UNIVERSAL HALL PROMOTIONS

International Entertainment in a Rural Setting

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Upcoming Events

Name: Events onwards into 2020
Start: 2016-02-03T17:00:00+00:00
End: 2017-02-03T21:00:00+00:00

Events onwards into 2020
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The film season has started and details of films are already posted - see below - and more will follow. Films will continue through the winter and the season of live events will start February 2020 with details posted below when we have them.

Pain and Glory (film) Fri 21st February, 7.30pm
Pain and Glory tells of a series of reencounters experienced by Salvador Mallo, a film director in his physical decline. Some of them in the flesh, others remembered: his childhood in the 60s: the first desire, his first adult love in the Madrid of the 80s. In recovering his past, Salvador finds his salvation. This thinly-disguised autobiography directed and written by Pedro Almodóvar, is both moving and beautifully acted (especially by Antonio Banderas) and is one of Almodóvar’s best films.

Rating: 15 Runtime: 112 minutes In Spanish with English subtitles

£5 pay on the door
Shooglenifty (music) Fri 28th February, 8pm
A ray of light for a long winter night, Shooglenifty will get you on your feet with their electric new tunes and a full-on set of old favourites. The band celebrates 30 years together, and for this anniversary tour they have a brand new fiddler in the shape of Eilidh Shaw. The Shoogles arrive at Findhorn with their brand of Scottish traditional music following a midnight show at Edinburgh’s Hogmanay.

“Shooglenifty, self-styled as “Acid Croft”… summon their audience to a world ceilidh. ****” The Scotsman

£16/£14 concs/£12 U16s

To buy online tickets (10% booking fee) click here

To see a video click here
Honeyland (film) Sat 29th February, 7.30pm
Deep within the Balkans, Hatidze Muratova is last in a long line of Macedonian wild beekeepers. Her peaceful existence is thrown into upheaval by the arrival of an itinerant family, with seven rambunctious children and herd of cattle. Despite being welcomed, they decide they are going to sell their own honey and this causes a conflict that exposes the fundamental tension between nature and humanity, exploitation and sustainability and threaten Hatidze’s very means of survival.

85 mins Rating: 12A screened with subtitles

£5 pay on the door
Breabach (music) Fri 6th March, 8pm
2020 marks a very special year in the life of Scottish folk favourites Breabach, their 15th anniversary no less. Through 15 years Breabach have always looked to acknowledge and respect the origins of both the music they play and the roots of the band. With 6 albums under their belt, a multitude of awards and a consistently full touring schedule, quite literally across the world, they look set to stay right in the top tier of Scottish folk bands.

“As polished as it was passionate, matching fiery intensity with exquisite finesse, this was a magnificent set.” The Scotsman ★★★★★

£16/£14 concs/£12 U16s

To buy tickets online (10% booking fee) click here

To see a video click here
The Biggest Little Farm (film) Sat 7th March, 7.30pm
The Biggest Little Farm chronicles the eight-year quest of John and Molly Chester as they trade city living for 200 acres of barren farmland and a dream to harvest in harmony with nature. Through dogged perseverance and embracing the opportunity provided by nature's conflicts, the Chesters unlock and uncover a biodiverse design for living that exists far beyond their farm, its seasons, and our wildest imagination. Featuring breathtaking cinematography, captivating animals, and an urgent message to heed Mother Nature’s call, The Biggest Little Farm provides us all with a vital blueprint for better living and a healthier planet.

Rating: PG Runtime: 91 minutes Will be shown with subtitles if available

£5 pay on the door
Simon Thacker’s Svara-Kanti (music) Wed 11th March, 7.30pm
Simon Thacker's Svara-Kanti unites India, Bangladesh and the UK in its powerful incarnation expanding on the mystical Bengali Baul folk tradition. Scottish classical guitarist/composer Simon Thacker unites with Bangladeshi Baul singer Farida Yesmin, Indian singer and khomok virtuoso Raju Das Baul, and tabla player Kolkata's Sunayana Ghosh for an evening of gorgeous World Music.

“…a major statement in the co-evolution of Indian and Western music." Songlines Magazine

£14/£12 concs/£10 U16s

To buy tickets online (10% booking fee) click here

To see a video click here
Judy (film) Fri 13th March, 7.30pm
Winter 1968 and showbiz legend Judy Garland arrives in Swinging London to perform a five-week sold-out run at The Talk of the Town. It is 30 years since she shot to global stardom in The Wizard of Oz, but if her voice has weakened, its dramatic intensity has only grown. As she prepares for the show, battles with management, charms musicians and reminisces with friends and adoring fans, her wit and warmth shine through. Even her dreams of love seem undimmed as she embarks on a whirlwind romance with Mickey Deans, her soon-to-be fifth husband. Featuring some of her best-known songs, the film celebrates the voice, the capacity for love, and the sheer pizzazz of "the world's greatest entertainer."

