Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival
Every May since 1979, Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival has brought international performers of the highest quality to a region with many scattered rural communities which may not otherwise have the opportunity to experience such talent.
This year's programme includes a wide range of events, from classical music and jazz to dance, visual arts and films, along with a growing number of events aimed at children.
With such a variety of events taking place in a range of venues across the region, there's plenty of opportunity for all to take part and enjoy the festival - we've highlighted a few events below.
Creative Scotland Award winner and internationally renowned jazz musician Brian Kellock performed at the Theatre Royal, Dumfries with Swing 2005. Swing is now in its 24th year and is considered to be something of an institution in Scottish Jazz.
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Television and stage actress Gabrielle Drake brings one of England's greatest 19th Century novelists to life through extracts from her novels and letters. Elizabeth Gaskell's works continue to enchant audiences following hugely popular adaptations for television. Now for the first time she is the subject of an entertaining one-person dramatisation, Elizabeth Gaskell in her own words, compiled by Gabrielle Drake and Richard Digby Day. |
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From the same team as NTC's Tartuffe comes an exciting adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic tale, Great Expectations. Full of comic and dramatic characters it is a mystery story and a love story with a big but simple theme that affection, love and loyalty are more important than the pursuit of wealth and power. |
Join Wendy Cope for afternoon tea at the Mabie House Hotel. Her hilariously dissatisfied and ironic poetry will keep the audience smiling and, at times, identifying with Wendy's slightly seditious take on life, love and just about everything.
There's also a chance to meet Janet Paisley, one of Scotland's most prolific writers in Scots and English. Janet has an acclaimed international reputation and her work has so far been translated into five languages.
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In 2004 Festival events in the West of the Dumfries and Galloway became the responsibility of West Fest, an independent organisation working in close collaboration with the Arts Festival in the East of the Region.
This year, there is an exciting and enlarged Festival, with several new features, including two art exhibitions and a day of films at Newton Stewart Cinema.
You can view the full programme online. Tickets are available from Irene Hawker, Secretary, West Fest, c/o The Ryan Centre, tel: 01776 703535, Ext 230 or David Sumner, Chairman, West Fest, The Swallow Theatre, Near Whithorn, tel: 01988 850368. |
Visit the Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival website or contact them by post at
Gracefield Arts Centre
28 Edinburgh Road
Dumfries
DG1 1JQ
Tel/Fax: +44 (0)1387 260447 or email Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival.
Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival is supported by the National Lottery through the Scottish Arts Council. Other funders include Dumfries and Galloway Council and Scottish Enterprise.
Images courtesy of Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival. |