BRIDPORT Arts Centre has emerged from a period of limbo with a new director, Mick Smith, who will take up the post in September. Mick has an interesting background with a jazz piano diploma, registration as a psychiatric nurse and wide business development and management experience. He has toured around the world as a musician…
IFORD Festival supporters are excitedly awaiting this year’s production of L’elisir d’amore, in the new setting of Belcombe Court at Bradford on Avon. On 31st August, 3rd, 6th and 7th September, the grounds of rarely-open house will welcome the audience in a specially-created geodesic dome, providing seating for an audience of up to 240, as…
THE 2019 Exeter Street Arts Festival transforms the city centre and the Phoenix on Saturday 24th August, from 10am til late. The festival, in its fourth year, fills the city with colour and sound in a free celebration of music, dance and arts throughout the day and a flamboyant party as night falls. This year’s…
THE dates of the 2020 Bath Festival have been announced –a ten-day celebration of music and books, opening with the traditional free Party in the City on Friday 15th May and culminating in the bank holiday weekend of Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th May. The festival will once again be a rich kaleidoscope of events,…
THE visual effects supervisor on Disney’s new photorealistic version of The Lion King will be on home ground when he comes to talk to audiences at Christchurch Regent Centre on Saturday 10th August. Elliot Newman, who was Visual Effects Supervisor on the new Lion King movie, who grew up in Christchurch, watching films like Twister…
THEATRE legend and Lord of the Rings’ Gandalf, Sir Ian McKellen brought his 80th birthday one-man stage show to Lyme Regis’s Marine Theatre as part of a series of events to celebrate the venue’s 125th anniversary. In glorious sunshine, members of the community shared the memorable evening alongside guests such as Sir Tom Stoppard and…
SALISBURY Museum, in the historic King’s House in Salisbury Cathedral Close, has received initial support from the Heritage Lottery Fund for its Future Generations project. This aim of the £4.4 million scheme is to enable the museum to transform its displays and facilities – completing the work started with the lottery funded Wessex Gallery of…
BRISTOL Old Vic’s new director already has contacts in the south and west. Charlotte Geeves was general manager of Salisbury Festival before taking up her current job, as CEO of Henley Festival five years ago. She takes over at Bristol from Emma Stenning, who has taken up a new post in Canada, and interim director…
DORSET Moon, a celebration at three locations of the 50th anniversary of the moon landings, attracted crowds of more than 41,000 people and was reported around the world. Luke Jerram’s massive installation, Museum of the Moon, was shown at St Peter’s Church, Sherborne Abbey and Nothe Fort, Weymouth, with programmes of visual art, music and…
DORCHESTER Arts’ annual fund-raising garden party brings one of England’s funniest women, Dillie Keane to the beautiful grounds of Whitcombe Manor, on Sunday 28th July, from noon. The outrageously funny and talented Dillie, one third of Fascinating Aida and a brilliant singer, comedian and Olivier Award-nominated actress, is making a special trip to Dorset for…