Rating: 12 Runtime: 118 minutes Will be shown with subtitles if available

£5 on the door
Endling (dance, music) Wed 18th March, 7.30pm
Endling uses dance, vocals, music and design to reimagine tales of funerals and the mourning rituals of Scottish and Irish Gaels, with their chants, songs and customs. The Rob Heaslip Company unites popular and folk culture to create a tale of collective memory and consciousness in a world tinged with acid pink, green and purple. Contemporary meets traditional, macabre meets joyful, and morbid fascination is welcomed into the raucous world of a Gaelic wake. Staged with live Gaelic singing. Please note: there is partial nudity in this show. Age guidance 12+

“There are many visually striking moments in Rob Heaslip’s new work about the old Gaelic rituals of mourning.” The Herald

£12/£10 concs/£8 U16s

To buy tickets online (10% booking fee) click here

To see a video trailer of the show click here
2040 (film) Fri 20th March, 7.30pm
Award-winning director Damon Gameau embarks on a journey to explore what the future would look like by the year 2040 if we simply embraced the best solutions already available to us to improve our planet and shifted them into the mainstream. Structured as a visual letter to his 4-year-old daughter, Damon blends traditional documentary footage with dramatised sequences and high-end visual effects to create a vision board for his daughter and the planet.

Rating: PG Runtime: 92 minutes Screened with subtitles

£5 on the door
Fantastic Fungi (film), Thu 26th Mar, 7.30pm
Fantastic Fungi is a consciousness-shifting film that takes us on an immersive journey through time and scale into the magical earth beneath our feet, an underground network that can heal and save our planet. Through the eyes of renowned scientists and mycologists like Paul Stamets, best-selling authors Michael Pollan, Eugenia Bone, Andrew Weil and others, we become aware of the beauty, intelligence and solutions the fungi kingdom offer us in response to some of our most pressing medical, therapeutic, and environmental challenges. Rating: NR Genre: Runtime: 74 minutes

Along with our show in the Universal Hall, Fantastic Fungi will screen on the same day in 500+ venues across the globe and will include a not to be missed streamed conversation with award-winning Director Louie Schwartzberg, renowned Mycologist Paul Stamets and other luminary special guests.

£7 pay on the door
The Selfish Giant (puppet theatre for families) Sun 5th April, 2.30pm
Inspired by the touching children’s story The Selﬁsh Giant by Oscar Wilde, Bristol’s two leading family theatre experts use powerful storytelling, captivating puppetry, beautiful design, enchanting music and a sprinkling of audience interaction magic to explore an unusual friendship about how even the grumpiest giant’s heart can melt when Spring ﬁnally comes. Part of the Puppet Animation Festival. Age recommendation 3+

“50 minutes of theatrical magic” Sheffield Bigstamp

£7/£6 concs/£5 U16's

To buy tickets online (10% booking fee) click here

To see a video trailer click here
Brian Ó hEadhra and Fiona Mackenzie (music) Wed 8th April, 7.30pm
Brian Ó hEadhra and Fiona Mackenzie are acclaimed singers/songwriters who draw upon their traditional Gaelic roots as well as from other musical genres including Nordic, Eastern European and Americana. Their live set features soaring harmonies and exquisite arrangements of ancient and new material whilst their stunning debut album TÌR was nominated for album of the year at the International Folk Music Awards 2018.

"Two of the finest voices in Gaelic singing today." Celtic Music Radio

£12/£10 concs/£8 U16s

To buy tickets online (10% booking fee) click here

To see a video click here
Rapunzel (puppet theatre for families) Sun 19th April, 2.30pm
Narrated by a wonderful frog, this adaptation has all the elements of the traditional fairy tale…the witch, the beautiful girl locked in a tall tower and, of course, the handsome prince who attempts to save Rapunzel... Presented by Clydebuilt with specially recorded music, beautifully made rod puppets, and Steve Smart’s masterly puppetry skills, this is a show that will be enjoyed by adults and children alike. Part of the Puppet Animation Festival Age recommendation 4+.

£7/£6 concs/£5 U16’s

To buy tickets online (10% booking fee) click here
Aquarela (film and talk) Fri 1st May, 7.30pm
This is a special event including a Q&A session with Aimara Reques producer/co-writer of the film who will be here in person.

