YEOVIL Literary Festival 2024 has a stellar line-up with top writers, historians and poets coming to talk about and read from their latest works. Over the week from 18th to 27th October, the main festival hosts such household names as Martin Clunes, Wayne Sleep, Fern Britton, gardener Carol Klein, Clarkson’s hilarious sidekick Kaleb Cooper and…
WELLS Festival of Literature, one of the country’s longest established and most imaginatively programmed, runs this year from Friday 18th to Saturday 26th October, with speakers ranging from scientist and broadcaster Adam Rutherford to comedian Paul Sinha, favourite cookery writer Sophie Grigson to people’s poet Pam Ayres. Based at Cedars Hall at Wells Cathedral School,…
THERE is a timely talk – pun intended – at this year’s Bridport Literary Festival (running from 3rd to 9th November) by former prison governor Ian Acheson. With Britain’s failing prison system hitting the headlines again and again, Acheson’s experiences as a Home Office official with expertise in security, safety and reform, should be fascinating….
SHERBORNE International Film Festival, over the weekend 17th to 20th October, takes film-goers on an adventurous and exciting journey from Korea to Colombia, via Japan, China and France. The programme includes rarities and favourites and opens on Thursday evening with the spectacular 2002 Chinese historical drama Hero, at the festival venue, the Powell Theatre in…
PURBECK Film Festival, the country’s largest and most diverse rural celebration of film, will be 30 years next year. The 29th festival, from 18th October to 3rd November, has the theme of Food on Film (and food with film), in venues that range from Swanage’s Mowlem Theatre, Poole’s Lighthouse arts centre and Wareham’s historic Rex…
SALISBURY’S Celebrate Voice festival, this year from Wednesday 30th October to Saturday 9th November, once again brings a treasure chest of widely ranging music to the city. There is choral music and jazz, cabaret and opera, theatre and comedy and more packed into the 11 days, and no-one needs to feel left out – it…
MERE Literary Festival opens on Wednesday 9th October with a chef who has put his knife skills to good use in his first crime novel and ends with a serious investigation into the controversial NHS child gender service. In between, it features a remarkable Edwardian, a challenging look at demographics and an ageing population, violence…
THIS year’s Archaeology Festival at Salisbury Museum, in the Cathedral Close, on Saturday and Sunday 27th and 28th July, will be one of the biggest for years, with a packed programme of events in the museum garden, the new hall and a demonstration marquee, featuring talks, participatory activities, folk music and more. As well as…
IF you are among the many who think Thomas Hardy is not a barrel of laughs, Tom Browns at Dorchester will be looking to change your mind with Hardy Har, the town’s first comedy festival, on Saturday 13th July. Laughter comes to High East Street as Tom Browns pub joins forces with Dorchester Arts, The…
THE Netflix hit Bridgerton had viewers round the world hooked on the roller-coaster love affair of beautiful Daphne Bridgerton and her dashing Duke. Many of the scenes were filmed in Bath, and this year’s Bath Festivals will include a walking tour of the locations. The Regency romp was a storming success with more than 82…