News from Birchvale

The Birchvale Players are to perform the stage version of Steel Magnolias over a three night run from April 27 - 29.

Robert Harling's play won acclaim as a film starring Academy Award winners Sally Field, Shirley MacLaine and Olymipia Dukakis with Dolly Parton, Daryl Hannah, and Julia Roberts.

Now local theatre audiences will get the chance to see a new production of the powerful work at Birchvale in Dalbeattie.

With a beautiful set and some sparkling performances, the play is set in a small town in Louisiana and follows the fortunes of a group of six women over three years through their interactions at the beauty parlour.

By turns, funny, sad and deeply insightful, the much-loved play has been performed all over the world before it was made into the blockbuster film.

As well as the three evening performances by popular request there's also a matinee on the Saturday at 3pm.

Tickets £12 are online from www.birchvale.scot or in person from the theatre on Wednesdays from noon to 2pm.

Stuart Gillespie - Galloway News

Well done, to Jenny Blackwood and Katie Mein and our former pupils Rebecca Richardson, Leon Pipe and Stephen Carruthers who brought the house down with their performances in "The Butterfly House" written by former pupil Stephen Carruthers at Birchvale Theatre.

What would you do with your last couple of hours if life on Earth was about to become extinct?

Answer - Keep calm and go to your local pub quiz. That's the nub of The Last Quiz Night on Earth, the latest play to open at the Birchvale Theatre - and it promises to be an unforgettable experience.

The immersive show will see the audience take part in six quiz rounds, playing along as a night full of long lost relations and first loves unfolds before them. Alison Carr's play manages to be thought provoking, touching and funny all at once as it rollicks along to its earth-shattering conclusion.

The Green Room in the Birchvale will turn into the pub and the audience can bring thier own bottle, seeing it's thier last night on earth.

The three - night run starts on Thursday, August 18th, and tickets are available online at www.birchvale.scot and at the theatre on Maxwell Street, Dalbeattie, on Wednesdays between 12 noon and 2pm. Speaking as rehearsals ramped up this week, Birchvale director Susan Black said: "We're having great fun and i think you will too .. It's a bit different and certainly ends with a bang!"

Birchvale Players have once again been awarded funding from Action Earth this time to create a wildlife haven in their grounds, providing habitats for Birds, Bees, Bats, Insects and Butterflies. If you haven't already you must go and see what an amazing outdoor space they have created.

It's a busy summer at Birchvale Theatre in Dalbeattie as it embarks on an ambitious expansion programme. The new base at the former St Peter's Primary School is already up running. Now work is under way on an extension to the premises.

Dean McCormick of the Birchvale Players said: "It should be ready by the end of August. This will provide a dressing room, a costume department and workshop space for the theatre. It will also free up rental space elsewhere in the building. This will allow us to offer space to other groups in the premises. A lottery bid has also been successful in granting us £9500. That will fund improvements to our gardens and outside space."

Meanwhile, Birchvale Players have three plays in rehearsal for performance at the end of August and the beginning of September. One is a premier of The Butteryfly House - a brand new play written by one of the players' members.

Once the extension is complete, aside from the existing modern 76-seat theatre and cinema, green room cafe/bar and box office, the £450,000 complex will boast sound and dressing rooms, a meeting room and a venue for hire.

Stephen Norris

One of Dalbeattie's biggest success stories is Birchvale, the stunning new state-of-the-art theatre and cinema created by The Birchvale Players. They are determined it will turn the town into a must-visit destination for the arts.

What had seemed an "impossible dream" came true for Dalbeattie in October 2021 with the opening of a new state-of-the-art theatre and cinema in the former St Peter's Primary School. The £500,000 redevelopment, by the town's drama group The Birchvale Players, incorporates a 72-seat theatre and cinema with modern lighting, sound and dressing rooms; a Green Room with cafe / bar; a box office, a meeting room and a large room for hire by community groups, plus a theatre workshop and storage room, all with full disabled access.

