THE Arts Guild’s farewell festival programme has been finalised with a feast of entertainment including drama, music, dance and film.

The performances continue until Sunday evening at the Campbell Street venue which is bowing out after 65 years, to be replaced later this year by the Beacon Arts Centre.

The price for main house events is £5 and there is a £30 festival pass allowing access to the seven main house events. Festival of the Guild website

Full Programme

Tuesday 26 June at 7:30pm

“The Steamie” by Tony Roper and Dave Anderson -- A Concert Style Play Reading performed by Largs Players in the Arts Guild Theatre. More about this event.

Wednesday 27 June at 2:30pm

Double Bill Variety Performance in the Arts Guild Theatre featuring The WOOPI Singers - Singing for Fun. The WOOPI Singers formed in April 2010 as part of the Wider Opportunities for Older People in Inverclyde communities programme -- and Capitol Jazz Band – Six-piece live band

Wednesday 27 June at 7:30pm

Double Bill Variety Performance in the Arts Guild Theatre featuring:

“The World Before” - CLD Media -- Drama performance delivered by actors from CLD Media Production Group aged 12 to 20 years with adults from the WOOPI drama project and the WOOPI Singers. It is based on Second World War experiences told to the young people by residents at Kincaid House Nursing Home, Greenock.

“Corn!” performed by No Nonsense Productions -- Lovers in love, a loathsome landlord and lots and lots of corn! Performed in the style of the golden age musicals of Rogers and Hammerstein, Corn! features parodies of and references to The King and I, The Sound of Music, Carousel, Cinderella, Flower Drum Song, Oklahoma! and South Pacific. Starring Kieran Begley as Big Willy, Kirsty Campbell as Mother Abby, Julie Henry as June, Christopher Shearer as Jidder and Kevin Jannetts as The Voice of the Stage Directions. Musical Director and Piano – Mark Macdonald, Director – Karen Carey,  Choreographer – Patti Wood

Thursday 28 June at 7:30pm

Play Reading - Arts Guild Theatre -- Terence Rattigan’s Separate Tables -- Directed by Julie Ellen, with a special guest performance from Alan Beck, accompanied by Polly Beck on Piano. Separate Tables consists of two plays set in the dining-room and lounge of a private genteel hotel in Bournemouth, in which the residents are obliged to take meals at individual tables, symbolising the isolation of the individuals. In Table by the Window, a down-at-heels journalist is confronted by his ex-wife, a former model who provoked him to a violent act that sent him to prison and ruined him. In Table No. 7, a bogus army Major without the background and education he claims and a neurotic girl with a ruthless domineering mother are attracted to each other. The play will be presented in radio drama style, complete with live sound effects.

ast list: Elspeth Buchanan—Mrs Railton-Bell, Anne Crawley—Sybil Railton Bell, Elinor Dunn—Lady Matheson, Fiona McPherson—Miss Jean Tanner/Mrs Stratton, Christine Currie—Miss Cooper, Lynsey Currie—Anne Shankland, Gordon McKenzie—John Malcolm (Ramsden), Scott Peran—Charles Stratton, Ian Milne—Mr Fowler, Robert Pollock—Major Pollock.

Friday 29 June at 7:30pm

Triple Bill Variety Performance in the Arts Guild Theatre featuring

Cantando - Singing Swing and Boogie-Woogie -- The members of ladies’ singing group Cantando have been friends for many years through association with amateur theatre. Many of the ladies’ friendships go back to their childhoods and the group also includes a mother and daughter.

Lindsay Wood School of Dance - Candyman and You Can’t Stop the Beat -- Lindsay Wood School of Dance will perform two routines referencing the style of the 1950s. The children taking part are between the age of eight and 19. Lindsay Wood School of Dance feel that performing in the ‘Festival of the Guild’ is a lovely way to end their 54-year run of shows in the Arts Guild Theatre.

Greenock Light Opera Club Classic Songs of the Stage -- Greenock Light Opera Club has been performing on the Arts Guild Stage since 1975. Some of its current members were in the very first production. They have chosen a selection of songs from shows performed at the theatre.

Showing all week —Tuesday 26 June to Sunday 1 July

Room 3 - 'The Famous Greenock Arts Guild' -- Art Exhibition from the Guild’s art class pupils -- The children's art class has been running at the Guild for a number of years and the current budding artists are showing an exhibition of their work, taking the theme of 'The Famous Greenock Arts Guild' as inspiration.

Foyer and Cafe area - “Greenock in Times Past” Art exhibition by Tom Johnstone -- Featuring views of the area from the 1940s to 60s including illustrations of local industry, cinemas, dance halls, public houses and local dance bands.

