Wigan is set to become a Wonder Town!

Wigan is set to become a Wonder Town from 2025, with a programme of arts activities planned to pop up in the most surprising of places. Local families are advised to expect the unexpected.

Something wonderful is coming to Wigan, and local families are advised to prepare for imagination, performance, joy and wonder to not miss out. Because from August 2025 to 2028, there will be a calendar of world-class arts performances popping up in Wigan, in the most surprising of places.

It’s all because local arts organisation Wonder Arts have secured funding from Arts Council England for Wigan to become the next Wonder Town, and in partnership with Wigan Council all events will either be free or will have very low-ticket prices for local families.

Wonder Arts, the organisation behind the Wonder Town programme, have already been delighting awestruck audiences in St Helens for five years, with over 100 different shows to date, and everything from spies to monsters, yetis, musicals, and even a performance through a window. It’s been such a success that audiences have rated the performances as a wonderful 4.9 out of 5!

The Wonder Town events are now on the move and will next stop at Wigan, with organisers Wonder Arts saying they will be bringing the kind of family cultural experiences you’d expect to see at London’s Southbank, but instead putting it directly in the heart of Wigan and Leigh– in pop-up spaces, libraries, schools, streets and parks over the next three years.

Fay Lamb, Wonder Arts Chief Executive says: ‘We’ve got a long heritage delivering wondrous family activities in the North West. Our vision is to make arts and culture accessible for all children and young people, and we do this by bringing world-class activities to the places where local families are every day, whether that’s while doing the weekly shop or choosing a new book in the library. We’re calling for local families in Wigan to expect the unexpected – you never know where we might appear!’  

But don’t just take our word for it, here is what local families have to say about Wonder Arts’ Wonder Towns programme:

“It's making the town a better place to bring up my family “ (Mum)

‘It's right there woven into the fabric of our community, we don't have to travel to another town, or buy expensive tickets to go to a special building.” (Mum)

“It makes me laugh!” (5-year-old)

Families are advised to follow Wonder Arts on socials and to regularly visit the website to be the first in the know www.wonderarts.co.uk