The 30th Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival will be opened by Culture Minister Michael Russell this weekend (Friday 22nd May) with comedy, music and drama events taking place across Dumfries and Galloway.
Top comedian Phil Kay, two theatre premieres, classical and world music are just some of the performances launching a packed nine-day programme.
Culture Minister Michael Russell said:
“I am thrilled to be opening the Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival which adds such colour to the local cultural landscape. It is fitting that this renowned community event is celebrating it’s 30th year when we are also commemorating the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns who lived, worked and died in Dumfries.
“It’s great to see that the Burns’ musical production will kick off the festival - this is a valuable link to the Year of Homecoming as we welcome visitors with a love of Scottish culture “back home”. I am sure the Festival will enjoy continued success this year and into the future.”
For its Friday opening, the festival has commissioned a special musical drama about the life of Robert Burns in the region. A’ the Airts—Robert Burns, The Dumfries Years is written and produced by Moniaive writer Hugh Taylor.
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The premiere features performances by Rod Patterson, Gill Bowman and Lionel McClelland, three of Scotland's leading exponents of Burns’ music. The musical drama takes place this Friday (May 22nd) at the Theatre Royal in Dumfries, a venue that the great poet helped launch.
Writer/producer Hugh Taylor says:
“I’m really excited about being involved in the opening night of this 30th festival. Our performance is special because it features three of the country’s finest musicians in the oldest working theatre in Scotland. And it celebrates Burns’ single-handed work saving Scottish traditional song.”
“There are a couple of nice wee surprises in the production,” promises Hugh. “The performance marks all the challenges Burns faced but also commemorates the poet’s hugely creative years in Dumfriesshire.”
Dumfries and Galloway’s historic past also creates an evocative background for the Scottish premiere of Sister Queens—writer/performer Miriam Cooper’s play about Mary Queen of Scots and her sister Elizabeth, Queen of England. Its Scottish touring premiere is at Dundrennan Village Hall on Friday (May 22nd). Dundrennan was the place Mary departed to England for what she believed was the protection of her sister.
Phil Kay’s ramashackle comedy is set to bring a laugh to New Galloway on Saturday (23rd May) at the CatStrand in two separate gigs one for the kids, and an even naughtier one for the grown-ups.
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And two distinguished and garlanded classical musicians, pianist Pascal Rogé and clarinettist Emma Johnson join forces for a European repertoire at St. George’s Church in Dumfries, this Sunday (May 24th).
Top world music comes in the shape of the Qawali Sham Sufi Group from Afghanistan who play New Galloway on the festival’s opening night.
And from the sublime to the Buckfast, with some piracy and tea thrown in. The Banana Sessions playing in Moniaive on Saturday (23rd May). The Banana Sessions sing songs of sunshine, caterpillars, brews, Buckfast, pirates and strange Encounters.
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Whatever genre they may be, the band have rapidly gained a reputation as purveyors of quality musicianship with equal quantities of fun. Enough to make you laugh and dance at the same time.
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