The region’s year-round performing arts touring network, Dumfries and Galloway Arts Live, Springs into action for it’s 2017 season with two remarkable pieces of international theatre featuring the lands of the Norsemen.
Farnham Maltings theatre: Yørgjin Oxo
From 15-19 February, Farnham Maltings Theatre brings a winter’s saga of courage and love to the region with Yørgjin Oxo by Thomas Crowe. This is “ripping adventure yarn” told in story and song about an unusual young marshlander who sets out across the wilderness on a dangerous quest to find his love.
Thomas Crowe’s script fizzes with humour, larger than life characters and tells of a place quite unlike our own. This is a new production by Farnham Maltings, whose previous productions include It’s a Wonderful Life and Iranian Feast and comes to the region as part of its UK-wide tour.
Performances take place on 15 February, at Glencairn Memorial Institute, Moniaive; and 19 February, County Buildings, Wigtown. Performances for the event at Loch Arthur, Beeswing, on 18 February have sold out.
TORTOISE IN A NUTSHELL: FISK
Brought to the region by multi-award-winning Tortoise in a Nutshell, in association with Danish new writing centre Teater Katapult, Fisk tells the story of a man and a fish and the unexpected impact they have upon one another.
Fisk (Fish in Danish) is a new devised piece of theatre which delves into how we manage struggles with our own mental health, with the support of others, and comes to Dumfries Theatre Royal on Tuesday, 21 February at 7.30pm.
George Egg: Anarchist Cook
Stand-up comedian and Edinburgh Fringe sell-out performer, George Egg, is a passionate cook with an anarchic approach to making meals. Dissatisfied with the quality of room service food while touring the UK’s comedy clubs, George embarks on a project to take matters into his own hands.
Coming to the King’s Arms Hotel, Lockerbie, on 25 February, at 7.30pm, George will cook-up a surreal mix of stand-up, striking innovation and extreme multitasking while, via live demonstration, prepare a three course meal using only the equipment found in a hotel room.
’Owdyado Theatre: A View from the Edge
Cornwall-based ’Owdyado Theatre delivers a slick and surprising performance of classic noir in View from the Edge. Challenging the concept of reality, the show follows the fortunes of Private eye and troubled sleeper Charlie Danielsm, who is hired by the seductive Elise Hillerman to investigate the disappearance of her husband. Meanwhile, writers Charlotte and Dan struggle to write the script of their new noir-inspired theatre show. As scenes spin, fragment and entangle with each other, one question arises: whose reality is real?
View from the edge will be performed on Thursday, 9 March, at the Craft Hotel, Wigtown; Saturday, 11 March Glencairn Memorial Institute , Moniaive; and Sunday, at 12 March, Colvend Public Hall, Dalbeattie. All shows start at 7.30pm.
SCOTTISH ENSEMBLE: AN EVENING OF STRING DUETS
Scottish Ensemble violinist Cheryl Crockett and cellist Alison Lawrance perform a lively, varied programme of duos from the Baroque to the 20th Century. Highlights include Ravel’s Sonata for Violin and Cello and Halvorsen’s Passacaglia, an impressive, faux-Baroque gambol across the strings inspired by Handel.
The performance takes place at the Theatre Royal, Dumfries, on Thursday, 30 March at 7.30pm.
Tickets to all Arts Live events can be obtained from the Midsteeple Box Office, tel 01387 253383.
more great events
DG Arts Live is a network of venues, artists and promoters brining high quality live performing arts to Dumfries and Galloway. The project also plays a supportive role in helping members of its network to bring their own shows to the region.
There are a number of Arts Live supported events coming up for February and these include Knockengorroch’s Winter Warmer which returns to The Venue, Dumfries, on Friday, 17 February, bringing a touch of the Galloway Hills and World Ceilidh magic to Dumfries. This year, the festival celebrates 20 years and features the talents of dancehall reggae sound system Mungo’s Hi Fi and Glasgow-based ska band Esperanza. The event kicks-off at 8.30pm.
Fledgling theatre company, Seriously Strong, presents its first drama Small Town Women to audiences at the Ryan Centre, Stranraer on Thursday, 9 February and then on Friday, 10 February at the Theatre Royal, Dumfries. The play, written and performed by young Stranraer actress, Deborah Baker, explores being under 30, living in a small town in rural Scotland, caring for others, trying to earn a living, getting educated and laughing.
Absolute Classics’ February series features the Aurea Quartet – a multi-award-winning, Gasgow-based group of young classical musicians comprising Abbey Hayward, cello; Christine Anderson, viola, Philip Brett, violin; and Rosemary Attree, violin. They will be bringing a programme featuring music by Mozart, Ravel and Shostakovich to the Crichton Memorial Church, Crichton, Dumfries, on Thursday, 16 February, at 7.30pm.
For a full list of Arts Live events, visit www.dgartslive.org.uk
