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Looking back at The Gathering 2026

Held on 20-21 March in The Birks Cinema and The Town Hall, Aberfeldy, The Gathering is The Touring Network’s annual event for everyone involved or interested in rural touring.

This year’s event brought together around 100 members – a diverse mix of promoters, performers and creative professionals – to connect, share and see high-quality tour-ready work suited to rural venues.

Showcasers

  • Arron Sparks at The Gathering

    Arron Sparks

    Call-Out! is a new production for young audiences aged 3-5 years old. Developed with support from Starcatchers, the work draws on Arron’s experience as an early years practitioner and volunteer Mountain Rescuer, as well as research with young audiences.

  • Arthur Coates and Kerran Cotterell at The Gathering

    Arthur Coates & Kerran Cotterell

    Controlled Burn is the brand-new touring show from powerhouse folk duo Arthur Coates & Kerran Cotterell – a high-energy mix of Scottish fiddle fire, English guitar groove, driving foot percussion and rich vocal harmonies.

  • Audaciously Tenacious Theatre perform Perfect Dead Girls at The Gathering

    Audaciously Tenacious Theatre

    PERFECT DEAD GIRLS is a gruesome yet tender celebration of the joys and paranoias of girlhood, and an exploration of how young women survive in systems that ask them to tear each other down.

  • Firelight Trio at The Gathering

    Firelight Trio

    Firelight Trio is a mighty new group featuring Fatea Instrumentalist of the Year 2023 Gavin Marwick (fiddle), accordionist Phil Alexander (Moishe’s Bagel), and Ruth Morris (Outlander – HBO) on the beautiful Swedish Nyckelharpa.

  • Evie Waddell at The Gathering

    Evie Waddell

    Ivory Cutlery is a multimedia, 50-minute performance populated with key characters from Ivor Cutler songs/poems/stories and elements of his life story.

  • Photo of Lucy Beth

    Lucy Beth

    Ma Name Is Isabelle is a reimagining of the story behind the famous bothy ballad Bogie’s Bonnie Belle. Performed in Doric, this piece follows Isabelle, as she navigates being impregnated against her will, life as an unmarried mother and her triumph over adversity

  • Ragged Edge Productions perform at The Gathering

    Ragged Edge Productions

    A comic radio play presented live on stage, The Mystery of the Pirate Lagoon is a daft and entertaining show that gives you the chance to release your inner pirate, make the sound effects and take part in scenes in a special edition of the play.

  • Scottish Dance Theatre perform at The Gathering

    Scottish Dance Theatre

    Scottish Roots, a new triple bill by Scottish Dance Theatre invites you to experience the thrill of bodies in motion and the pulse of music that bridges tradition and innovation.

  • Slanjayvah Danza perform at The Gathering

    Slanjayvah Danza

    ESPE – a striking new solo fusing dance, music, storytelling, song, and craft. A story of courage and belonging set in a multi-layered world, ESPE is defiant, funny, and full of hope as she dances, sings, and crafts her way through life.

  • The Fabulous Red Diesel perform at The Gathering

    The Fabulous Red Diesel

    The Fabulous Red Diesel will sweep you off your feet. A well seasoned jazzy four-piece, playing original tunes, with Zog trumpets, double bass, achingly beautiful vocals and even a tuba!

Wee Turns

  • Delegates at The Gathering 2026
  • Delegates walking through Aberfeldy during The Gathering
  • Delegates mingle at The Gathering
  • The Fabulous Red Diesel perform at The Gathering
  • Audience members watch a performance with atmospheric lighting
  • Ragged Edge Productions perform at The Gathering
I felt energised to plan for a rural tour after the positive networking from venues this year. You do a great job of creating a relaxed supportive enviroment where people feel comfortable to talk openly.
I absolutely loved it, was sad to leave. I can’t wait for 2027!
It helped me to understand the process and practice and how to approach programmers.