Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery Trust Ticket Portal

Welcome to our free Lunchtime Talk.

Held in our Auditorium on the first Tuesday of the month 1-2pm 

2nd September 2025

The Carlisle Floods: 2005 & 2015 

In the ten and twenty-year anniversaries of these two devastating floods, join local historian Tony Mason for a reflection on both events.

Having been flooded in both 2005 and 2015, Tony will present his firsthand experience of both floods alongside some rarely seen images. 

7th October 2025 

The Bittersweet Beginning: A Story of Postpartum and Grief

In this deeply personal talk, Emily Bewley (Scribbles of Sanity) shares her journey of navigating the early days of motherhood while grieving the loss of her sibling. She’ll explore how bereavement reshaped her identity as a new mother, the unspoken emotional layers of postpartum life, and the ways in which grief and growth intertwined. This is a story about holding both joy and sorrow, learning to mother while mourning, and discovering quiet strength in the most tender of transitions. Through honesty, reflection, and gentle insight, she’ll offer space for others walking the path of complex, layered grief — especially when life keeps moving forward.

Join us for a relaxed and engaging session designed especially for our youngest visitors. Each week, little ones and their grown-ups are invited to explore the museum through sensory play, movement, storytelling, poetry, costume, and song — all inspired by our collections.

Led by a member of the Tullie Learning Team and taking place in a different space each week, each session is themed and thoughtfully planned to support early development while encouraging curiosity and connection with the museum’s spaces and objects. Sessions follow a gentle structure, but we adapt timings and activities to suit the group’s energy and interests. Children are welcome to join in, take breaks, or engage in their own way throughout.

When: Every Thursday during Cumbrian term time, starting at 11am. 
Who: Suitable for children aged 0–4, accompanied by a participating adult.
Cost: Children go free with an adult Annual Pass or Day Ticket. Advance booking is required.

On arrival, please check in at the Welcome Desk to receive your Tullie sticker. Then make your way to the welcome area seating by the large window, where a member of the Tullie Learning team will meet you to take you to the start location.

Join our knowledgeable guide for a tour around our newest space the Carlisle Gallery. Hear about the history of our city and find our more about it's hidden heritage. 

Illustrated talk by local historian Chester Forster on the history of the terraced streets of Carlisle 

Illustrated talk tracing the history of this long established firm with its origins in Sebergham and then the arrival of “John Willie” Laing who left school early and projected the firm from local jobbing builder to Britain’s largest construction company.

Inter Alia a new play by Suzie Miller

Oscar-nominated Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl, Saltburn) is Jessica in the much-anticipated next play from the team behind Prima Facie.

Jessica Parks is a smart Crown Court Judge at the top of her career. Behind the robe, she is a karaoke fiend, a loving wife and a supportive parent. When an event threatens to throw her life completely off balance, can she hold her family upright?

Writer Suzie Miller and director Justin Martin reunite following their global phenomenon Prima Facie, with this searing examination of modern motherhood and masculinity.

Adult £15, Friend £12. Booking required.

Bar opens at 6.30pm with shows starting at 7pm.

Join Grace and Jack to learn about the beginnings of colour in film, followed by a screening of stone cold classic, The Wizard of Oz (1939).

Grace is Senior Research Fellow in the Arts at Wrexham University with upcoming publications on film and media, including topics such as the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the Alien franchise. She has a background in scriptwriting, film production and film acting, as well as teaching scriptwriting and script analysis. Jack is a professional graphic designer who specialises in colour theory and brand aesthetics. He is also a professional photographer with a background in film acting and marketing for theatre project.

Tickets are £10 (£8 for Tullie Friends)

Talk starts at 1pm in the Auditorium followed by the film screening at 2.15pm.

Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th October 2025

Back by popular demand! Learn how to create your own piece of beautiful Ruskin Lace. £85 per person (2-day course) which includes refreshments in the morning and afternoon and admission into the museum. A starter pack of materials can be purchased from Karen on the day.

This ticket covers both days of the course.

Sunday 5 October 

Loosen up your landscapes with award-winning Carlisle artist Martin Evans.

In this comprehensive session, Martin will take you from idea to completed (is an artwork ever truly complete?) painting.

The day will look something like this:

11am-1pm

In the first part of the session you will generate ideas and work through some painting exercises focused on expressive painting techniques, colour and composition. Weather permitting, you may also head out into the garden to take inspiration from the autumnal colours.

1-2pm

Break for lunch and opportunity to visit the Colour exhibition.

