PANTOMIME is a peculiarly British phenomenon, so when Crewkerne boy, Octagon favourite and successful actor and singer Thom Ford introduced his American wife Kathryn Nash to the genre, it was only natural for the versatile Texas-born actress to give it a go. She’s a perfect Snow White in Thom’s favourite theatre in Yeovil this year,…
THE dividing line between real emotion and sentimentality can be very narrow, and in a play, maintaining that division comes down to the insights of the director and the understanding of the actors. Never act with children or animals, they say, so you might think that David Wood’s Goodnight, Mr Tom, with children, animals and…
JACK Thacker, who teaches English at Bristol University, is the new writer-in-residence at Poole’s Lighthouse centre for the arts. Over the course of the next year Jack will absorb all aspects of life at the arts centre and respond to what he hears and sees before publishing his work through the writer development agency, Artfulscribe,…
THERE is an alternative one-man version of the best-loved Christmas show from Dave Mynne, on a short Artsreach tour, from 13th to 15th December. Multi-talented Dave, a familiar face from Kneehigh Theatre productions, brings his Christmas Carol to Sixpenny Handley Village Hall on Friday 13th December, Shipton Gorge on Saturday 14th and Shillingstone on Sunday…
CHRISTMAS events on National Trust properties in Somerset are not just spectacular lighting shows or period decorations. There are also out door events at Fyne Court, on the Quantocks, and the opportunity to ramble on the beautiful Holnicote estate on Exmoor. Carols under the stars at Fyne Court, on Saturday 14th December, from 4.30 to…
ESCAPE the festive crowds at one of the country’s prettiest villages, the National Trust-owned Lacock in Wiltshire, where the Great Hall at Lacock Abbey is decked out for the season and visitors can enjoy a stroll in frosty winter gardens or peaceful cloister walks. Christmas trees decorated by local community groups and charities on the…
THE Garden Centre Association’s annual Christmas competition once again brought an award for the Gardens Group, this time for Brimsmore Gardens at Yeovil, which was awarded third place in national judging. Up against garden centres from across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, including big names within the industry, Brimsmore Gardens was recognised as one…
CHRISTMAS is a time when most cheese-lovers enjoy some special treats, whether it’s a great Stilton (with or without port) or one of the country’s finest traditional Cheddars, for which we are spoiled for choice! Among the best are the three great Somerset traditional farmhouse Cheddars, from Keens near Wincanton, Montgomerys of North Cadbury and…
FISHERTON Mill’s popular Jazz Brunch makes a special appearance this Christmas, with a festive feast on Christmas Eve morning, after you’ve done your shopping among the colourful crafts and gifts by some of the region’s finest makers. The Victorian mill off Fisherton Street at Salisbury, includes a gallery and studios, with work by contemporary artists…
ALL ready for five weeks of fun and laughter, the Octagon company in Yeovil has made sure the mirror is polished and the apple is nice and red and juicy. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, on until Sunday 5th January, stars Lizzie Frances, Thom Ford, Jack Glanville, and Gordon Cooper. For more details, telephone …