An immersive Folk and Dub party, Craig Hill, Pop-Up Opera and A Play, A Pie and A Pint – Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival opens its doors on its 44th Festival this May.
Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival presents a smorgasbord of cultural events in May, featuring an immersive music, food and drink event in Castle Douglas, tongue-in-cheek comedy by Craig Hill in Dumfries, intimate Pop-Up Opera from Scottish Opera in Sanquhar and Moniaive, and a Play, a Pie and a Pint in Moffat, Dumfries and Stranraer.
DG Arts Festival 2023
Between 20 and 28 May 2023, Scotland’s biggest rural arts festival celebrates its 44th year, with a programme packed full of storytelling, theatre, music, dance, comedy and spoken word in 14 venues across the region, bringing communities together to be entertained and inspired.
Opening the Festival with a bang is Gaither A Thegether, a unique immersive event combining folk and Dub music, live performers, food and drink, from An Dannsa Dub, and BBC Introducing’s Phoebe I. H.
Also amongst the 14-strong event line up, audiences can enjoy a larger-than-life feline performance at Crawick Multiverse, a free dance and live music extravaganza by Oceanallover on the streets of Kirkcudbright, and the unmistakable folk sound of TALISK, supported by The Lucky Doves and Rose Byres in Stranraer.
Celebrating queer theatre, SHELF presents HAIR in Dumfries Theatre Royal, a hit theatre show from the 2022 Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Storyteller Patricia Ace weaves a yarn at The Stove in Dumfries and A Climate for Change in Dalbeattie showcases a double-bill of work commissioned through Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival’s Stage iT programme supporting two leading local youth theatre groups.
Both returning to the festival after previous sell-out performances are Scottish Opera with Pop-Up Opera in Sanquhar and Moniaive, and A Play, A Pie and A Pint, with brand new theatrical treats at lunchtime in Dumfries, Stranraer and Moffat.
As part of the programme, venues are hosting events in the heart of local communities to inspire and bring people together. Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival hopes to encourage both new and familiar faces to return to community theatres and spaces, and celebrate live performance across Dumfries and Galloway.
Recognising the current economic climate, events range from free to a maximum of £15 to keep the festival accessible to as many audiences as possible, with most tickets being under £10. Under 26s can purchase tickets for as little as £3.50. BSL patrons can request an interpreter to any of the events.
“We look forward to welcoming audiences across Dumfries & Galloway to our festival events, sharing the brilliant, inspiring and world-class work of leading Scottish and UK performers in theatre, opera, spoken word, comedy and dance, as well as showcasing the skills and talents of local artists.” Simon Hart, Chief Executive Officer Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival Tickets now on sale from 22 May 2023 here: https://dgartsfestival.org.uk
Listings
Gaither A’ Thegether – Sat 20 May
Cat Sith – Sun 21 May
Scales of the World Pop Up Performance – Sun 21 May
A Climate for Change – Sun 21 May
VRï – Sun 21 May
Leopards Ate My Face – Mon 22 & Tue 23 May
Pibroch – Mon 22 May & Tue 23 May
The Galloway Players – Tue 23 May
Hebridean Treasure: Lost and Found – Wed 24 May
Hair – Wed 24 May
TALISK supported by The Lucky Doves & Rose Byers – Fri 26 May
Scottish Opera – Sat 27 May
Spoken Word with Patricia Ace – Sat 27 May
Craig Hill: I Always Knew I Had it in Me! – Sun 28 May