2-4pm

The serious work/fun begins. In the final stretch, you will decide on a final composition and complete a canvas work which you can then keep (and continue working on at home if you so desire).

Martin will be on hand throughout the session to offer advice and guidance. All materials provided including paper, canvas, acrylics, pencils and charcoal. Please feel free to bring your own if there's anything else you might want to use.

Tickets are £75 (£67.50 for Tullie Friends)

About Martin Evans

Martin Evans lives and works in Carlisle, Cumbria and studied Graphic Design at Cumbria Institute of the Arts where he developed his eye for colour and composition. A self-taught painter and mural artist, it is the pure joy of painting and expression that drives his process. Cumbria has some of the most spectacular landscapes in the UK, and he is constantly inspired by this subject matter.

Martin’s work has been exhibited in Cumbria with Proseed, StArt, CCA and EVAN, while he has also worked with major charities and organisations such as Tullie Museum & Art Gallery, Prism Arts & Blank Wall Assassins. More widely he has won the Society of Scottish Artists Prize at the 'Big Art Show' 2024, been selected for the prestigious 2020 and 2023 Discerning Eye Exhibitions at the Mall Galleries London, long listed for the 2022 and 2023 Jacksons Painting Prize and exhibited at the 2024 Venice Biennale with the Proseed collective.

Celebrate the changing of the seasons with artist Amy Baker and immerse yourself in the imagery of autumn. This session is all about engaging with your creative flow and challenging yourself to create a piece using only an autumnal colour palette.

There will be a range of media for you to experiment with. All materials included.

Suitable for all levels of experience. Ages 16+.

Tickets are £25 (£22.50 for Tullie Friends).

Session is 11am-3pm.

Saturday 18 October 2025 and Sudnay 18 January 2026

Have you ever tried a sound bath before? Ever wondered what makes these special events so beneficial to your mind and body? 

Sound impacts us on an elemental level. In fact, research shows us that sounds consist of vibrations that affect us on a cellular level, impacting brain, nerve, muscle, and organ function.

A 2020 review notes that sound therapy can significantly alter brain waves, changing agitated wave patterns to exceptionally calm wave forms.

As our brain waves slow down, we shift from an active state to a more relaxed, dreamlike state.

In this state, our breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure decrease. This helps our immune system function more efficiently, reduces our stress hormones, and triggers the release of feel-good chemicals in the brain.

Research shows us that sound healing might be able to help with:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Stress
• Fatigue
• Chronic pain
• Cognition and memory
• Overall mental and spiritual well-being
• ADHD 

Sound healing can also be a form of self care. A sound bath is a great way to relax, decompress, and focus on listening in order to connect to the present moment.

Sound healing is believed to reduce pain in the body by creating vibrations that penetrate deep into tissues, stimulating the body's natural healing mechanisms, improving blood circulation, and potentially influencing the nervous system by impacting pain signals sent to the brain through the auditory cortex, essentially creating a "gate control" effect on pain perception; this can help alleviate muscle tension, headaches, and chronic pain by promoting relaxation and reducing stress on the body at a cellular level. 

Tickets are £20 (£18 for Tullie Friends) and include museum admission on the day. 

These sound baths will be hosted by Megan from Activate Yoga. Find out more about Megan on her website and Facebook:

www.activateyoga.co.uk

www.facebook.com/activateuk 

Mrs. Warren’s Profession
by Bernard Shaw, directed by Dominic Cooke

Five-time Olivier Award winner Imelda Staunton (The Crown) joins forces with her real-life daughter Bessie Carter (Bridgerton) for the very first time, playing mother and daughter in Bernard Shaw’s incendiary moral classic.

Vivie Warren is a woman ahead of her time. Her mother, however, is a product of that old patriarchal order. Exploiting it has earned Mrs. Warren a fortune – but at what cost?

Filmed live from the West End, this new production reunites Staunton with director Dominic Cooke (Follies, Good), exploring the clash between morality and independence, traditions and progress.

Adult £15, Friend £12. Booking required.

Bar opens at 6.30pm with shows starting at 7pm.

Directed by, choreographed by and starring Gene Kelly (he did the theme tune too), this  classic musical takes place in the Golden Age of Hollywood with the transition from silent films to 'talkies' in the 1920s. 

Runtime 130 minutes. Film starts 2.15pm

Part of our In Glorious Technicolour films series.

Tickets £5

It's French, it's black and white, it's Oscar-winning, it's The Artist. Like Singin' in the Rain, The Artist takes place during Hollywood's transition from silent films to 'talkies'. 

