The Birchvale is a small community theatre which has been the local hub for drama, film and entertainment in Dalbeattie since 1933. Keep up-to-date with further developments by bookmarking our website or visiting our Facebook page where further announcements will be made. Alternatively, you can contact us here.
What's on at the Birchvale:
Warm Wednesdays
This is a free event every Wednesday from September to March
Doors open at 1pm film starts at 1:30pm
Any films more than 2 ½ hours will have an intermission
3rd September – How Green Was My Valley (Maureen O’Hara)1hr 58 mins
10th September – Citizen Kane (Orson Wells & Dorothy Comingore) 1hr 59mins
17th September – Casablanca (Humphrey Bogart & Ingrid Bergman) 1hr 42mins
24th September – The Grapes of Wrath (Henry Fonda & Jane Darwell) 2hrs 9mins
1st October – Marnie (Sean Connery & Tippi Hedren) 2hr 10mins
8th October – Chinatown (Faye Dunaway & Jack Nicholson) 2hrs 11mins
15th October – Meet Me in St. Louis (Judy Garland & Mary Astor) 1hr 53mins
22nd October – A Little Night Music (Elizabeth Taylor & Diana Rigg) 2hrs 4mins
29th October – What Ever Happened to Baby Jane (Bette Davis & Joan Crawford) 2hrs 14mins
5th November – The Lady Killers (Peter Sellers & Alec Guinness) 1hr 37mins
12th November – Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (Spencer Tracy & Sidney Poitier)1hr 48mins
19th November – 12 Angry Men (Henry Fonda & Martin Balsam) 1hr 36mins
26th November – Calamity Jane (Doris Day & Howard Keel) 1hr 37mins
3rd December - From Here to Eternity (Burt Lancaster & Deborah Kerr) 1hr 58mins
10th December – It Happened One Night (Clark Gable & Claudette Colbert) 1hr 45mins
17th December – Miracle on 34th Street (Richard Attenborough & Mara Wilson) 1hr 54mins
14th January – The Swan (Grace Kelly & Alec Guinness) 1hr 44mins
21st January – The Charge of the Light Brigade (David Niven & Olivia de Havilland) 1hr 55mins
28th January – A Streetcar Named Desire (Vivien Leigh & Marlon Brando) 2hrs 2mins
4th February – Modern Times (Charlie Chaplin) 1hr 27mins
11th February – Rebel Without a Cause (James Dean & Natalie Wood) 1hr 51mins
18th February – Grand Hotel (Greta Garbo & Joan Crawford) 1hr 52mins
25th February – Harvey (James Stewart) 1hr 44mins
4th March – The Philadelphia Story (Katherine Hepburn & Cary Grant) 1hr 52mins
11th March – Guys & Dolls (Marlon Brando, Jean Simmons & Frank Sinatra) 2hrs 30mins
18th March – Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid (Robert Redford & Paul Newman) 1hr 50mins
25th March – You’ll Never Get Rich (Fred Astaire & Rita Hayworth) 1hr 28mins
This is a free event and no bookings will be taken it is first come first served
19th Sept 2025
Better Man
Film
From the director of The Greatest Showman, Better Man is a bold and inventive musical biopic that reimagines the life of British pop icon Robbie Williams. Told from Robbie's perspective, the film chronicles his journey from a working-class boy in Stoke-on-Trent to global superstardom, navigating the highs of fame and the depths of personal struggle.
In a groundbreaking move, Williams is portrayed by a CGI chimpanzee, symbolizing his inner turmoil and the pressures of being constantly in the public eye. This unique choice adds a layer of surrealism to the narrative, making it a standout in the biopic genre.
Featuring electrifying musical sequences, including a standout performance of "Rock DJ" on London's Regent Street, Better Man is a visual and auditory spectacle. The film delves deep into themes of identity, fame, and self-worth, offering a candid look at the man behind the music.
Critics have lauded the film for its creativity and emotional depth, with Time Out awarding it 5 out of 5 stars and The Guardian praising its raw and emotional portrayal.
Rated 15
2hr 14mins
3rd October 2025
Cowboy Graves
Touring Company
Two deserts on the other sides of the world and two wanderers over fifty years apart share the stage in this new storytelling show. The first story tells the origins of the Red Ghost of Arizona, where she came from, how she came to have the skeleton of a dead cowboy tied to her, and her quest to get back home. The second story follows a young man from Glasgow who finds himself in Egypt, on the cusp of a World War. He ends up wandering in the Great Sand Sea of the Sahara with nothing but a tin of corned beef and a German soldier to keep him sane. These two stories explore the search for home and the struggle for survival. They are about strangers in strange lands and the changes that occur when you’re lost in the desert.
This piece features live original music by Mounday Soutar, whose unique style of experimental country music takes inspiration from the Americana West and the wild places of the world. The piece is supported visually by a series of projected images. These images were pieced together from natural photography and vintage photographs to reflect the thematic journey of the stories.
This piece blends contemporary storytelling, folklore, history, and music to create a unique experience for the audience. It was first performed on February 24th at the Rum Shack in Glasgow where it enjoyed a sold-out performance. This project was developed as part of Wildcard Stories, a Creative Scotland funded, quarterly contemporary storytelling event.
7:30pm (60mins no interval)
Tickets £12.00 Full £8.00 Concession
Age Restrictions 14+
24th Oct 2025
Black Bag
Film
In Steven Soderbergh’s sleek and cerebral spy thriller, elite British intelligence agents George (Michael Fassbender) and Kathryn (Cate Blanchett) are bound by more than just love—they share a top-secret life. When a powerful piece of software, Severus, goes missing, George is tasked with finding the mole. His investigation leads him to suspect his own wife, setting the stage for a tense psychological game where trust is the ultimate casualty.
