IN this edition of nostalgia, we are looking back at the Carlisle and District Music and Drama Festival throughout the years.

In 2020, the Carlisle & District Music and Drama Festival sadly fell victim to the COVID-19 pandemic but they returned again in 2022 and 2023. The festival this year took place on March 11 to March 16.

The festival, established in 1896, traditionally takes place around the second week of March, from Monday to Saturday.

The annual festival bring together performers from all over Cumbria and beyond.

It offers people of all ages and abilities the opportunity to display their talents and skills in music, speech and drama to professional adjudicators and a welcoming audience. Not least, the Festival offers local and regional people a wonderful week of entertainment, with six full days of music, speech and drama worth attending.

A Gala Concert usually takes place at the end of the festival to showcase a selection of outstanding performances, and to award the major trophies and prizes. 

The festival is a registered Charity that aims to give every single participant a positive experience, as well as valuable feedback from which they can learn and use to further develop their skills.

Thousands of Cumbrians have competed at the festival over the years some representing their school such as the Caldewgate School team who won a trophy in 1981. The now-closed Eden School which was based in Rickerby Park, Carlisle was a great supporter of the festival for many years and our photo shows their winning choric verse speaking team.

But the festival also had classes for dancing and, fitting for the Great Border City, and we have a picture of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society who competed at the 1972 festival.