AQUARELA takes audiences on a deeply cinematic journey through the transformative beauty and raw power of water. Filmed at a rare 96 frames-per-second, the film is a visceral wake-up call that humans are no match for the sheer force and capricious will of Earth's most precious element. From the precarious frozen waters of Russia's Lake Baikal to Miami in the throes of Hurricane Irma to Venezuela's mighty Angels Falls, water is AQUARELA's main character, with director Victor Kossakovsky capturing her many personalities in startling visual detail. Rating: 12A Runtime: 89 minutes screened with subtitles

£7 pay on the door
Learning to Fly (family show) Sun 3rd May, 1pm
Inspired by the Greek legend of Icarus, this is the story of a girl who doesn’t fit in, a girl who’s learning to fly. Washed up on a tiny island, she studies the birds and begins to work out her escape. With unfolding wings, she soars up … up … and away …. Learning to Fly is about the power of imagination and the sheer determination that lets you fly when forces all around want to pull you down. The award-winning Barrowland Ballet use intricate choreography, wit and humour to tell this evocative new story.

For ages 7+ Schools: P3-S1

(Image Jassy Earl)

£7/£6 concs/£5 U16’s

To buy tickets online (10% booking fee) click here
Thunder and Rain (music) Sat 9th May, 8pm
When Colorado band Thunder and Rain toured the UK in 2019 with their brand of Americana music, it sparked a huge amount of interest from a music-loving public keen to encounter something special. Big crowds turned out to catch the band that Maverick magazine had described as “like The Stray Birds, with a bigger sound.” When the reviews came in, they were filled with similar praise.

“Recalling the early days of 10,000 Maniacs” – Folk Radio UK

£14/£12 concs/£10 U16s

To buy tickets online (10% booking fee) click here

To see a video click here
9Bach (music) Fri 22nd May, 8pm (SHOW CANCELLED)
PLEASE NOTE: Due to "unforseeable circumstances" 9Bach have had to cancel their whole tour. The gig listed in our printed Good Gig Guide will not now be happening. Apologies for any inconvenience caused.
Madison Violet (music) Wed 27th May, 7.30pm
With the rhythms of Americana combined with catchy pop hooks, Madison Violet have been captivating audiences for two decades. A longstanding, deep-rooted history is what ties the duo’s harmonies so tight, and lies at the core of their unparalleled musical connection. They have achieved an impressive list of accolades including a Canadian Folk Music Award for Best Vocal Group Album and their songs have featured in MOJO’s Top 10 playlist, as well as CBC Radio 2’s Top 20

“Heartaching harmonies and tunes make Madison Violet a must-see act.” The Independent

£14/£12 concs/£10 U16s

To buy tickets online (10% booking fee) click here

To see a video, click here
Scottish Dance Theatre – Antigone, Interrupted (dance) Sat 30th May, 7.30pm
Antigone, Interrupted re-imagines a classic story for a contemporary world through the body and the voice of a single performer. In his first creation as Artistic Director of Scottish Dance Theatre, choreographer Joan Clevillé (Plan B for Utopia, The North) uses his distinctive mixture of dance, theatre and storytelling to present an intimate solo work created with acclaimed performer Solène Weinachter.

(Image Maria Falconer)

£12/£10 concs/£8 U16s

To buy ticket online (10% booking fee) click here

To see a trailer click here
Elephant Sessions (music) Wed 3rd June, 7.30pm
Hailing from the Highlands of Scotland, Elephant Sessions exploded onto the indie folk scene to unparalleled effect with their last album “All We Have Is Now.” The band have since gone on to be finalists as Best Group at the BBC Radio 2 awards and are already winners of the 2018 Scots Trad Live Act of the Year. A truly great band to see live in an intimate venue like the Universal Hall.

‘Elephant Sessions … are using their instruments like weapons to destroy clichés...We love them’ Rolling Stone Magazine

£16/£14 concs/£12 U16s/£15 dancing/non-seated wristband

To buy tickets online (10% booking fee) click here

To see a video of the band click here
Dunedin Consort – Purcell: Songes & Ayres (classical music) Fri 5th June, 8pm
Soprano Mhairi Lawson joins the Dunedin Consort for an intimate programme of music from the composer Henry Purcell. With his flair for drama and extraordinary gift for bringing words to life, Purcell poured many of his most creative ideas into his songs — each of them miniature masterpieces. They are paired here with some of his most exquisite and intricately wrought instrumental works, shining examples of Baroque music at its most eloquent.