After lots of hard work our ground works for our Extension to the side of the building have begun. This will in time lead to the creation of several spaces dedicated to our theatrical activities including;

A costume design workshop, which we hope will enable our members to gain skills in costumiery and textile design. We also hope to make it a space where we can teach our young members how to sew and how to enjoy a craft which is often forgotten about in Arts and Cultural settings. We also plan to have mini sewing bees with challenges for members. This will also store all our costumes and allow us to launder them and store them securely for many years to come, as we have some amazing vintage costumes.

A scenery and property workshop, this we hope will allow our members access to a up to date modern workshop space where they can practice woodworking, metal work, painting and decorating as well as many more skills. This could also lead to young people taking on these skills into further employment or further education.

It will also house a second dressing room sorely needed at panto time when our cast can be as large as 30 people.

The funding package for this was a further £200,000, with the initial funding to start the structure coming from the Ruth and Bert Dunn Trust and Rural Communities Ideas into Action.

Celebrations for the Queen's platinum jubilee have started early at Birchvale  in Dalbeattie with the planting of trees and a stretch of hedge as part of The Queen's Green Canopy project.

Volunteers and members turned out on a lovely sunny Sunday morning to plant 30 rowan, birch, and wild cherry trees in the grounds surrounding the town's new theatre and community hub.

The team then planted a mixed traditional boundary hedge. All plants were provided  by The Woodland Trust which is driving the Green Canopy Project.

The tools for the job came from Nature Scot which provides Action Earth grants through the Volunteering Matters organisation. Coffee and cakes followed the planting session and there was expert advice on hand to make sure the plants got a good start.

Stephen Norris (2nd Feb 2022)

A famous protest by Clyde shipyard workers who staged a "work-in" at their closure-threatened yards half a century ago is to inspire a new Scottish stage musical.

Thousands of workers at the Upper Clyde Shipbuilders thwarted a bid by the then 1971 Conservative government to close down its yards by taking them over themselves and finishing off a half-built ship.

Rock and folk music from the early 1970s will be revived for the show - Yes! Yes! UCS! - which will be based on verbatim interviews with shipyard workers involved in the campaign to save their company.

Produced and directed by Louise Townsend, who founded the theatre company with writer Neil Gore, the new show will focus on the little-known role played by the women who made up five per cent of the workforce in the yards.

“A strong and robust show that brings the characters, humour and inspirational ideas of this great book to life. It is needed now more than ever. You'll leave the theatre and join the struggle!”

Ken Loach,

Film Director

★★★★“Tremendous”-The Times

★★★★“Highly entertaining”-Whats on stage

★★★★‘A powerful story, powerfully told.' Clare Brennan. The Observer

Hundreds of people gathered in Dalbeattie town centre on Friday evening to celebrate the big switch-on of the Christmas lights.

Colourful street illuminations, festive window displays, funfair rides next to the cross and groups of excited youngsters with glow sticks all added to the sense of occasion. Local Dalbeattie actor Kirsty Pickering, who plays Jessie McAllister in River City, switched on the lights and judged the festive shop window competition.

Ian Wilbur, chairman of Christmas lights organisers Dalbeattie Community Initiative, paid tribute to the huge joint effort which made the event such a success. He told the News: “It really was a great community event. There were so many people who put something into it to make it such a success." The Rotary organised the road closure, the Lions did Santa and Civic Daze and Dalbeattie Star had stalls. “So many people came from all over the place and in my 14 years here I have never seen so many people on the street.”

Having a Ball, Our very own Millie Hird (Cinderella) and Emma Newbould (Fairy Godmother) were escorting Santa down the street. Both can be seen in Birchvale's Pantomime "Cinderella" until the 11th Dec.

Stephen Norris (10th Dec 2021)

A one-tonne wicker Beltie bull which earned international stardom at Edinburgh’s Royal Highland Showcase is soon to start a homecoming tour of Dumfries & Galloway.

He has been named after the parish of Kelton, with its strong agricultural history. The name is also a nod to the National Trust for Scotland’s Threave Landscape Restoration Project which is getting underway at the nearby Kelton Mains Farm.

