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:
September 2026 to March 2027
WARM WEDNESDAYS
Program for 2026/2027
Any films more than 2 1/2 hours will have an intermission
2nd September – Smokey and The Bandit (Burt Lancaster) 1hr 36mins
9th September – The Adventures of Robin Hood (Errol Flynn) 1hr 42 mins
16th September – Cat on A Hot Tin Roof (Elizabeth Taylor & Paul Newman) 1hr 48mins
23rd September – Three Men and a Little Lady (Tom Selleck, Ted Danson, Fiona Shaw) 1hr 44mins
30th September–The Age Of Adaline (Blake Lively, Harrison Ford & Ellen Burstyn) 1hr 52mins
7th October – The King and I (Yul Brynner & Deborah Kerr) 2hrs 13mins
14th October – Bird On A Wire (Mel Gibson & Goldie Hawn) 1hr 58mins
21st October – The Proposal (Sandra Bulcock & Ryan Reynolds) 1hr 48mins
28th October – Ghost (Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore & Whoopi Goldberg) 2hr 7mins
4th November – Relative Values (Julie Andrews & Colin Firth) 1hr 29 mins
11th November – The First Wives Club (Goldie Hawn, Diane Keaton & Bette Milder) 1hr 42mins
18th November – Mrs Henderson Presents (Judi Dench, Bob Hoskins, Will Young) 1hr 48mins
25th November – Driving Miss Daisy (Jessica Tandy & Morgan Freeman) 1hr 39mins
2nd December – How to Marry a Millionaire (Marlyin Monroe & Lauren Bacall) 1hr 35mins
9th December – The Commitments 1hr 58mins
16th December – Black Beauty (Andrew Knott & Sean Bean) 1hr 28mins
23rd December – Scrooge (Albert Finney & Alec Guiness) 1hr 53mins
6th January – Victoria & Abdul (Judi Dench, Michael Gambon & Simon Callow) 1hr 52mins
13th January – All About Eve (Bette Davis, Anne Baxter & Marilyn Monroe) 2hrs 18mins
20th January – Greyfriars Bobby (Alex MacKenzie & Gordon Jackson) 1hr 31 mins
27th January – Barefoot in the Park (Robert Redford & Jane Fonda) 1hr 46mins
3rd February – The Girl (Sienna Miller, Toby Jones & Imelda Staunton) 1hr 39mins
10th February – The Bodyguard (Whitney Houston & Kevin Costner) 2hr 9mins
17th February – Tea with Mussolini (Maggie Smith, Cher & Judi Dench) 1hr 57mins
24th February – Bonnie and Cyle (Warren Beatty & Faye Dunnaway) 1hr 51mins
3rd March – Grace of Monaco (Nicole Kidman, Robert Lindsay, Derek Jacobi & Tim Roth) 1hr 43mins
10th March – Pretty Woman (Julia Roberts & Richard Gere) 1hr 59mins
17th March – Dancing in Lughnasa (Meryl Streep & Michael Gambon) 1hr 35mins
24th March – The Dress Maker (Kate Winslet, Liam Hemsworth & Judy Davis) 1hr 58mins
31st March – Waking Ned (Ian Bannen, James Nesbit, David Kelly & Susan Lynch) 1hr 31mins
10th July 2026
Blue Moon
Film
On the opening night of Oklahoma!, legendary lyricist Lorenz Hart finds himself watching from the shadows as his former partner Richard Rodgers basks in success. Over one bittersweet night of wit, heartbreak, and reflection, he must confront lost love, fading fame, and the changing world that no longer has a place for him.
Rated 15
1hr 40mins
24th July 2026
Mother's Pride
Film
After the loss of their beloved matriarch, a grieving family must unite to save their struggling village pub. With their community divided and the odds stacked against them, they embark on an unlikely journey into craft brewing, hoping to turn their fortunes around at the Great British Beer Awards.
Rated 12A
1hr 33mins
07th Aug 2026
Midwinter Break
Film
A retired couple escape to Amsterdam for a winter holiday, hoping to rekindle the closeness they once shared. But as old wounds, buried secrets, and unresolved regrets resurface, they are forced to confront the future of their marriage.
Rated 12A
1hr 31mins
10th Aug 2026
Dalbeattie Book Festival: Adam Blake Music
Music
ADAM BLAKE sings and plays bottleneck blues and folk guitar, drawing from the Elmore James songbook along with an unpredictable mix of blues and folk songs as well as a few originals. Hailing from London, he moved up to D&G in late 2019 after playing guitar in ERROL LINTON's band for many years, he also played sitar for CORNERSHOP and bass guitar for NATACHA ATLAS. You might also have seen him busking in Dumfries.
