Crichton Plays in a Nutshell this weekend

The very latest in new drama from Dumfries and Galloway is being presented in an evening’s entertainment at the Rutherford-McCowan Building, Studio Theatre, Crichton Campus on Saturday 26 September at 7pm.

Crichton Plays in a Nutshell has been enabled by Dumfries and Galloway Arts Association, and has been created by one of Scotland’s most dynamic young directors, Kate Nelson, who has been working with experienced local writers to help hone their playwriting skills. Playwrights involved are Vivien Jones, Catherine Forbes, Linda Powell, Isobel Mary Gibson, Leonie Ewing and Carolyn Yates for Crichton Writers, and Janette Walkinshaw, Kriss Nichol, Patricia Comb and Grace Fenwick from Wigtown Scribblers.

The resulting quirky, ambitious and entertaining short plays will be performed by Kate Nelson’s ensemble of professional actors in tandem with the winner of this year’s McLelland drama prize in a special one-off event to coincide with the start of the Wigtown Book Festival. The following day the Wigtown Scribblers’ contributions will be performed by Kate’s ensemble at The McLellan Prize Showcase at the Swallow Theatre in Sorbie at 5pm.

Tickets for the performance in Dumfries are £6, available from Dumfries & Galloway Arts Association at the Midsteeple, Dumfries or for the performance at The McLellan Prize Showcase at Swallow Theatre from the ticket office in the County Buildings, Wigtown 01988 403222, also £6.

Poetry Doubles this Monday!

Poetry Doubles this Monday 21st will bring you visiting poet Alan Riach and popular local bard Rab Wilson.

A friendly welcome and great poetry guaranteed! Tickets from the Midsteeple, call 01387 253383 or on the door at Robert Burns Centre Film Theatre.

Arts in the Steeple - short stories from Vivien Jones on Friday

Come along to hear local writer Vivien Jones read from her new book of short stories, Perfect 10 on Friday 18 September as part of our new Arts in the Steeple events series. Vivien's short stories have been widely published and broadcast on BBC Radio 4 and Radio Scotland.

The theme of Perfect 10 is the fat girls, the large females, the big girls, the big women everywhere across Britain, overlooked, mocked and despised. Their strategies for survival can be inspired, funny or desperate but survive they do. In these stories their inventiveness is celebrated, their sadness acknowledged and a challenge thrown out to each of us to examine our tendency to judge the book by its cover. Vivien's stories are quirky, unexpected and enjoyable!

You can drop into the Midsteeple to hear Vivien on Friday 18 September at 1.30pm. Tickets are £2 from the Midsteeple, or 01387 253383.

Arts in the Steeple features JoAnne McKay this Saturday

Come along to The Midsteeple at noon this Saturday to enjoy JoAnne McKay's poetry. Arts in the Steeple aims to get culture right into the town centre, so it's very much open to all.

JoAnne will be reading poems from her well-received recent pamphlet, The Fat Plant, on the first floor of the Midsteeple. The Fat Plant (not a diet book!) reflects JoAnne's childhood and family - she says she was born into a family of Wholesale Butchers and Slaughterers. These are punchy poems laced with dark humour - to be recommended. Tickets £2 on the door.

Wigtown Book Festival Programme Launch at Midsteeple

Come along to help us launch our region's lovely book festival at The Midsteeple next Thursday 10 September! Adrian Turpin, Director of Wigtown Book Festival, will be at The Midsteeple to launch this year's programme. 6pm to 7pm - free.

Vivien Jones - new short stories reading at The Midsteeple

As part of our new Arts in the Steeple events series, local writer Vivien Jones will be reading from her new book of short stories, Perfect 10. Vivien's short stories have been widely published and broadcast on BBC Radio 4 and Radio Scotland.

The theme of Perfect 10 is the fat girls, the large females, the big girls, the big women everywhere across Britain, overlooked, mocked and despised. Their strategies for survival can be inspired, funny or desperate but survive they do. In these stories their inventiveness is celebrated, their sadness acknowledged and a challenge thrown out to each of us to examine our tendency to judge the book by its cover. Vivien's stories are quirky, unexpected and enjoyable!

Come along to hear Vivien on Friday 18 September at 1.30pm. Tickets are £2 from the Midsteeple, or 01387 253383.