The bull, which stands nearly three metres tall, was seen worldwide on live streamed video from The Royal Highland Showground at Ingliston in June and also featured in many newspapers and magazines.

He was created to highlight all that’s best about the arts, culture, countryside, environment and rural economy of Dumfries & Galloway during the Royal Highland Showcase.

And he will continue in that role when he comes home, where he will now be placed in the care of The Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership scheme.

McNabb Laurie, Galloway Glens Leader, said:

“After flying the flag for the region at the Royal Highland Showcase, it is great to welcome the wicker Beltie back where he belongs. The Belted Galloway is one of the most recognisable iconic exports from Dumfries & Galloway. Using our funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, The Galloway Glens Scheme is supporting a range of initiatives up and down the Ken/Dee valley, including the National Trust for Scotland’s Threave Landscape Restoration Project. This is a 100-year vision for returning the 80-hectare Kelton Mains Farm near Threave Castle, outside Castle Douglas, to a self-balancing and self-managing mosaic of habitats.”

Cathy Agnew, who managed Dumfries & Galloway’s arts and cultural input into the Royal Highland Showcase and came up with the idea for the wicker bull, said:

“I’m so pleased that Trevor Leat’s wonderful creation will now have an ongoing legacy and has already become somewhat of an icon for the region. Kelton has a real presence and character about him – of course he’s hefted to Galloway – and I’m sure he will absolutely delight the public as he visits different communities. Kelton seems a highly appropriate name as it underlines his connection to the region and its historic identity as a heartland of Scottish agriculture.”

Kelton is now coming to Birchvale to enjoy pantotime with the cast. He will be located to the rear of the building with access to all.

Next month we will be planting trees and hedges in our grounds as we have been accepted to be part of The Queen's Green Canopy for the Platinum Jubilee. We have asked for volunteers to assist with a planting project. This will take place mid to late November 2021! And when the Jubilee is celebrated in 2022 we will be planning some sort of garden party in which these volunteers will be invited.

The trees and shrubs are being kindly donated by The Woodland Trust. We should be receiving 30 trees (silver birch, rowan & wild cherry ) as well as 24 metres of double-row hedging (dog rose, hawthorn, hazel, crab apple & dogwood). These will come with protective spirals and canes.

We also applied to The Volunteering Matters - Action Earth Grant and have generously been awarded £250 to purchase equipment to help with the project. This included spades, work gloves and ties for the trees. This grant funding is provided by NatureScot.

A special ceremony was held to mark the transformation of the old St Peter's Primary into a fantastic resource for the whole community.

A £500,000 state-of-the-art space for theatre, cinema and community events has opened in Dalbeattie.

A special ceremony was held on Thursday to mark the transformation of the old St Peter’s Primary School in Maxwell Street into the Birchvale.

It will provide a new home for the Birchvale Players, as well as a new resource for the whole community.

Management committee chairman, Stephen Carruthers, said: “There is a huge sense of achievement for us this week. It’s been a long process and we have had tremendous support from a wide range of funders, particularly Dumfries and Galloway Council, the Holywood Trust and the Dunn Trust. But we have had funding from more 20 different bodies and donors and several generous anonymous donations.

“We are also a little in awe of the commitment to raising those funds shown by our treasurer Alex McMillan and secretary Dean McCormick.

“There’s still a little to do and our contractors DM Group have faced and overcome supply problems that no-one could have anticipated. But we are open for business on schedule and hope to see many of you through our doors in the near future.”

The building now features a fully equipped 72 seat theatre and dressing rooms and a bespoke green room with a kitchen and cafe. There’s also a large classroom and small committee room available for hire, as well as a work and storage room for the theatre group.

The building is fully accessible throughout and has a hearing loop and ample parking.

On Thursday, Millie Hird – a leading light in Birchvale Players’ youth group – performed the ribbon cutting at the front of the theatre with Dunn Trust representative Evelyn Hastings doing the honours inside the auditorium.

The first film played on Friday night and for five hours on both Friday and Saturday a continual stream of local people took the opportunity to have a guided tour of the building.

