Festival venue move will fix noise worries

After one resident was put up in a hotel during this year’s event due to noise emerging from the Spiegeltent in Newall Terrace, its acts are now destined for the Easterbrook Hall.
Graham Main from festival producers Electric Theatre Workshop said: “When we first brought the Spiegeltent to Dumfries there was almost a venue shortage.
“Big projects like the Theatre Royal and DG One were just about to start.”
He added: “We were quite blown away by how popular some of our events became.
“The fact of the matter is we have outgrown the Spiegeltent capacity in just four of those five years.
“If we are going to grow – we need to think about it now”
Organisers say ‘Easterbrook Village’ is being developed as an alternative hub to the Spiegeltent, which has housed acts including burlesque show Le Haggis and band Big Country, and joins other new venues The Theatre Royal and The Stove.
They confirm that one resident was provided with alternative accommodation this year, after objecting to plans for the Spiegeltent during the licensing application period.
A spokesman said: “Given the economic benefit the festival has for local businesses, the charity felt it appropriate to offer an alternative to the complainant so that we could continue to offer wide benefits, but also to be considerate about every member of our community.”
Next year’s festival begins on January 22 with a Burns Night Carnival in the High Street featuring a community ‘cast of thousands’ reworking Tam O’Shanter.
Le Haggis will return in the new venue of Easterbrook Hall, while organisers say new show Burns Night Live will be one of the biggest shows they produce.
Looking to the future of the festival, a spokesman said: “We would very much hope that one day Big Burns Supper is big enough to have both the Spiegeltent and Easterbrook Villages as part of our Winter Festival.”
Tickets for Le Haggis and Burns Night Live are now on sale from www.bigburnssupper.com