PERHAPS the most wonderful, in the true sense of the word, thing about Christmas is to watch the delight and excitement on the faces of young children. And what better way to do it than to go along to Poole Lighthouse’s festive show Little Robin Red Vest, a two-person retelling of Jay Fearnley’s beloved story…
A CRITICALLY acclaimed young pianist, Reed Tetzloff, will give an afternoon recital, The Romantic Piano, at St John’s Church, Tisbury, on Saturday 13th December at 3.30pm. The concert is raising funds for the church. Tetzloff came to international attention ten years ago at the XV Tchaikovsky Competition, where he was dubbed “the lyric hero of…
ELEVEN years after her memorable adaptation and production of A Christmas Carol at the Shelley Theatre in Southbourne, Helen Watts returned to Bournemouth last week with a new working of the Dickens classic for students of Arts University Bournemouth, at their home theatre, The Palace Court in Hinton Road. With an energetic cast of ten,…
ACTING legend Sir Derek Jacobi, a star of both the stage and screen, has a short pre-Christmas tour talking about his career, with two local dates, at Bath Theatre Royal on Friday 28th November and Bristol’s Redgrave Theatre on Sunday 30th, both at 2pm. The event will feature insights, memories of appearing in countless Shakespeare…
FANS of Charles Dickens’ festive fable, A Christmas Carol, have their usual huge choice of productions this year, but Dorset’s Artsreach is bringing a company to Dorset with a very different take on the story of Scrooge. Starting on Wednesday 3rd December at Royal Manor Theatre, Portland, the amusingly named Hah! Bumhug! is performed by…
JOSIAH Wedgwood is best known nowadays for his Jasperware pottery, with its distinctive light-blue colour. But the 18th century potter was a true radical, as historian Tristram Hunt will explain when he gives Salisbury Museum’s annual lecture, on Wednesday 3rd December, at 7.30pm, at Salisbury Methodist Church in St Edmund’s Church Street. The museum currently…
BUMBLEFLY (also known as The Travelling Players) returns this Christmas with a favourite story, Pinocchio, starting on 5th December. Like last year’s production of A Christmas Carol, it is another delightful festive show. The players bring their blend of quirky storytelling, song, merriment and mischief to the wonderful mis-adventures of Pinocchio! – the wooden marionette…
IF you think grand opera is all about very big voice, huge orchestras and vast opera houses, think again! Dorset’s Artsreach rural touring charity is bringing a small scale operatic entertainment to Studland on Thursday 4th December and Yetminster on Sunday 14th. Village halls may not have much in common with Covent Garden, the Met,…
MUSIC at Exeter Cathedral in the weeks before Christmas ranges from Devon-based folk duo Sound of the Sirens, on Friday 5th December, to the traditional favourites, carols and Handel’s Messiah. Sound of the Sirens, pictured right, is a special homecoming gig for the singer-songwriting duo who are based in the city. Abbe Martin and Hannah…
A MUSICAL that was a box office hit on Broadway and in the West End comes to Bath Theatre Royal’s Ustinov Studio for Christmas, from Tuesday 25th November to Saturday 3rd January. The show, directed by Hal Chambers, is a co-production by Bath with Reading Rep and the Barn Theatre at Cirencester, where it delighted…