And they were definitely impressed, with comments from the visitors’ book describing it as “a fantastic achievement”, “fantastic” and “an asset to the town”.

Stephen added: “We aim to make this a valued and valuable asset to Dalbeattie and we thank everyone for their kind comments and look forward to their ongoing support.”

For details of all forthcoming events, ticket sales and the full list of funders, visit the new website at www.birchvale.scot.

Stuart Gillespie (14th Oct 2021)

Calling all Friends of Birchvale who are Tesco customers. Birchvale is up for a Community grant from the Castle Douglas Tesco store – so we need your tokens in the box! You know how it works... we have till September 30th, 2021 to amass the most votes and we need you all to help us out.

We've asked for money to fund a spectacular panto(s) at the new theatre that is due to open in the Autumn. We all deserve a laugh and a spectacle so vote early and vote often!

A casting conundrum means The Little Mermaid has been replaced by two panto's each running a week, so the money will support a Wild West “Bunfight at the OK Corral”.

Please share on your Facebook and let's get the ball rolling!

Below are videos from our article on the itv evening news.



Work began this week to convert the old school into the Birchvale.

The stage is set for a brand new theatre and community hub in Dalbeattie.

Work on converting the former St Peter’s Primary School into the Birchvale got under way this week.

Once completed the £450,000 complex will boast a 76-seat theatre and cinema with modern lighting, sound and dressing rooms.

Other features include a Green Room cafe/bar, theatre workshop, box office, meeting room and a venue for hire.

Birchvale chairperson Stephen Carruthers admitted getting the six-month project under way had been “a long road”.

He said: “First we had to build the business case that allowed Dumfries and Galloway Council to transfer the asset to us.

“Then we had to get a costed development plan and all the necessary permissions.

“And finally we had to put together the funding package to make it all happen.

“All the committee and our many supporters have played their part.

“For the members of The Birchvale Players it’s a momentous day.”

Mr Carruthers paid special thanks to secretary Dean McCormick and treasurer Alex McMillan for their “enormous effort” in pulling finance together.

He added: “We are planning an autumn programme and hopefully we will get some visiting groups.

“We are immensely grateful to the funding organisations who have had the vision to support us and our plans for the future.

“Principally this has been Dumfries and Galloway Council but there has also been significant support from others.

“It was a big dream and it’s now becoming a reality.”

Birchvale will be available to community groups and the Better Lives Partnership plans to use the Green Room as soon as it becomes available.

Main contractors D M Group are now on site for the six-month renovation.

Boss Paul Mitchell said: “This is a great project. We are delighted to be chosen to make it happen.

“It’s great to be involved in something that will bring fun and entertainment into the heart of the town.

“It’s going to be a great new space for the community,”

The complex will provide full
disabled access to the building and its facilities.

Stephen Norris (16th May 2021)

The group have received the final £250,000 needed to transform the building into a theatre and cinema hub

A Dalbeattie theatre company is celebrating after completing the £450,000 funding jigsaw to transform an old school building. The Birchvale Players have received the final £250,000 needed for their plans to convert the former St Peter’s Primary into a theatre and cinema hub. The move was rubber stamped at Tuesday’s meeting of the council’s economy and resources committee.

Birchvale chairman Stephen Carruthers said: “We are so pleased that we now have the green light to go ahead with this project.

“It will invest more than £450,000 in Dalbeattie and bring an exciting new facility to the town.”

He added: “A massive thank you to Dumfries and Galloway Council for selling the former St Peter’s School to us and then investing further in this community project so we can get the diggers in.

“I am pleased to say contractors are lined up to start the renovation project after Easter and we hope to be up and running by early autumn.”

The total cost of converting the building comes in at £453,764 and will be carried out in two phases.

The first will see work carried out to create a theatre and cinema, a meeting room and community facilities.

The second part will involve an extension featuring a workshop, dressing rooms and costume store.

In November the economy and resources committee was told there was £548,000 available to the council through the Scottish Government’s Town Centre Living Fund.

