THE sad news that Taunton’s much-loved Brewhouse Theatre is to close (due to financial difficulties) was not only a shock but a problem for Taunton Thespians, who were already into rehearsals for their production of The Haunting of Hill House in mid-November. But local theatre lovers can still look forward to the spine-chilling experience of…
POOLE’s only independent cinema at the Lighthouse arts centre, which has doubled its audience in the last two years, has entered this year’s second British Independent Film Awards’ (BIFA) Cinema of the Year award. “Lighthouse is proud to be Poole’s only independent cinema, audiences have been visiting it in record numbers, and we’d love them…
DORSET Museum & Art Gallery is launching a fundraising campaign to enhance and expand its forthcoming Mary Anning – Fossil Hunter exhibition, which runs until 2nd May 2027. It celebrates the life and legacy of the pioneering palaeontologist 180 years after her death. This landmark exhibition, which will have a programme of talks, family activities,…
IT is easy to underestimate Yeovil. It doesn’t have the historic buildings and picturesque narrow streets of Frome, the cathedral and medieval beauty of Wells or the ancient history and colourful eccentricity of Glastonbury. What it does have is talent – massive creative talent of all sorts, musical, theatrical, artistic, dance … The Somerset town…
THE Billings, a dedicated community venue at the heart of the Theatre Royal Bath, will open in spring 2027. This will be the fourth and final public and performance space within the theatre’s historic city centre site. The project, funded with support from more than 4,200 donors, has been fully approved, and work is now…
SMALL but mighty in its reach and influence – that would be a fair description of the Barn, the tiny independent theatre in Cirencester, which has announced the London transfer of its hit show, Million Dollar Quartet. Following an extended summer run at its Cotswold home, the show, with a cast led by Darren Day,…
NON-professional musicians and instrumentalists across the UK are invited to enter for the BSO Music-Making Competition, which returns for a second year, sponsored by Lark Music, part of Howden. Entry is free and the closing date for applications is 3rd September. The panel of industry judges includes broadcaster and writer Tom Service, guitarist Dagan Wilkin…
PAST and present staff, trustees and village partners of Artsreach, Dorset’s rural touring arts charity, gathered at Buckland Newton village hall to bid farewell to Yvonne Gallimore, who retired from the organisation at the end of July, after nearly 30 years. Former director Ian Scott led the tributes, praising her “massive contribution to Artsreach and…
ANDY Morton, the director of this year’s Dorset Opera Festival production of L’Elisir d’Amore, was born and brought up in Sherborne, where his father was a teacher. It was as a teenager at Sherborne School he first came into contact with opera, joining the chorus of Dorset Opera then run by Patrick Shelley. After studies,…
WHITCOMBE Manor hosts the annual Dorchester Arts summer party with music, on Sunday 19th July from 1pm, with star performer Liza Pulman providing the entertainment. The beautiful 300-year old manor is the home of best-selling crime and historical novelist Minette Walters, and her husband Alec. Liza Pulman returns to Dorset after a sold out appearance…