Brass at the Lake, a fitting finale for the four-day Stage at the Lake spectacular event, celebrating 100 years’ public ownership of Shibden, will bring together the cast and crew of British cinema classic Brassed Off with world-renowned Grimethorpe Colliery Band for a celebratory outdoor screening in the park. Brass at the Lake takes place on Sunday 16 August at Shibden Park, Halifax.

A homecoming for the film, 2026 marks 30 years since iconic scenes were filmed at The Piece Hall, Halifax.

Brass at the Lake will mark Calderdale’s place in British film and music history with Yorkshire’s legendary brass band tradition taking centre stage at the screening which will be live scored by Grimethorpe Colliery Band. The original inspiration behind the film, many members of the band played on the film as part of the fictional Grimley Band. The night will conclude with a special in-conversation with the film’s writer and director Mark Herman and leading cast members Sue Johnston, Stephen Tompkinson, Tara Fitzgerald and Peter Gunn as they reunite to reflect on filming in Calderdale and the film’s enduring legacy. Grimethorpe Colliery Band will also perform a special programme ahead of the screening.

From Thursday 13 to Sunday 16 August 2026, this exciting new open-air festival of classical music, comedy, musical theatre, brass bands, interactive family performance and community garden trail – all in the setting of Shibden Park – will mark its 100th anniversary of being a public park.

It’s part of the legacy of Calderdale’s Year of Culture 2024 and brings the best in live talent to the borough, including comedian Russell Kane, Halifax’s own West End favourite and Olivier Award-nominated Emma Williams, Grimethorpe Colliery Band and many more.

Running alongside the musical and comedy programme, ‘Seeds of Hope’ will provide a trail of mini community gardens around Shibden Park and the wider Stage at the Lake festival, created by local community groups. There will also be family talks, workshops and an interactive performance by children’s and parents’ favourite, Mr Bloom & His Band, star of the CBeebies’ show Mr Bloom’s Nursery.

After the event, the Seeds of Hope mini gardens will return to the communities across Calderdale who created them, as an accessible legacy for everyone to enjoy.
Brass at the Lake is the culmination of four days of events at Shibden Park from 13-16 August, each bringing world class performances from the worlds of music, theatre and comedy. Stage at the Lake is also part of ‘Seasons of Culture – Nature 2026’, a cultural initiative from West Yorkshire Combined Authority that will see a series of events celebrate the region’s creativity, heritage, and communities through the lens of the natural world.

Fully accessible, Stage at the Lake will feature a mix of ticketed and free events, with free entry for under-16s.