The Birchvale project, which received £100,000 from the fund in 2019, was one of a number of projects shortlisted to receive a share of the cash.

Stuart Gillespie (31st Mar 2021)

Birchvale Players also landed a major funding boost for a plan to turn and old school building into a community hub.

A Dalbeattie theatre company has been thrown a cash lifeline to keep the show on the road during Covid.

And it has also landed a major funding boost for a plan to turn an old school building into a community hub.

The Birchvale Players have been unable to stage live performances since March because of the restrictions.

But now a £15,746 recovery package from Creative Scotland has provided financial breathing space.

Birchvale chairman Stephen Carruthers welcomed the award – and vowed to continue planning for a return to normal in 2021.

He said: “We are really chuffed to have received a grant from Creative Scotland to help us through this most difficult of times for live drama.

“We have worked hard to keep contact with our youth group .

“Many of them are now able to come join in with a different kind of creative programme in the run up to Christmas.”

Meanwhile, Birchvale has received £250,000 towards its project to convert the former St Peter’s Primary
into a theatre and cinema hub.

The cash windfall from the Scottish Government’s town centre fund was signed off by the council’s economy and resources committee on Tuesday.

A report to members noted the group had received £100,000 from the fund last year.

Birchvale will now carry out the work in phases and plans to match the £250,000 with £100,000 from another source.

Combined, the £450,000 funding will enable phase one of the works to go ahead. That would see the building converted into a film and drama centre with car parking and spaces for community groups. Birchvale Theatre acquired the property through a community asset transfer (CAT) from the council and have secured planning permission.

Treasurer Alex McMillan said: “The project is out to tender. We have bids up for consideration before the end of the year that would complete the financial package. “It’s fingers and toes crossed for these and if successful we could be starting the project early next year.”

Birchvale Players and supporters are continuing their fundraising efforts for the project and costs.

Items are being made for sale at Christmas fayres to be held on three Saturdays from December 5.

The club has continued to show films even though the necessary distancing has dramatically reduced numbers.

The showings are proving popular and are mostly sold out.

Mr Carruthers added: “There are also some rehearsals under way in the hope that the New Year will bring a return to live theatre.”

Culture secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “We are determined to do everything within our powers to support the culture sector and we will continue to work closely with stakeholders and Creative Scotland to provide additional help where needed.”

Stephen Norris (30th Nov 2020)

A council is considering handing over four properties and a slice of land to community groups for £1.

The Dumfries and Galloway local authority is being asked to approve the deals for the sites across the region.

It could see ownership of two former primary schools - Glentrool and St Peter's in Dalbeattie - transferred.

The string of asset transfers will be discussed at the council's policy and resources committee on Thursday.

They would be put to a range of uses if the deals are agreed.

The old schools would also be put to new uses.

Birchvale Theatre Group has offered £1 for St Peter's to turn it into a community arts facility and hub.

Galloway News (7th Jun 2019)

The closure of a Roman Catholic primary school in Dumfries and Galloway has been recommended by the local education authority.

It comes at the end of a formal consultation process on a proposal to shut St Peter's Primary in Dalbeattie.

The school's parent council is opposed to the move. Seven children are currently enrolled at what is the last remaining RC primary in the Stewartry district of the region. Numbers have more than halved in the last two years.

The latest demographic forecasts suggest there is unlikely to be any increase in demand for places in the future.

Parent objection

The education department said it was concerned that the small school roll would make it difficult to offer the full range of curricular opportunities for pupils.

That view has been supported by the inspection body, Education Scotland. In his response to the consultation, the Bishop of Galloway said he would regret the loss of St Peter's, but acknowledged the figures reflected a lack of demand for denominational education in the area.

The council has pledged to provide the support needed for any pupil who wishes to attend an RC primary in Dumfries.

However, the parent council at St Peter's has objected to the closure plan, insisting that the children benefit from a small school setting and may struggle in a larger class.



A report, recommending that the school shuts in July next year, is to go before the education committee.

BBC News (16th Nov 2015)