Widnes’ Catalyst Science Discovery Centre and Museum is set to expand its evening events programme with the launch of a new series of live music and comedy nights later this year.
Known for its interactive science galleries, family activities, workshops and observatory experiences, the Mersey Road venue has long been a popular destination for schools and families across Halton and the wider Liverpool City Region. Now, Catalyst is looking to introduce a different side of the organisation by bringing live entertainment into the mix.
The new programme forms part of Catalyst’s growing “After Hours” offer and follows a successful pilot event delivered earlier this year in partnership with Halton Borough Council and Liverpool arts organisation The Narrative.
Supported through Culture 26: Made in Halton funding, the initiative aims to create more opportunities for people to engage with culture, creativity and community activity outside of traditional museum opening hours.
“We want to show another side to the venue,” explains Catalyst Chief Executive Officer Nikki Burton Mallott.
“These events are about introducing more evening activity into the building and creating new reasons for people to visit throughout the year. We’ve seen growing demand for community events, private hires and adult-focused experiences in recent years, so introducing live music and comedy nights felt like a natural next step.”
The first events announced include live music nights on 10 September and 26 November, alongside a comedy night on 9 October presented in partnership with North West comedy promoters The Giggle Shack.
According to Nikki, creating a welcoming and social atmosphere has been central to the programme’s development.
“Comedy felt like a really good fit for the space because we want these nights to feel relaxed, welcoming and social,” she says. “We’re also really pleased to be working with organisations like The Giggle Shack and starting to build relationships with performers and creatives from across the region.”
The move reflects a growing trend among museums and cultural venues to diversify their programming and attract new audiences through evening events, live performances and immersive experiences.
Catalyst is also exploring additional interactive activities for the future, including plans for a science and heritage-themed escape room, adding another dimension to its evolving visitor offer.
As the programme develops, the venue is keen to hear from musicians, performers and creatives interested in getting involved.
“We really want these nights to evolve over time and showcase a mix of established names, emerging talent and people from all of the areas around us,” Nikki says.
“It’s going to be a really exciting rest of the year here at Catalyst and we want as many people as possible to come along and be part of it.”
For more information about upcoming events, visit Catalyst’s website.
