The Play’s the Thing

A forgotten pioneer

HAVE you heard of Harriet Quimby? Maybe you have – but most likely you haven’t. So Middle-Weight Theatre Company’s new play tells a story you should hear. What’s Next?, at Dorchester Corn Exchange on 14th September at 8pm, is a solo show with actress Victoria Lucie, which brings overdue recognition for the life and achievements…

Read more...

All at sea with Our Star Theatre

IF you enjoy the clever Mischief Theatre productions (The Play That Goes Wrong, etc) look out for Our Star Theatre’s new play, Death(s) At Sea on a lengthy national tour with local dates at Dorchester Corn Exchange on Thursday 19th and Seaton Gateway on Friday 20th. The play, a comedy murder mystery, is when Our…

Read more...

Neverland on Portland

OPEN-air theatre company SISATA is back on home ground on Portland on Sunday 8th September, nearing the end of a lengthy national and local summer tour, with a production of Peter Pan, in the setting which inspired this retelling of JM Barrie’s famous tale. The performance, next to Portland Bill lighthouse, features four local professional…

Read more...

Art – and the price of friendship

ONE of the most popular plays of the past three decades, Yasmina Reza’s Art comes to Poole Lighthouse from 29th to 31st August, and at Bath in a new 30th anniversary production at the start of the Theatre Royal’s autumn season, from Tuesday 3rd to Saturday 7th September. The play is directed by Iqbal Khan…

Read more...

Making history – 20 years on

ONE of Britain’s greatest playwrights, Sir Alan Bennett, visited Bath Theatre Royal and gave his seal of approval to the final rehearsals of the 20th anniversary production of his multi-award-winning play, The History Boys, ahead of the opening night on Thursday 22nd August. The play and later film, which together launched the careers of several…

Read more...

A very peculiar birthday party

THERE are birthday parties – cakes, frocks, candles, music, dancing … And then there is Harold Pinter’s Birthday Party. It’s Pinter – so you know the atmosphere will not be the usual jolly fun! Bath Theatre Royal’s Ustinov studio hosts a new production of this famous play, running to 31st August, and starring Jane Horrocks…

Read more...

Hit comedy at Cirencester’s Barn

THE adventurous Barn Theatre at Cirencester has a laugh-a-minute television favourite for its summer show, running to 17th August. With audience favourite Sam Denia in the leading role, the little theatre has a world premier revival of Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em, the show that made a huge star of Michael Crawford. Before Mr Bean,…

Read more...

Coward trilogy to mark double anniversary

BATH Theatre Royal welcomes a trio of brilliant actors – Tara Fitzgerald, Stephen Boxer and Emma Fielding – to appear in a double anniversary production of Noel Coward’s Suite in Three Keys, from Tuesday 9th to 13th July. It is the first time in a generation that there has been a complete revival of the…

Read more...

Playing politics

YOU may well feel you’ve had enough of party politics and electioneering, but if you want a fresh take on our political system, with a generous helping of laughter, head for Bath Theatre Royal where Michael McManus’s new comedy, Party Games, will be on stage from Tuesday 18th to Saturday 22nd June. When the tour…

Read more...

Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire … Bridport

THE shipping forecast celebrates its centenary this year, and Charlie Connelly, author of the best-selling book, Attention All Shipping: A Journey Round the Shipping Forecast, performs his hilarious and fascinating history of this important maritime service at Bridport Arts Centre on Saturday 22nd June. The shipping forecast started out as (and remains) an essential service…

Read more...