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From Passion to Purpose: How Culture Calendar Began

Way back in 2013, what began as a casual coffee shop meet-up in West Lancashire grew into a vibrant community of over 100 women enjoying organized theatre trips, mystery dining, and luxury coach tours across the UK.

But as the years passed, we realized something powerful: the real magic wasn’t just the destination or the logistics of the trip. It was the rich tapestry of stories, the emotional late-night interval debates, and the creative spark that live performance ignited in all of us.

Today, Culture Calendar has gracefully evolved. We have traded the logistics of coach keys and ticket bookings to become a dedicated creative sanctuary—a multimedia platform celebrating the arts through audience-led storytelling, creative writing, journaling, and our upcoming podcast.”

Love of Culture

“For years, Culture Calendar was known for its seamlessly organized luxury coach trips, candlelight concerts, and national theatre excursions. These shared miles on the road gave us front-row seats to how culture makes people feel.

As a freelance theatre critic and writer, I watched our community blossom from passive viewers into passionate commentators. That lived experience is what drives Culture Calendar today.

We have transitioned away from the travel logistics to fully immerse ourselves in the narrative. We have moved from the coach seat to the writer’s desk and the microphone—turning those exact same interval conversations and champagne laughter lines into essays, audio stories, and reflective journals.

Catherine Glachan, Culture Calendar Founder and Host

Over the years, Catherine has ignited a passion for performing arts in many, connecting diverse audiences to world-class cultural scenes, and unforgettable stage experiences.

The Creative Eco-System

  • The Audience Voice (Creative Writing & Blogging): We write honest, deeply human, audience-led theatre and cultural reviews. We don’t just critique the production; we capture the atmosphere, the venue’s history, and the emotional resonance of showing up.

  • Culture Calendar “Beyond The  Spotlight” Podcast, Perfect if you’re looking for authentic, atmospheric, and performing arts cultural commentary. .. you’ve found it.   Culture Calendar Podcast goes beyond standard critiques to capture the true experience of live entertainment. Rooted in an audience-first perspective, this podcast explores how theatre, music, and heritage shape our memories and connections.

    Episodes cover:

    • Global Theatre & Live Performance Reviews: What it’s really like to be in the seats, from intimate local stages to major touring productions across the globe—spanning London’s West End, Broadway, the Los Angeles arts scene, and world-class cultural destinations.

    • Creative Writing & Journaling: Thoughtful writing prompts, essays, and creative reflections inspired by the arts.

    • Storytelling & Cultural Dialogue: Inspiring conversations with fellow arts lovers, creators, and venues.

    From late-night interval debates to the quiet moments of journaling after the curtain falls, we are turning shared cultural experiences into creative inspiration. Subscribe today and dive deeper into the stories behind the stage.

“Joining Culture Calendar was the best decision I’ve made since moving to Merseyside. It’s not just events it’s real connection with people who truly get you.”

Culture Calendar is a global arts and culture media platform rooted in lived audience experience.

Through international theatre reviews, live music, comedy, and performing arts, we bring together an international community of culture seekers to celebrate and share meaningful creative moments.

Moving beyond our origins in local event curation, we now capture the world-class atmosphere, emotion, and human connection of major global entertainment hubs—from London’s West End to the vibrant arts scene of Los Angeles.

Our work seamlessly blends audience-led insight, creative writing, podcasting, and reflective journaling to honor how performances are truly experienced. By turning shared cultural moments into powerful storytelling, Culture Calendar continues to support theatres, world-class venues, and global arts organizations in engaging audiences with authenticity, creativity, and warmth.