THERE are all sorts of reasons for becoming obsessed with a person or a subject – Stephen Taylor, traumatised by the death of his parents, painted the same tree over and over again, and Mark Hirsch photographed the same tree every day for a year. Already fascinated by the life and works of Nina Simone,…
SLEUTH is described as “the world’s greatest thriller” – which you might think is hyperbole, unless you recall the almost breathless excitement of the movie with a shocking Laurence Olivier (who had previously dismissed the stage play as “a piece of piss”) and Michael Caine, filmed at Dorset’s historic Athelhampton House. This new touring production,…
FOR the first time in 500 years, a new altar has been consecrated in Salisbury Cathedral nave – around 20 years since the decision was a taken to re-order the Cathedral. It is located at the spire crossing, and a second new altar, also by sculptor William Pye, has been consecrated in the Trinity chapel. Both were…
WE theatregoers in the west country first came across Emma Rice when she joined Kneehigh, where her productions and adaptations delighted, exasperated, excited, infuriated and inspired for almost 20 years. Then she was appointed director of Shakespeare’s Globe, and after two seasons and lots of controversy, removed herself from the post. She set up Wise…
HOW lucky are those of us who can get to the Ustinov Studio at Bath! Described by What’s On Stage as “the most exciting performance space in the south west, if not the country,” this tiny theatre currently hosts one of the most mesmerising, brilliant and profoundly moving dance performances you are ever likely to…
THE National Trust’s Kingston Lacy house near Wimborne will save 30,000 litres of oil a year following a switch to a ground source heat pump. The project is part of the Trust’s renewable energy work to reach net zero by 2030. It is one of the Trust’s biggest heat pump projects to date, and the…
NURSERIES in Gillingham, Wimborne, Wareham, Christchurch and Yeovil are among a group of 32 early education centres taking part in a new food project, introducing sustainable, nutritious and delicious wild meat to the menu at educational establishments nationally. . The wild meat introduced to the Tops Nurseries group includes venison and feathered game which has…
SHAKESPEARE’S Macbeth is having a moment this year, with several productions making their way onto the stage and directors competing with each other to discover contemporary relevance in this story of war, murder, greed, power and mental torment. While David Tennant gives his Scottish king in London and Ralph Fiennes tours unusual venues around the…
ALTHOUGH L Frank Baum wrote 14 stories about the Wonderful World of Oz, the one best remembered is that used for the classic 1939 MGM film The Wizard of Oz, starring Judy Garland. There is no doubting who are the goodies and who the baddies in this version, with Margaret Hamilton’s Wicked Witch of the…
IF you think of the comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan and ponder their connection with the often dark novels of Charles Dickens, you might say: “Nothing there. What’s your point?” But Opera Della Luna’s founder-director Jeff Clarke looked a bit deeper, considered the things they have in common – particularly Gilbert’s concern with social…