Kirkcudbright Fringe at the Parish Church
Kirkcudbright Fringe Festival returns this month for its second year, and the Parish Church is delighted once again to be the venue for various exciting events.
The Fringe runs from Thursday September 5th until Sunday September 8th, with 50+ events (many of them free) taking place in 20 venues. There are six ticketed events in the Parish Church. Tickets are available from kbtfringe.co.uk, in person at Kirkcudbright Art Galleries, at the Fringe’s ticket stall at Soaperie Gardens over the weekend, or on the door (subject to availability).
On Friday evening at 8 pm, you can hear the Scottish Ensemble – a pioneering group of outstanding musicians – who are playing Kirkcudbright as part of their Resound Scottish tour.
On Saturday at 12.30 pm we welcome the legendary Sir John Curtice from University of Strathclyde to share his analysis of the current UK political scene and the recent Westminster election with acclaimed broadcaster Adam Boulton. Sir John will be followed by John Crace, The Guardian’s parliamentary sketch writer and author of ‘Depraved New World: Please Hold, the Government Will Be With You Shortly’, in conversation with Joyce McMillan, commentator and critic, at 2.30 pm.
On Saturday evening at 7.30 pm, Joyce McMillan will chair a discussion with the beloved Scottish journalist and writer Neal Ascherson – major observer of Scotland, the UK and Europe over the last 50 years.
There are two events in the Church on Sunday September 8th – Richard Blair, the son of George Orwell will be talking at 12.30 pm with Reverend Doug Gay about growing up as the only child of one of the 20th century’s greatest writers; and at 2.30 pm Doug Gay will be joined by The Observer writer and co-chair of the Purposeful Company, Will Hutton.
In between these day-time intellectual discussions, there will be something a little bit different at the Parish Church Hall on Saturday September 7th at 8.30 pm. Elvis impersonator Mike McAlpine is bringing his band, and a whole lot of glitz and glamour, in the Viva Elvis, Viva Kirkcudbright show.
Gerry Hassan and Rosie Ilett, Parish Church congregation members, are directors of the Fringe, and Gerry, who founded the Fringe with Chris Walker from the Selkirk Arms Hotel, says: “We are delighted to be working with the Parish Church as one of the Fringe’s venues and we hope that lots of the congregation are able to attend events.”