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.
4th September 2024 till 26th March 2025
Due to our issue in November/December we have decided to go into April with the films people really wanted to see. Dates are as below.
Warm Space
These are free events.
Film starts 1:30pm
Dates are as follows;
March
26th - Chariots of Fire (Ben Cross & Ian Charleston)
April
2nd - African Queen (Katherine Hepburn & Humphrey Bogart)
9th - The Quiet Man (John Wayne & Maureen O'Hara)
16th - My Fair Lady (Audrey Hepburn & Rex Harrison)
We do not take bookings for these so it is first come first served and please remember that the point of this is WARM SPACES.
04th April 2025
Film
Things don't go as planned when two distant cousins -- one from New York City, the other from Ireland -- come together to finally put an end to a generations-long family feud.
Rated 15
1hr 41mins
18th April 2025
Film
A group of five teenage friends fulfill their dreams when they go to their favorite boy band's concert (Take That). Twenty-five years later, the group loses touch until Rachel wins a radio competition to attend the reunion tour.
Rated 12A
1hr 52mins
23rd, 24th & 25th April 2025
My Name Is Rachel Corrie
Taken from the writings of Rachel Corrie Edited by Alan Rickman and Katherine Viner
Theatre
Milly Arnold Is Rachel Corrie
Now professional this is Milly's first solo show after studying at MGA in Edinburgh with BA HONS in Performing Arts
The moving account of the life and early death of a young female activist, adapted from her own writings.
Why did a 23-year old woman leave her comfortable American life to stand between an Israeli army bulldozer and a Palestinian home in the Gaza strip?
Compiled from her letters, diaries and emails by Alan Rickman and Guardian journalist Katharine Viner, My Name is Rachel Corrie recounts, in her own words, her short life and sudden death.
£12.00
Please note that this production may cause some audience members distress.
2nd May 2025
BEHOLD YE RAMBLERS - a new play by Neil Gore
Townsend Theatre Productions
in association with The Society for the Study of Labour History
Theatre
From the voices of ramblers and campaigners to the songs and poetry inspired by past and current struggles, “Behold Ye Ramblers” is a new play about The Clarion newspaper and the organisations formed by its readership, including the famous rambling club, The Sheffield Clarion Ramblers. Along with the Clarion Cyclists, these early Edwardian pioneers promoted healthy outdoor pursuits, organising expeditions across open moors and mountains whilst campaigning for the right to roam, bringing them into conflict with landowners’ hunting and shooting activities and laws that prioritised private property over the wellbeing of others.
REVIEWS
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️"Read all about it... Outstanding .... exhilarating Show' 'Mastery Neil Gore' - Lynne Walsh
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️'Remarkable enterprise' - Ronald Simpson
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Excellent evening of environmentally ethical entertainment by truly terrific touring
Sustainably serenaded by supporting singers @QuirkyChoir. Ooh! Aarh! - Out and About in Doncaster
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Warmly intimate and entertaining, serious yet wonderfully light-hearted, Behold Ye Ramblers brings vibrant variety and interest to a slice of history that has eternal relevance. - Eileen Caiger Gray
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 'A warm and extraordinary performance.' - Steven E Hunt (Bristol Radical History Group)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists is a fantastic evening’s entertainment’ - Sheffield Star
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘Yes! Yes! U.C.S! left this reviewer wondering, “Does it get any better?”’ - Reviews Hub
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Yes! Yes! U.C.S! received an IKE Award for outstanding theatre - Chris Neville-Smith’s Theatre Blog
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The story of Jayaben Desai... makes you laugh, feel and think... a powerful story, powerfully told. Clare Brennan. The Observer 11 plus
7:30pm
Tickets
£13.00 Adult
£11.00 Under 23 (Student)
09th May 2025
Film
Misunderstood because of her green skin, a young woman named Elphaba forges an unlikely but profound friendship with Glinda, a student with an unflinching desire for popularity. Following an encounter with the Wizard of Oz, their relationship soon reaches a crossroad as their lives begin to take very different paths.
Rated PG
2hr 40mins
24th May 2025
FUNdraiser
A spectacular night of fashion and theatre, featuring stunning gowns and performances from your favourite musicals!