Weekend Activities - Fun for all of the Family

Saturday 30 June and Sunday 1 July between 12 and 5pm

Photography Exhibition by Greenock Camera Club — Room 6 -- Greenock Camera Club has been working alongside the Arts Guild leading up to the relocation to photograph ‘The Guild’ and the typical activities that the building has housed over the years. This photography project has been carried out for the purpose of both an exhibition for the celebratory festival, and as a historical record.

“Old & New” Art Installation in the Arts Guild Dark Room -- The chance to see the Arts Guild’s little known dark room and its historical contents

Monologues performed in “The Guild’s” nooks and crannies

No Nonsense Productions - Saturday 30 June and Sunday 1 July, repeated between 12 and 5pm -- No Nonsense will encourage audiences to explore every nook and cranny of ’The Guild’ while performing various monologues including...

--'Any messages, Mrs Bolster?' by Joyce Grenfell performed by Emily Aitchison in the cloakroom.
-- The Cunning Vending Machine by Pam Ayers. The vending machine is owned and operated by Stephanie V McLellan (cafe).
-- Two monologues from 'From the Calton to Catalonia' performed by Laura Pearce
-- A monologue from 'The Dresser' by Ronald Harwood performed by Kevin Jannetts in the Wallace Bennett dressing rooms.

Weekend Activities including Afternoon Teas; Bouncy Castle; Balloon Modelling; Ice cream Van; Burger & Chip Van; Cake & Candy stalls; Vintage Fair; Jewellery & Trinket stalls; Arts & Craft stalls; Handmade cards stall; Customised Clothes & Shoes; Caricatures by Bill Stewart; Music & Drinks each evening

Saturday 30 June 10am – Saturday Film Club -- Walt Disney’s “Treasure Island”– in the Arts Guild Theatre -- Classic film based on the adventure novel by Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson, narrating a tale of "buccaneers and buried gold". The festival film club is a tribute to when the Arts Guild was also a cinema, going back to the days before Saturday morning television. The Arts Guild’s Saturday morning film club was hugely popular for decades of the theatre’s history. It will re-enacted as closely as possible – organisers have even stocked up on Wagon Wheels which were the treat of choice at the film club.

“Major MacKenzie Cox’s Finishing School for Girls (and Boys)” promenade theatre performed by Beacon Youth Theatre -- 2:30pm and 3:45pm - Wallace Bennett Theatre, AGT Dressing Rooms, Room 3 and Room 6 -- This is a promenade piece of theatre devised and performed by the senior class of the Beacon Youth Theatre and directed by Andrew McGregor and Marianne Yeomans. Enjoy an extraordinary opportunity to peruse the work of the world-famous Major MacKenzie Cox’s Finishing School for Girls (and boys). This is a rare chance to see an average day in the life of the school. Witness how Ms Bappity Baps bakes such lovely biscuits or why not have a twirl with dashing ballroom dancing teacher Monsieur Toes De Twinky or try out some unique elocution lessons from one of the Gorbals’s finest teachers.

Saturday 30 June at 7:30pm --

Triple Bill Variety Performance in the Arts Guild Theatre featuring

Thistle Theatre Academy of Speech and Drama -- The Spitfire Nativity by Tony Powell -- A cast of young actors will retell the experiences of Blitz evacuees with a poetic and often humorous flow resulting in a poignant and moving climax

Dance1studio -- Dance1 Divas! -- Join Dance1studio divas on a tantalizing journey of 50s glamour and music accompanied by retro inspired dance routines. Local Dance1studio dance talent will perform to popular tunes getting the audience singing along and tapping their feet to the beat!

Greenock Players Pantomonium! -- Pantos collide as Greenock Players mix up the magic and pick out the best bits from some of the Pantomimes they have performed in the Greenock Arts Guild over the past 50-plus years.

Sunday 1 July

Real Educational Drama (RED) Theatre Workshops – Room 6 -- Theatre skills including acting techniques, writing drama, vocal exercises, make-up and special effects.

6pm - Early Evening Film Club (Double Bill) – Arts Guild Theatre

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, a 1953 film adaptation of the 1949 stage musical, directed by Howard Hawks and starring Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell. The movie is filled with comedic gags and musical numbers. While Russell's down-to-earth, sharp wit has been noted by most critics, it is Monroe's turn as the gold-digging Lorelei Lee for which the film is often remembered. Monroe's rendition of the song "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" and her pink dress are considered iconic.

Followed by a showing of film footage from the opening of the Arts Guild Theatre, a round up film of the ’Festival of the Guild’ and then proceeding to the Wrap Party in the bar with music and drinks.