He will be performing at the Dalbeattie Book Festival.
15th Aug 2026
Dalbeattie Book Festival: The Mary Barclay Duo
Music
The Mary Barclay Duo is a Dumfries-based, two-piece husband and wife group performing a mix of rock, pop, blues, and country. The band features a combination of covers and original material.
They will be performing at the Dalbeattie Book Festival.
20th to 22nd Aug 2026
The Farndale Avenue Townswomens’ Guild Dramatic Society Murder Mystery - Murder At Checkmate Manor
Theatre
Get ready for a night of pure, unadulterated theatrical chaos!
The well-meaning ladies of the Farndale Avenue Townswomens’ Guild are tackling a classic whodunit, and absolutely everything that can go wrong, will. From collapsing sets and forgotten lines to audio cues gone rogue and rapid-fire costume malfunctions, this side-splitting "play-within-a-play" transforms a murder mystery into a masterclass in unintentional comedy.
Come watch the cast desperately battle technical disasters and onstage bickering to reach the final curtain. It is an absolute riot of a farce where the only real crime is missing out on the fun!
With a matinee on the Saturday.
28th Aug 2026
California Schemin'
Film
California Schemin' is the hit biographical comedy-drama that marks the directorial debut of Scottish actor James McAvoy. Based on the outrageous true story of real-life hoax rap duo Silibil N' Brains, the film follows two young Scottish musicians who con the music industry by pretending to be successful Californian hip-hop artists.
Rated 15
1hr 47mins
04th Sept 2026
You, Me and Tuscany
Film
After an impulsive trip to Tuscany, a struggling young chef finds herself caught in a web of mistaken identity, family expectations, and unexpected romance. Amid sun-soaked vineyards and Italian charm, she discovers the courage to chase her dreams—and follow her heart.
Rated 12A
1hr 45mins
18th Sept 2026
Madfabulous
Film
When the flamboyant Henry Paget inherits a vast fortune and aristocratic title, his extravagant lifestyle and fearless individuality send shockwaves through Victorian society. Inspired by a remarkable true story, Madfabulous is a vibrant celebration of self-expression, rebellion, and the cost of living life on your own terms.
Rated 12A
1hr 48mins
08th Oct 2026
The Man With The Plan
Film
A young student, Flea, played by Sophie Jenkin, discovers the 1942 Beveridge report – and its comprehensive vision for a better society. We follow Flea’s fantastical journey as it takes her amongst Beveridge’s Five Giants – Want, Disease, Squalor, Idleness, and Ignorance and the whirl of politicians, ineffective policies and missed opportunities across the decades since 1942. The film is a moving account of Beveridge’s vision, the desperate need for it today and a passionate call for action.
"an urgent film for our desperate times…a full-blown exposition on why if we had done what Beveridge advocated we might be in a better place today…an important aid in our fight against poverty's predominance." - John Bird, The Big Issue
1hr 45mins
23rd Oct 2026
The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists
Theatre
The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists - adapted by Neil Gore from the book by Robert Tressell, directed by Louise Townsend
Neil Gore, presents a one-person version of the classic novel by Robert Tressell featuring projection, political conjuring tricks, live music and song. Meet the famous characters and enjoy the scenes, speeches and songs, featuring the Great Money Trick as its centrepiece.
This enduring and absorbing classic story of a year in the life of a group of Edwardian painters and decorators is brought to life by Neil Gore using his extensive knowledge of the book and the play, having performed it in many versions over forty years.
'The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists' follows a group of workers as they renovate ‘The Cave’, a three-storey town house, for Mayor Sweater. It traces their hardships and struggles for survival in a complacent and stagnating Edwardian England. These workers are the ‘philanthropists’ who throw themselves into back-breaking work for poverty wages in order to generate profit for their masters. They are joined by artist Owen, whose spirited attacks on the dishonesty of Capitalism along with his Socialist vision, highlights the exploitation in their workplace but also focuses on the inequality in society as a whole.
Running time/interval - 70 min 20 min interval
Age suitability – 11 plus
24th October 2026
Coffee Morning
Fundraiser
Our annual coffee morning is back!!
9am the doors will open come and have a proper ground coffee or a cup of tea along with home made treats.
Stalls and exhibiters will also be here on that day to.
£3.00 per entry
Parking at rear of theatre. Please come along and support your local theatre.
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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