GX Index publishes what UK gigs actually pay, by city, band size and venue type, and the GX Index reports set out the methodology and the sample behind every figure. Both are free to read and free to cite.
Keep exploring: the UK gig directory for what's coming up, the venue directory for rooms that book live music, the open mic finder for recurring stage time, and what's on across the UK this week. The blog covers pricing, contracts and getting booked, and about GigXchange explains who runs it and why. Something not right on this page? Tell us — or start on the home page.
09 — More Wigton open mics
All ›Looking for paid gigs, not open mics? See Wigton gigs or check the going rate.
10 — Venues near The John Peel Theatre
All ›More rooms near The John Peel Theatre: Open Mind, Royal Oak, Scotby, Spinners Arms, The Brickyard, The Crafty Baa, The Drunken Duck, The Kirkgate Centre, The Lodge Arts Collective, The Pocket Cafe Bar, The Source and Upfront Arts.
Run The John Peel Theatre?
Free to join. No subscription. 5% only if you want the deposit protected.
Run an open mic in Wigton?
Add yours to the directory free. 2-minute submission, reviewed before it goes live.