The exuberant and vivacious Scottish Ensemble ( main Photo) will give a rousing performance of From Russia with Love at the Easterbrook Hall, Dumfries, to herald the opening of the 2015 Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival.
This stunning showcase of music from Russia’s most celebrated composers by the UK’s only string orchestra takes place on Friday, 22 May, at 8pm and is followed by ten days of some truly remarkable performing arts events across the region.
The north, from Dumfries to Sanquhar, sees a wide variety of performances to suit all ages and tastes, including an historically important song project by some of the region’s top trad musicians; the entire history of comedy reduced to 90 hilarious minutes; a late afternoon of poetry accompanied by the pipes of Northumbria; award-winning theatre and a rare opportunity for young musicians to get a foot in the door of the music industry.
Music
The magnificent Easterbrook Hall provides the setting for the festival’s specially commissioned song-writing project, Macmath: The Silent Page. A rare collection of little-known Scottish songs will be sung back to life in this remarkable project. Galloway songwriter Ali Burns, together with top traditional Scots musicians from the region – Emily Smith, Jamie McClennan, Robyn Stapleton, Aaron Jones, Claire Mann and Wendy Stewart – will perform Macmath: The Silent Page on Sunday, 31 May, at 7.30pm
The rousing choruses of the Biddulph Male Voice Choir will sing out from the Crichton Memorial Church on Sunday, 24 May. They will be accompanied by Stranraer’s ever-popular emerging Scots trad singer Robyn Stapleton.
The court of Mary Queen of Scots is the focus of an evening of 16th century music by the Galloway Consort on Sunday, 24 May. They will be playing on viols, recorders, lute, voice and Renaissance guitar at Glencairn Church, Kirkland.
An extraordinary soundscape of music and words plays out at A’ the Airts, Sanquhar, on Friday, 29 May, and then at the Easterbrook Hall, Dumfries, on Sunday, 31 May. Nine Nests is a collaboration of music and words between author Tom Pow, harpist Wendy Stewart and cellist Alex McQuiston which features nine lessons exploring the concept and provenance of the nest.
Three of the region’s best loved young musicians will give an afternoon of music and song at St John’s Church, Newall Terrace, Dumfries. Soprano Claudia Wood, baritone Billy-Dewer Riddick and flautist Julian Pumbo are a trio of musicians who have performed to the highest acclaim at venues across the UK. the concert takes place on Saturday, 30 May.
Literature
Prize-winning Penpont writer and poet, Hugh McMillan, will be taking his audience on a virtual literary tour through Dumfries and Galloway’s past, present and future at Thomas Tosh in Thornhill on Thursday, 28 May.
Lovers of the countryside will have a chance to take a closer look at a working farm in a special event at SRUC Crichton Royal Farm visitor centre on Friday, 29 May. The Countryside in Poetry involves a walk through the farm and poetry recitals with refreshments and musical interludes.
Young people
Scottish Opera wheels into Dock Park, Dumfries, on Friday 22 May to perform three pop-up operas specially created for kids between five and eight.
Burns Fur Bairns is the focus of a special afternoon of storytelling by Andy Cannon, and provides the perfect introduction to wee people of the life and works of Rabbie Burns. Oor Rabbie takes place at the Brigend Theatre, Dumfries, on Sunday, 31 May.
Youth Beatz favourite Reece Robertson returns to the region with his magical mix of hip-hop, experimental indie and sweet grime when he performs at the Oasis Youth Centre, Dumfries, on Thursday, 28 May.
Young musicians are invited to take part in two specially commissioned workshops and lives gigs in Dumfries and Sanquhar which could provide a rare lead into the UK’s music business. Music Beats, run by Robert Maitland of the Smart Indie record label, comprises a free workshop and following live gig of the participants at the Venue nightclub, Dumfries, on Saturday, 23 May, and at A’ the Airts, Sanquhar, on Sunday, 24 May.
Theatre
Edinburgh Theatre company Magnetic North brings its award-winning production of A Walk at the Edge of the World to the Brigend Theatre, Dumfries, on Sunday, 24 May. Described by The List as “a thoughtful, moving exploration of solitude, freedom and power”, this enlightening drama looks at how the hidden secrets of the landscape and the constantly shifting border between land and sea remind us that the past is always with us, whether we realise it or not
Comedy
One of the nation’s hottest comic celebrities, Des Clarke, takes to the stage of the Cairndale Hotel, Dumfries, on Friday, 29 May.
The Reduced Shakespeare Company bring their sensation Complete History of Comedy (abridged) to the Easterbrook Hall on Saturday, 30 May. This critically-acclaimed production will have its audience reduced to tears of laughter as they deconstruct the entire history of comedy into 90 rollicking minutes.
Fringe events
A’ the Airts’ vibrant community arts centre in Sanquhar provides the stage for the wonderful Alan McClure who returns to the centre with his full band, The Razorbills, for an evening of music, laughter and distraction on Wednesday, 27 May.
There are more than just alcoholic spirits at the Troqueer Arms, Dumfries, and the region’s intrepid spook-hunters Mostly Ghostly will be seeking them out on Saturday, 23 May, for an evening of High Spirits in The Room.
The acoustic, Americana, folk and blues sounds of Clan Blues will entertain the crowds at the Coach and Horses, Dumfries, on Sunday, 24 May.
The birthplace of Peter Pan hosts the launch of a new children’s book by author Dumfries author Tom Pow on Tuesday, 26 May Sixteen String Jack and the Garden of Adventure is the first book to be inspired by Moat Brae’s house and garden since J M Barrie’s timeless children’s classic.
The Grand Finale
An armchair adventure in the footsteps of ‘Scotland’s forgotten bestseller’ and the poetry and pipes of Northumbria’s Katrina Porteous and Chris Ormston join Nine Nests and Macmath: The Silent Page for the Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival’s spectacular closing day at the Easterbrook Hall, Dumfries, on Sunday, 31 May.
Half price tickets are available for all core festival events to the under 26s.
Tickets from the Midsteeple Box Office, Dumfries, on 01387 253383.
Further information from the festival website www.dgartsfestival.org.uk.
