LYTH Arts Centre (LAC) has unveiled the start of its 2020 season featuring a packed programme of film, music, dance, theatre and family shows. With more than 14,000 copies of the new brochure being delivered across the county, the colourful cover incorporates a bit of local dialect as it asks the Caithness public: "Are Ye Coming?"

The first event of the 2020 season will be a one-off performance by the world-renowned Shooglenifty. Part of a series of special anniversary gigs to mark the band's 30th year, the LAC gig is the first date on a UK-wide tour.

Shooglenifty is made up of seven musicians from across Scotland including Orkney’s Garry Finlayson on banjo, renowned vocalist Kaela Rowan and her husband James Mackintosh on drums.

Gallery1

With an eclectic a programme as ever, the season continues into March with an exciting line-up. Highlights include an archive film event to mark International Women’s Day on Sunday, March 8, and a special space-themed show for children called Space Ape as part of Caithness International Science Festival.

Later in the month sees a visit from Irish choreographer Rob Heaslip Dance with his atmospheric new dance piece Endling, which explores what it means to be the last of your kind using pop and folk culture.

Taking the programme into spring will be another explosive music gig from four of Scotland’s finest fiddle players. With half the band from Shetland, Rant use their fiddles to weave a tapestry of melodies and celebrate the instrument for which they all have a passion.

Classical music fans are in for treat with the chance to see Scotland’s contemporary music ensemble Red Note at the end of the month.

The Easter holidays see kids' activities including Feast of Fools, a new catastrophic culinary adventure for families. There will be two weekend festivals in April, including a thriller film weekend that celebrates the release of local feature film Playhouse alongside celebrating the 60th anniversary of Hitchcock’s classic Psycho.

The John O’Groats Book Festival returns in late April with special guests including Freeland Barbour, Gerda Stevenson, Barbara Henderson and Esther Swift of Twelfth Day.

May sees more theatre and comedy including hilarious Shetland comic Marjolein Robertson who brings her Edinburgh Fringe hit show Da Shetland Spree to Lyth on the 22nd. Another Fringe hit, the Black Isle’s Colin Bramwell, performs his heart-warming and hilarious show Umbrella Man as part of a week-long residency at the arts centre.

LAC co-director Tom Barnes will also be presenting his hit show Ventoux as part of his company 2Magpies Theatre's first Scotland-wide tour. An epic restaging of the famous Lance Armstrong v Marco Pantani Tour de France race in 2000, the performance uses breathtaking video from the mountain and a pair of road bikes on stage.

Summer sees the return of theatre company Vanishing Point to Latheron Hall with a new retelling of The Metamorphosis. Its last performance at Latheron sold out so book is advised.

As well as music from Gnoss, Mhairi Hall, Gillebrìde Macmillan and Hannah Rarity, there is a special screening of the winner of the audience award at the Inverness Film Festival 2019. Down the Rabbit Hole tells the story of Inverness climber and photographer James Roddie and his journey with mental health and caving.

Another film highlight will be She Shears on Saturday, July 11, celebrating the New Zealand women competing for the Golden Shears.

Tom Barnes said: "This is an exciting year for Lyth Arts Centre as we expand our programme, opening earlier in the year than ever before and growing the programme to include more for families, festivals, dance and comedy. This year marks Scotland’s Year of Coasts and Waters and we have lots happening to celebrate the Caithness coastline in the lead-up to Northern Lights Festival in September, including events with Orca Watch and the UK surf championships.

"It’s definitely a year to celebrate the local and we’re proud to be partnering with village halls, artistes and organisations from across the county and the wider Highlands. There really is something for everyone this season – so, are ye coming?"

Tickets for the season are available online now at www.lytharts.org.uk or by phone (call 01955 641434 between 10am and 4pm).

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.