Tickets £13 (includes a glass of bubbly and cheese & crackers)
06th June 2025
Film
Cardinal Lawrence has one of the world's most secretive and ancient events, participating in the selection of a new pope. Surrounded by powerful religious leaders in the halls of the Vatican, he soon uncovers a trail of deep secrets that could shake the very foundation of the Roman Catholic Church.
Rated 12A
2hrs
18th June 2025
Meeting
Attending Birchvales Annual General Meeting (AGM) is an essential way to stay connected and engaged with the organization’s mission. The AGM offers a unique opportunity for transparency and accountability, providing a clear view of the charity’s financial performance, program impact, and strategic plans. By attending, you’ll be informed about how donations are being used and how resources are allocated.
Your presence at the AGM also gives you the chance to have a voice in shaping the charity’s future. Whether it's asking questions, raising concerns, or contributing new ideas, you’ll have the chance to influence decisions that align with your values. Additionally, AGMs bring together a community of like-minded individuals, offering excellent networking opportunities to connect with other supporters, volunteers, and staff, fostering collaboration and a sense of belonging.
Staying informed about future projects and initiatives is another key benefit. Charities often reveal exciting new developments during the AGM, from upcoming fundraising campaigns to strategic partnerships. By attending, you can be among the first to learn about these changes and even play a role in shaping them.
Your support is vital for the charity’s growth, and attending the AGM demonstrates your commitment to its success. You’ll also have the chance to celebrate the charity’s achievements, hearing inspiring stories and learning about the positive impact of your collective efforts.
20th June 2025
Film
Escaping postwar Europe, a visionary architect comes to America to rebuild his life, his career, and his marriage. On his own in a strange new country, he settles in Pennsylvania, where a wealthy and prominent industrialist recognises his talent.
Rated 18
3hr 35mins
04th July 2025
Film
Years after witnessing the death of Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius must enter the Colosseum after the powerful emperors of Rome conquer his home. With rage in his heart and the future of the empire at stake, he looks to the past to find the strength and honor needed to return the glory of Rome to its people.
Rated 15
2hr 28mins
18th July 2025
Film
In the early 1960s, 19-year-old Bob Dylan arrives in New York with his guitar and revolutionary talent, destined to change the course of American music. Forming his most intimate relationships during his rise to fame, he grows restless with the folk movement, making a controversial choice that reverberates worldwide.
Rated 15
2hr 20mins
25th to 30th August 2025
The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen's Guild Dramatic Society Murder Mystery
by David McGillivray and Walter Zerlin Jr.
Theatre
After our successful performance last year ... The fine ladies from the Farndale Avenue Womens Guild are back with a vengence!
Every drama group has experienced the horrors of what can go wrong on opening night, and the ladies of the F.A.H.E.T.G. Dramatic Society are no different, with the possible exception that almost everything that could happen does! The scenery collapses, cues are missed, lines forgotten, and the sound effects take on a strange note at times, as the ladies present their ambitious evening's entertainment with the cunning whodunit, "Murder At Checkmate Manor." And just in case the audience should get bored there's a Film and Fashion Show and Murder Mystery Quiz, complete with a Prize! The crunch comes in the denouement when the "murderer", about to be revealed, has to rush home to bandage up an injured daughter. But Mrs. Reece, doyenne of the group, rises above the slings and arrows of outrageous dramatics to save the situation and provide the final inventive twist.
Tickets £12.00
Anne of Green Gables
Theatre
A refreshing, contemporary telling of the classic story. Stern Marilla and her warm-hearted brother Matthew hoped to adopt a boy to work on their farm. But the orphanage sends young, befreckled Anne by mistake, and their lives will never be the same. Her warmth and wit affect everyone around her - even, eventually, the cold Marilla. We follow Anne through her rebellious years, her transformation into a young woman, and her romantic pairing with Gilbert. This play has been charming audiences around the world.
A cast of new faces take on this production with Maddison Carnochan as Anne
Tickets £12.00 Adult
£6.00 Under 16s
25th October 2025
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
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
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.
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