Folk legend Richard Digance is making a return visit to The Mowlem in Swanage, a theatre he describes as having ‘the most beautiful views from a dressing room’ anywhere in the country.
He’s no longer doing big national tours, instead opting for theatres he knows and loves that aren’t too long a drive from his home near Salisbury. He’s performing at The Mowlem on Wednesday 17th August 2022.
It’s Richard Digance’s second visit to Swanage since lockdowns ended
“You do shows because you love them”
Speaking to Swanage.News, he said:
“I’ve reached an age when you do shows because you love them rather than being out on tour. It’s a decision that came out of lockdown which made me reappraise myself.”
His first gig after the end of lockdown was in Norwich and the long journey persuaded him he ‘didn’t want to do this anymore’.
He added:
“I decided to restrict myself to playing in theatres I have already done before that aren’t the other side of the country!”
A popular live performer, Richard has scaled back his live appearances
Came to Swanage as a child
Richard recognises the huge struggle faced by venues to bring audiences back out after the Covid lockdowns. People are still nervous and they’ve got out of the routine.
He used to come to Swanage as a child and he sees the town as a place of ‘nostalgia’. The days of the big audiences when he was a TV star back in the 1980s and 1990s are behind him, but he still loves to be on stage.
His TV career spanned 17 years, culminating with his own ITV show for London Weekend Television, on which he played a guitar duet with Queen’s Brian May, as well as playing with Status Quo and The Moody Blues. He’s also appeared on Channel 4s Countdown nearly 200 times.
He is a BAFTA Nominated entertainer and a recipient of The Gold Award from The British Academy of Composers and Songwriters.
The Mowlem has ‘the best view from a dressing room’ in the country
“Beautiful views”
He said:
“The Mowlem has the most beautiful views from a dressing room that exists in Great Britain.”
Richard was meant to appear at The Mowlem in 2020 but that got cancelled as the theatre was closed due to Covid restrictions. His show was rescheduled several times but eventually went ahead on Friday 3rd September 2021 much to the delight of his loyal fans.
This show is his first return visit to a venue in his post-pandemic gigging.
He splits his show into two hour-long sets, with new material in the first and the second containing ‘stuff that Digance people will be expecting me to do’.
Performing at Fairport Convention’s famous Cropredy festival
“People need cheering up”
As well as a singer and guitarist, fans also know him as a poet and comedian.
He said:
“I think people need cheering up and so I incorporate good fun stories in the lead up to songs to make people feel giggly.”
Richard Digance is back at one of his favourite venues – The Mowlem
What’s on at The Mowlem for August 2022
As well as the show by Richard Digance, The Mowlem has lined up a number of live performances by tribute bands to entertain Swanage for the rest of the month.
- Saturday 20th August at 7.30 pm – dS:uK in Tribute to Dire Straits including after-show party in The Showbar
- Wednesday 24th August at 7.30 pm – The Beatles for Sale including after-show party in The Showbar
- Saturday 27th August at 7.30 pm – Pop Up Bowie including after-show party in The Showbar
- Monday 29th August at 7.30 pm – Seriously Collins: The Phil Collins Tribute Show LIVE including after-show party in The Showbar
Further information
- Richard Digance is appearing at The Mowlem at 7.30 pm on Wednesday 17th August 2022. Booking details for all the shows are on The Mowlem website
