BEACON Arts Centre has announced a packed programme featuring top musicians, theatre and comedy coming to Inverclyde - with stars such as Shaun Ryder, Martin Fry and Barbara Dickson lined up. 

The Greenock venue will play host to comedy shows, musical tributes and gripping theatre performances in the coming months, before rounding off 2024 with its annual pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk.

Music fans are in for a treat as some of the industry’s best-known faces – and voices – come to Inverclyde for intimate live music and chat.

Shaun Ryder of Happy Mondays, Fun Lovin’ Criminals frontman Huey Morgan and ABC heartthrob Martin Fry will all be on the Beacon stage for 'intimate' musical performances and the chance to get the inside track on their lives and careers at In Conversation With…’ events throughout October.

There will also be the chance to catch the king of Scottish jazz, Tommy Smith, in a live show with former Young Scottish Jazz Musician of the Year, Peter Johnstone.

In August, music lovers will have the chance to enjoy traditional songs from Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham.

Laughter is high on the agenda with the return of Graham Mackie, Chris Forbes, Cubby, and Raymond Mearns as part of A Scottish Comedy Collective, while in September, BBC Breaking the News star Jay Lafferty will bring her trademark wit to the Beacon stage.

September will also see stand up star Susie McCabe bring her award-winning comedy to Greenock for one night only and a performance from three-time Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Larry Dean.

Janey Godley will play two dates at the venue in October, as she celebrates winning the Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow comedy award.

The Beacon is presenting two shows with leading Scottish theatre company, Vanishing Point.

The stage production of Imogen Stirling’s acclaimed poetry cycle Love The Sinner starts its Scotland-wide tour at the Beacon, a co-production with Beacon Arts Centre and Shetland Arts, with a performance at the end of August.

It will be followed by the award-winning show Love Beyond in September, brought to the Beacon as a Raw Material & Vanishing Point co-production in association with Aberdeen Performing Arts.

Both shows are supported by the National Lottery through Creative Scotland. 

Scottish singing superstar Barbara Dickson will perform an intimate show to celebrate her record-breaking career in October.

The star will perform in Greenock in one of only five Scottish performances this year, and iconic singer-songwriter Horse McDonald will perform tracks from her long-awaited eighth studio album in September.

Other highlights include Crown Ballet’s production of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake and a fascinating discussion from actress-turned-cultural historian Elizabeth Sharkey, who delves into the history – and mystery – of British pop music, and Sleeping Warrior Theatre Company’s new musical, To Save The Sea, inspired by a real-life Greenpeace protest, that is sure to provoke debate and inspire discussion.

Dance performance The Flock and Moving Cloud, created by female choreographers Roser López Espinosa and Sofia Nappi, fuses Celtic music with contemporary dance in a stunning performance.
 
Lesley Davidson, co-director of Beacon Arts Centre, said: “We are proud of the wide range of performances we are able to offer to the people of Inverclyde every year.

"Our work staging national productions in drama, music, dance and comedy means we can offer something for everyone and light up lives with new and exciting shows.

“We hope that our audiences will be intrigued and enthused by everything we have to offer.

"Away from the main performances, we also have our year-round programme of exhibitions and a range of activities that people can get involved in, like the Beacon Youth Theatre and Platinum Dance Classes.”