Directed by Michel Hazanavicius, the film stars Jean Dujardin and Bérénice Bejo as George Valentin and Peppy Miller. Valentin, an older silent film star and Miller, a young actress on the rise. The pair's stories interweave after a chance encounter, Valentin emblematic of the silent era and Miller on the cusp of the speaking wave. 

Runtime 100 minutes. Film starts 2.15pm

Part of our In Glorious Technicolour films series.

Tickets £5

Hamlet  
by William Shakespeare, directed by Robert Hastie

Olivier Award-winner Hiran Abeysekera (Life of Pi) is Hamlet in this fearless, contemporary take on Shakespeare’s famous tragedy.

Trapped between duty and doubt, surrounded by power and privilege, young Prince Hamlet dares to ask the ultimate question – you know the one.

National Theatre Deputy Artistic Director, Robert Hastie (Standing at the Sky’s Edge, Operation Mincemeat) directs this sharp, stylish and darkly funny reimagining.

Adult £15, Friend £12. Booking required.

Bar opens at 6.30pm with shows starting at 7pm.

A seasonally inspired Gelli Printing workshop with Vega Brennan of Linden Print Studio.

Learn to create abstract prints using layers of vibrant colour. In the session we will be looking at and taking inspiration from the work of Patrick Heron, Paul Klee and the Gee's Bend quiltmakers.

8 November 10am - 12.30pm

Tickets £30 / £27 Tullie Friend

Sunday 16 November, 1-3.30pm

Get to grips with watercolours in this fun and experimental session with local artist Seren Shaw. 

In this 2.5 hour session, you'll get to try out a number of techniques which you can then incorporate into your own practice. 

The first half of the session will focus on trying out techniques and getting used to the medium. In the second half, you'll put those techniques to the test to create a painting. 

We'll provide subject matter for you to paint, though you are, of course, welcome to paint something from your imagination. 

Tickets are £30 (£27 for Tullie Friends). All materials included. Suitable for beginners or those looking to add a few more tricks to their arsenal. 

Come and take in the Bitts Park firework show (without the mud) from the best vantage point in town – Tullie’s Rotunda.

Cafe Tullie will be open from 5-7pm for your essential Bonfire Night treats – hot dogs, mulled wine and hot chocolate!

Tickets (pre-booking essential):

£5 adult

£3 child

(Tickets are for access to Tullie Rotunda to watch the fireworks, food may be purchased on the night.)

The Fifth Step
by David Ireland, directed by Finn den Hertog

Olivier Award-winner Jack Lowden (Slow Horses, Dunkirk) is joined by Emmy and BAFTA-winner Martin Freeman (The Hobbit, The Responder) in the critically acclaimed and subversively funny new play by David Ireland.

After years in the 12-step programme of Alcoholics Anonymous, James becomes a sponsor to newcomer Luka. The pair bond over black coffee, trade stories and build a fragile friendship out of their shared experiences. But as Luka approaches step five – the moment of confession – dangerous truths emerge, threatening the trust on which both of their recoveries depend.

Finn den Hertog directs the provocative and entertaining production filmed live from @sohoplace on London’s West End.

Adult £15, Friend £12. Booking required.

Bar opens at 6.30pm with shows starting at 7pm.

Mr and Mrs Claus are back!

Our Festive Fun weekends were very popular last year so make sure you book early and don’t miss out.  

Children can expect a 15-minute interactive meeting with Mr and Mrs Claus in our winter woodland Grotto. Each child will receive a present from Santa, a sweet treat and opportunities for photographs.  You can also write a letter to Santa.  

On the day activities: 

• Santa's Grotto visit with Mr and Mrs Claus (including present, selection box and photo)  

• Letter writing to Santa 

Children’s tickets are priced at £15. Children under 1 years old go free but won’t receive a present from Santa.  

Adults don’t need a ticket to accompany children on the above Santa's Grotto package.  

Please book a time slot on your chosen day to visit Mr and Mrs Claus and take part in our festive activities.

Christmas Crafts and the Elf trail in the museum are free with museum admission.

Dates: Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th, Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th December 2025.

Slot times start at: 10:30, 10:50, 11:10, 11:30, (relaxed session), 11:50, 12:50, 13:10, 13:30, 13:50, 14:30 (relaxed session), 14:50, 15:10 & 15:30. Your visit with Mr and Mrs Claus will last approx. 15 minutes, please allow time before and after your time slot to take part in the other activities.  

Relaxed time slots for Santa's Grotto, for those children who require a quieter environment, are at 11.30am and 2.30pm on each of the above dates.  

Museum and café open 10am-4pm.