HOWARD Phipps, the distinguished wood engraver, who lives near Salisbury, is the featured artist in the 87th annual exhibition of the Society of Wood Engravers, which opened at London’s Bankside Gallery, and comes to Make South West in Bovey Tracey from 1st March to 21st April and later at galleries on Merseyside, in Oxford and…
WHEN the Sturminster Newton Amateur Dramatic Society, affectionately known as SNADS, takes on the ever-popular pantomime Cinderella you can expect local jokes and references woven into the story of the abused step sister and her meeting with the prince. The SNADS pantomime is rightly famous for its music, dancing, singing and storytelling – something so…
A NEW lighting system at Poole’s Lighthouse arts centre is expected to pay for itself in little more than a year, with savings forecast of almost £10,000 and nearly eight tonnes of CO2e*. The Lighthouse management has recently completed essential improvement works to enhance energy efficiency, reduce environmental impact and ensure the long-term sustainability of…
THERE is quite a trend currently for films to be adapted for the stage but there have been few book-to-film-to-stage versions that are better or more entertaining than Patrick Barlow’s inventive and hilarious staging of the John Buchan classic thriller, The 39 Steps. This brilliant play opens the in-house production season at Salisbury Playhouse, running…
SHAKESPEARE’s dark drama The Merchant of Venice may have one of the most famous speeches in the whole canon, but it is a difficult play for modern audiences. We struggle with the arrogant anti-semitism of Antonio and most of us surely squirm at the twin horrors of Shylock’s merciless revenge and the humiliation he suffers…
DORCHESTER Arts has a packed programme for February ranging from tribute shows to half-term fun – to a one-woman entertainment celebrating opera and triathlon! Next up is a visit from the boisterously energetic folk music from The Churchfitters on Thursday 27th. The last day of February (Friday 28th) brings comedian Alyssa Kyria (pictured) in her…
BRIDPORT Arts Centre features the second of two outstanding folk duos in its Spring programme when Miranda Sykes and Jim Causley come to the Dorset coast on Saturday 22nd February. Well-known in the West Country and beyond as outstanding folk musicians, they have come together as a duo and will be touring a new album…
DEVON-born actress Caroline Corrie has made an impressive debut as a film director with Shalborne and there are two screenings at Honiton’s Beehive on Saturday 8th February, at 3.30pm and 7.30pm. The versatile actress, who trained at RADA, has not only written and directed this debut feature film, she also designed the costumes and sets…
CONCERTS in the West, the musical charity which promotes rising stars of the chamber music world, celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2025. The first concert series of the year, on 14th and 15th February, brings the period instrument quartet Ensemble Hesperi to Bridport Arts Centre, Ilminster Arts Centre and the Dancehouse at Crewkerne. Ensemble Hesperi,…
THE Neil Maya Quartet, popular throughout the region through regular gigs and tours with Dorset’s Artsreach, is touring with a celebration of the music and tragically short life of one of the greatest jazz musicians ever – Charlie Parker. The Charlie Parker Story continues at Nether Compton village hall on Friday 14th February and Sturminster…