Set against the backdrop of London, Black Bag unfolds over a week, culminating in a high-stakes dinner party with fellow agents, each harboring secrets. As George navigates the blurred lines between duty and desire, the film delves into themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the complexities of intimate partnerships within the world of espionage.
With a stellar supporting cast including Pierce Brosnan, Naomie Harris, and Regé-Jean Page, Black Bag is a gripping exploration of the personal toll of a life lived in the shadows.
Rated 15
1hr 33mins
25th October 2025
Coffee Morning
Fundraiser
9am till 12 pm
Our successful coffee morning is back this year! Stalls ranging from Knitting to Baking, Christmas to Halloween.
All made by members and volunteers of Birchvale.
£2 entry includes coffee/tea and cakes
Pocahontas the Panto
By Stephen Carruthers
Friday 28th November to Saturday 6th December 2025
This lively pantomime adaptation of Pocahontas follows a magical and action-packed journey split into two acts. The story begins with Grandmother Willow's dreamcatcher foreshadowing danger, as the villainous Ratcliff is revealed. We’re introduced to the Powhattan tribe, the arriving ship of settlers, and the fateful meeting between Pocahontas and John Smith in the mystical glade. The narrative shifts through various vibrant settings including forests, cliffs, and the flamboyant Pink Pony Club run by Dame Cher O-kee. Tensions rise aboard the ship, leading into another mystical dreamcatcher moment. The plot thickens as John Smith escapes with help from Wig, Wam and Tom-ee, and Pocahontas rallies her Indians. After returning to the mystical glades, the climactic Battle of Bogles Creek sees the defeat of Ratcliff. The pantomime concludes with Pocahontas being crowned in a celebratory finale.
Please note once the curtain is up there is no entry till the break
Friday 28th November Evening 7:30pm
Saturday 29th November Matinee 2:30pm Evening 7:30pm
Sunday 30th November Matinee 2:30pm (Sensory performance)
Monday 1st December Evening 7:30pm
Tuesday 2nd December Evening 7:30pm
Wednesday 3rd December Evening 7:30pm
Thursday 4th December Evening 7:30pm
Friday 5th December Evening 7:30pm
Saturday 6th December Matinee 2:30pm Evening 7:30pm
Tickets £12.00 Adult
£6.00 Under 16s
Sunday 25th January 2026
The Twa Roberts
BY Pauline Vallance & Penni McLaren Walker
Touring Company
The Twa Roberts is a one hour two woman show with songs, about Robert Tannahill and Robert Burns. These 2 poets were born 15 years apart, with very different attitudes to women. Robert Tannahill (Paisley's Weaver Poet) was shy and self conscious about his limp and never married after being let down by his love, Jessie. Robert Burns was well known for being rather a magnet for womankind, had many conquests, as well as a long marriage to Jean Armour. But how would they fare in today's dating scene? What would they put in their Tinder profile? Where would they take you on a first date? What music would they be into?
Singer/songwriters Pauline Vallance and Penni Mclaren Walker have been pondering these questions and have turned them into a show, featuring some original songs, as well as those of Tannahill and Burns. There are many shows about the more famous Robert and about his attitudes to women, but what about the lesser known Robert? How would his quiet and steadfast qualities fare compared to the charisma and magnetism of Robert Burns?
The show is set in the present and through the eyes of two women who date these two poets. It is lighthearted and filled with captivating songs, but also opens up discussion about attitudes to women, past and present
Tickets £12.00
7:30pm (60 minutes including interval)
Age restrictions 12 +
.
For Bookings
Box Office Open - Every Wednesday 12pm - 2pm
Online - https://birchvale.scot/
Telephone - 07717 676254
Accessibility
All areas of the theatre are wheelchair accessible with access ramps at each entrance. We have 9 accessible seats that can be removed to allow space for wheelchairs.
Toilet facilities
We have fully adapted toilet and changing facilities.
Hearing Loop
There is a hearing loop in the theatre. We have occasional relaxed performances tailored to special needs. Information will be on the website when these are available.
Guide Dogs are welcome.
Children and babies
We appreciate visits from our younger customers and their parents or guardians and have high chairs and baby changing available.
How to get here
Birchvale is located in Maxwell Street, Dalbeattie, Dumfries and Galloway DG5 4AG, please see our interactive map below.
Getting here by car:
From Dumfries take the A711 to Dalbeattie (30 minutes)
From Castle Douglas take the A745 to Dalbeattie (15 minutes).
Parking:
Parking is accessed via Maxwell Gardens. There are three accessible parking spaces, bike and motorcycle parking and 41 other spaces. It is a well-lit space. Users of this car park do so at their own risk. Birchvale accepts no responsibility for any damage, accident or loss.
By Bus:
Route 501 (Stance 1 at The Loreburn Centre, Dumfries or Stance 5 at Whitesands, Dumfries). Get off outside The Maxwell Arms. Birchvale is 200 metres up Maxwell Street
Route
372A from Dumfries round the coastal route via New Abbey. This bus stops outside Birchvale.
Let's hear it for our funders!
Ms. Nancy B. Lindsay. Norman & Margaret Kennedy. Andy & Anne Kalotka. The Stewartry Area Committee.
We have also been privileged to receive significant anonymous donations from 5 individuals.
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