The Guild Returns!

The Manx Music, Speech and Dance Festival returns to Douglas this weekend, bringing eight days of competition, performance and celebration to the island’s cultural calendar.

Commonly known as ‘The Guild’, the event runs from Saturday, April 25 to May 2 at the Villa Marina, welcoming performers of all ages and abilities in one of the Isle of Man’s longest-running traditions.

Now in its 134th year, the festival traces its origins back to 1888, when it was first staged as the Isle of Man Fine Art and Industrial Guild.

Choir competitions followed in 1892, with solo vocal classes introduced two years later as the event steadily expanded.

Over time, The Guild has grown into a wide-ranging celebration of the performing arts, featuring disciplines including solo singing, poetry reading, instrumental music, choirs, brass bands and dance. Participants range from primary school pupils through to adult performers.

A key highlight remains the Cleveland Medal competition, regarded as the festival’s most prestigious award.

Donated annually by the Cleveland, Ohio Manx Society in the United States, it is contested by the three highest-marked male and three highest-marked female performers from the special solo classes held during the week.

The Guild has been staged at the Villa Marina since 1947 and continues to attract strong entries and audiences each year.

It is also affiliated to the British and International Federation of Festivals, linking it to similar events across the UK and beyond.

This year also sees a change in leadership, with organist John Riley MBE taking over as chair following Anne Clarke’s tenure, which included steering the festival through the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Alongside performances, visitors can enjoy food and drink from local vendors including Filbey’s Little Food Shack and Coffee Barista throughout the week.