THERE is a hugely competitive world of children’s books – best-selling authors like Michael Murpurgo, Jackie Donaldson or Jacqueline Wilson sell millions of books, and authors and broadcasters like Michael Rosen are a huge box office draw. But getting a foot on the ladder of top children’s writers is a struggle. Publisher and writer Tim…
YEOVIL’s Westlands Entertainments Venue has released 1,000 tickets priced just £3 for this year’s pantomime, Aladdin, as part of the venue’s accessible ticket scheme. The special low-cost ticket offer is aimed at ensuring local families in low-income households do not miss out on the magic of live festive theatre during challenging economic times. The accessible…
POOLE’s Lighthouse arts centre has retained the Gold award at the Dorset Tourism Awards, where it was named Business Events Venue of the Year. It is the fourth time in five years that the arts centre has won this coveted award (in 2024 it had the silver award). The awards follow a three-month judging process…
FANS of contemporary comic poetry – or even just occasional Facebook users – are sure to have come across the witty and vividly contemporary writing of Brian Bilston. Now the social media star (he apparently has more than 500,000 followers) is on tour, and you can catch him live at the Electric Palace at Bridport on…
FOUR young performers, aged 16 and 17, have been chosen to join the cast of Honk!, the Christmas show at the Barn Theatre, Cirencester. They will be playing the ducklings and froglets in the award-winning musical, which runs from 21st November to 3rd January 2027. Artistic Director Iwan Lewis announced the names of the four…
CHRISTMAS just wouldn’t be the same for folk fans without the traditional visit by St Agnes Fountain, the acclaimed folk group who bring their special sparkly brand of festive music to the Beehive and the David Hall this year on Thursday 10th December at Honiton, Sunday 13th at South Petherton and Tuesday 15th at Forest…
BLUEGRASS may be most associated with the Appalachian Mountains, but its origins lie deep in the remote Celtic and ancient traditions of Britain – Scotland, Ireland, Cornwall … and the far West Country county is the home of Flats & Sharps, the internationally popular bluegrass band which is coming to Dorset for three dates with…
BUDAPEST, with its dramatic location on the Danube, is one of Europe’s great cities, half of the twin hearts of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and a cultural Mecca with a dark and enthralling history. Perhaps its greatest period was the late 19th century and the first three decades of the 20th – the music of that…
DORCHESTER Community Plays Association is looking ahead to the next – eighth – in its record-breaking list of community plays. The next play is planned for 2029, and a first meeting to launch the project is planned for 16th January. The Dorchester Community Play Association (DCPA) has already began exploring some fascinating possibilities for the…
THREE singers and an accordionist of the Opera Cocktail ensemble from Southampton-based OperaUpClose come to Devon on 20th November and Dorset on Friday 4th and 5th December with their sparkling “jukebox” rom com. Like a classic cocktail – and West End hit jukebox musicals – it is heady and fun blend of favourite flavours, blended…