£14/£12 concs/£10 U16s

To buy tickets online (10% booking fee) click here
SCO Wind Soloists (classical music) Thu 11th June, 7.30pm

This year the wonderful Scottish Chamber Orchestra are sending their Wind Soloists for a variation on their usual concert. The perfect accompaniment to a summer’s evening, the internationally renowned SCO Wind Soloists serve up a memorable musical feast. There’s something for everyone in this entertaining programme, which is guaranteed to bring a breath of fresh air to the Universal Hall. Full details of the programme are now posted below

"You'd be hard-put finding better wind ensemble playing." The Guardian

Full Price: £16 full; 65+ £14; U26/Student/ Unemployed/Disabled/Full time carers: £6; U18: Free School groups: Free (accompanying teachers go free)

To buy tickets online (10% booking fee) please click here

Programme:

J C BACH Symphony for Winds in B-flat Op 3 no 4 09’
JANACEK Mládí 19’
CLYNE Overflow (SCO Commission - WP) 10’
Interval 20’
HAYDN London Trio No 1 in C 08’
MOZART Divertimento No 9 in B-flat, K240 10’
FRANÇAIX Seven Dances from Les Malheurs de Sophie 12’

The concert opens with Johann Christian Bach’s Symphony for Winds No 4. By turns jaunty, delicate
and even wistful, happily the piece ends on a bright, cheerful note.
This is followed by Janáček’s evocative and charming Mládí.
A much-anticipated highlight is the World Premiere of the SCO’s Associate Composer Anna Clyne’s
new work, Overflow, which has been commissioned especially for this tour.
The musical journey then continues with the first of Haydn’s London Trios - here for two flutes and a
bassoon. This is a simple, sunny delight as is the following amusing Mozart Divertimento No 9!
To complete the evening’s entertainment, be transported to France with Françaix’s Seven
Dances. The music is from the score for the ballet Les Malheurs de Sophie (The Misfortunes of
Sophie) which was based on a popular 19-century French children’s book.
The Cheviot, the Stag and the Black, Black Oil (theatre) Fri 12th June, 7.30pm
A ceilidh through Scotland’s past – and present.

This legendary piece of Scottish theatre tells the story of the exploitation of Scottish lands, waters and people over the centuries.

From the highland clearances to the oil boom, this is the universal tale of how the greed of a few blights the lives of many. Add a generous dose of Scottish rebellion and irreverence. Throw in some live music and a riotous ceilidh – you’ve got yourself a rollicking great night out.

Written by John McGrath and directed by Joe Douglas, The Cheviot, the Stag, and the Black, Black Oil is a National Theatre of Scotland production in association with Dundee Rep Theatre and Live Theatre, Newcastle. Based on the original production by Dundee Rep Theatre.

Come and experience the “Story that has a beginning, a middle but, as yet, no end…”

“Raucous revival.” The Scotsman *****

Runs 160 mins for age 14+

£14/£12 concs/£5 U26’s

To buy online tickets for Friday 12th performance (10% booking fee) click here
The Cheviot, the Stag and the Black, Black Oil (theatre) Sat 13th June, 7.30pm

A ceilidh through Scotland’s past – and present.

This legendary piece of Scottish theatre tells the story of the exploitation of Scottish lands, waters and people over the centuries.

From the highland clearances to the oil boom, this is the universal tale of how the greed of a few blights the lives of many. Add a generous dose of Scottish rebellion and irreverence. Throw in some live music and a riotous ceilidh – you’ve got yourself a rollicking great night out.

Written by John McGrath and directed by Joe Douglas, The Cheviot, the Stag, and the Black, Black Oil is a National Theatre of Scotland production in association with Dundee Rep Theatre and Live Theatre, Newcastle. Based on the original production by Dundee Rep Theatre.

Come and experience the “Story that has a beginning, a middle but, as yet, no end…”

“Raucous revival.” The Scotsman *****

Runs 160 mins for age 14+

£14/£12 concs/£5 U26’s

To buy online tickets for Saturday 13th performance (10% booking fee) click here
Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham (music) Fri 31st July, 8pm
Phil & Aly, two of Scotland’s most acclaimed traditional musicians have been delighting audiences across Scotland with their masterful, versatile and amusing performances and leading us in the dance on BBC’s live Hogmanay show for over two decades. Oct 2013 saw the legendary folk duo receive the The Sunday Mail’s ‘Lifetime Achievement” Award in the Great Scot category.

“…simply the best traditional musicians you are ever likely to hear” Glasgow Herald

£18/£16 concs/£14 U16s

To buy tickets online (10% booking fee) click here
Tommy Tiernan – Tomfoolery (comedy), Sat 24th Oct, 7.30pm
Tommy Tiernan’s brand new show TOMFOOLERY sees him back onstage with an exhilarating mix of the highly personal and flamboyant storytelling that audiences love. Renowned for his no holds barred approach to the art of stand-up, Tommy is the Star of Channel 4’s hit show Derry Girls and Live at the Apollo (BBC) and hosts his own improvised chat show on Ireland’s RTE 1. Recommended age 15+

“Tiernan can drop in turns of phrase so exquisite that you could call them a sound installation and enter them for the Turner prize.” The Times

Online tickets £20 (one price only plus 10% booking fee) on sale here

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