Organisers of Dumfries and Galloway’s, ‘Big Burns Supper’, the Worlds largest Burns celebration, have reported an increase in attendance by 16% at ticketed events at the 2017 Festival, helping the Festival achieve its biggest ever audience.
Home grown Le Haggis accounted for more than 63% of all audiences with record numbers packing out the redesigned Festival hub at the Easterbrook Hall.
The festival drew to a close on Sunday night with the Peatbog Faeries sending festival goers wild as the 2017 edition closed after ten days.
The decision to pilot a new home for the Festival at the Easterbrook Hall demonstrated just how passionate the audience for Big Burns Supper has become in six years. Audiences are being invited to take part in surveys to gage overall feedback about the new experience.
Graham Main, Executive Producer said
“This is a festival of the people, and they will help us decide what future direction we take. We are incredibly fortunate to have an audience that are as passionate as ours. They make it very clear what they like and what they don’t like, and we will spend the next month listening to as much of their feedback as we can before planning for 2018 commences”
The ten day festival helps to stimulate the local economy during the winter months, which includes more than 200 incoming crew and artists, and includes hundreds of volunteer’s working day and night to welcome revellers to the town.
“Our volunteers are our shining stars, and they make the festival what it is. You just never know when one of them is going to jump onto the stage or burst into song, and that gives Big Burns Supper its unique atmosphere”, added Graham
This year’s production of Le Haggis saw stars from seven different European countries taking part in the show, which reached its highest audience ever.
At the afterparty at the Sunday Sessions last night, Graham said
“Local businesses have been quick to tell us that they have also maintained the economic impact that the festival gives them and that means that the impact of our work is far and wide. That’s great for both the future of the arts and our incredible town”
Several new projects were piloted for the first time, including Queer Haggis which became the biggest LGBT party in Dumfries & Galloway’s history with more than 300 people attending.
Online audiences for the Festival also rocketed with streaming events running all day on the 25th January, with an estimated reach in excess of 50,000 from live broadcasts across the world. The Burns Night Live event proved to be increasingly popular, which was presented by Thornhill singer Emily Smith.
Electric Theatre Workshop, the Dumfries Company which produces Big Burns Supper will be announcing plans for 2018 in early March.
