ONE of the most interesting aspects of the First World War four-year centenary has been the unearthing of stories from communities across the country, and one such is taking place at Bourton in North Dorset, from 13th to 15th July. As Bourton Mill is demolished, after many years of dilapidation and rejected plans, a year-long project…
GLASTONBURY and Street Musical Comedy Society took home a clutch of awards in the Cinderella contest, run by the Somerset Fellowship of Drama for its pantomime productions. The 206/17 offering was Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, written and directed by Matthew Maisey. The production won the original script class and was runner-up for the…
YOU don’t have to trek up the long miles of the M6 or A1 to get to Edinburgh this summer – the Fringe is coming to you, at Shaftesbury with three days of free fun from Friday 30th June to Sunday 2nd July. Building on the success of last year’s inaugural Shaftesbury Fringe, this year’s event…
DORCHESTER Youth Theatre’s junior and intermediate groups are putting on two plays at the Corn Exchange on Thursday and Friday 22nd and 23rd June, starting at 6.30. The first is Charlotte Holmes: Future Detective by Richard James. Charlotte may well be a 23rd century descendant of Sherlock and she’s eager to do some detective work….
WILLIAM Shakespeare created several female heroines who disguised themselves as men – Portia, Viola, Rosalind etc. This summer’s Brownsea Open Air Theatre takes the practice a step further. Director Brian Woolton has decided to cast four of As You Like It’s traditionally male characters as women, providing an interesting new angle on the story. As…
SALISBURY’S Studio Theatre in Ashley Road will be transformed into a traditional Music Hall from Tuesday 6th to Saturday 10th June, ready for the next production. The show, directed by Rowena Greenaway and Dee Mansfield, pays tribute to the heyday of the Victorian and Edwardian music hall in an extravaganza of magical musical memories and…
THE Dorchester based Somerleigh Players arrive at the Corn Exchange on election day with a Prescription For Murder. The two night run of Norman Robbins’ comedy murder mystery, directed by Mel Hooley, will raise funds for Dorchester Arts. The performances start at 8pm. Packed to the gunwales with mayhem, murder and mystery, the story is…
AS historic circus Barnum and Bailey closed its big top to the world, the South West School of Dance in Street is about to open its latest production, Barnum, at Strode Theatre from 31st May to 3rd June. This youth production, inspired by the great circus, has a cast of 79 performers aged from seven…
THE hilarious adventures of the incompetent Insp Drake and his sidekick Sgt Plod continue in the Street Theatre 2017 summer tour of Inspector Drake and the Black Widow, opening at Somerton on Wednesday 7th June. Once again directed by Peter Wintle (as the previous two Inspector Drake shows have been), the title role is now…
CHRISTCHURCH Regent Centre will be transformed into Kansas and the merry old land of Oz from 31st May to 3rd June, for the Bournemouth Musical Theatre production of The Wizard of Oz. For the May half term, the company invites family audiences to follow the Yellow Brick Road to the Regent Centre, where performances are…