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From Passion to Purpose: How Culture Calendar Began

Back in 2013, I was searching for a way to enjoy live entertainment without waiting for others to say yes. I wanted connection, shared experiences with like-minded friends, and those meaningful conversations that continued long after the curtain fell. 

I was looking for a place where you could book for one, turn up, and instantly feel part of something.

When I couldn’t find a women’s social group focused on arts, culture, and friendship across West Lancashire and Merseyside, I decided to create one.

In the early days, events were simple and quietly shared. There was no social media presence—just a small note online inviting local women with a love of the arts, culture, and connection to come along and join in.

What began as a casual coffee shop meet-up quickly grew through word of mouth. Before I knew it, nearly 100 women were part of the group. It became a vibrant women’s social community that I ran in my spare time for several years.  I created social events including theatre trips, wine and dine mystery evenings, comedy nights, and regular opportunities to share memorable experiences with new friends.

What started in West Lancashire and the surrounding areas has grown into something much more.  Today, Culture Calendar is a welcoming community of women brought together by friendship, a shared love of the arts, and a desire to enjoy life without waiting for the “right moment” or the “right friends”.

With a passion for theatre, musicals, live music, and social events, Culture Calendar removes the need to wait for friends with different priorities or commitments to say “yes.”  Everyone is welcome—whether you’re booking solo or coming along with a friend—because with us, you’ll never feel like you don’t belong.

 

A Love of Culture — and the Stories that Bring Us Together

From the very beginning, Culture Calendar was never just about events and performing arts. It was also about friendship, laughter, and community, and how culture makes us feel. 

The anticipation before the curtain rises, the conversations sparked during the interval, and the memories carried long after the final applause.

With a deep love of British history, heritage, and the performing arts, Culture Calendar grew into a women’s social group offering tailor-made cultural and social experiences such as:

Every experience has been and is accompanied by Catherine and thoughtfully organised to be welcoming and inclusive—allowing women to arrive independently while experiencing the performing arts and culture together.

Catherine Glachan, Founder and Host

Many years of attending live performances in theatres, concert halls, and cultural venues across the UK have shaped our thoughtful, audience-led approach.

Catherine is the founder of Culture Calendar, a trusted platform for audience-led theatre reviews and cultural storytelling. A freelance theatre critic and cultural writer, Catherine brings decades of experience attending live performance across the UK. 

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The Natural Evolution into Creative Writing & Storytelling

As the community grew, so did the stories – and the laughter that came with them. 

Members weren’t just attending performances — they were sharing reflections, emotions and personal moments sparked by live entertainment. Culture Calendar naturally evolved into a platform for creative writing, blogging and audience-led storytelling, capturing culture through lived experience rather than promotion.

Culture Calendar began as a way to enjoy live entertainment together — and naturally evolved into a platform for cultural storytelling shaped by real audience experience.

Today, Culture Calendar sits at the intersection of community, culture and creative writing.  It tells honest stories around theatre, music, venues, and shared experiences—while continuing to champion the joy of going out, showing up, laughing together, and feeling connected.

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

Culture Calendar is a UK-based cultural platform rooted in lived audience experience. Through theatre, live music, comedy, and performing arts events, we bring women together to share meaningful cultural moments.

We capture the atmosphere, emotion, human connection and friendship that live entertainment helps to create.  Our work blends audience-led insight, creative writing, and cultural storytelling to reflect how performances are truly experienced, supporting theatres, venues, and arts organisations in engaging audiences with authenticity and warmth.