Events and things to do in Dorset - April 2016
PUBLISHED: 17:08 23 March 2016 | UPDATED: 09:55 24 March 2016
Graeme of Thrones at Lighthouse Poole © Paul Wilkinson 2015
Copyright (c) Paul Wilkinson 2015
Helen Stiles rounds up her pick of events happening around the county this month
EDITOR’S CHOICE
From Page to Screen - 30 March - 3 April
The UK’S only film festival celebrating the art of the adaptation is one of the highlights of Bridport’s cultural calendar. This year’s festival is hosted by award-winning director Charles Sturridge who gained international recognition for the television adaptation of Brideshead Revisited. He also wrote and directed the film Longitude, about the life of the clockmaker John Harrison and Shackleton starring Kenneth Branagh as Sir Ernest Shackleton which was filmed in the Arctic. With such an illustrious curator for this year’s festival we can expect a fascinating programme of screenings (including some of Sturridge’s own award-winning films), inspirational talkers, workshops and events.
Find out more at frompagetoscreen.org.uk
EXHIBITIONS
Dorset Yeomanry at Agagia - Until 3 June
Small exhibition at the Keep Military Museum and Dorset County Museum, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the famous charge of the Queen’s Own Dorset Yeomanry in the Egyptian Western Desert, captured in a magnificent painting by the military artist Lady Elizabeth Butler. Discounted joint ticket to see exhibitions in both museums.
More details dorsetcountymuseum.org or keepmilitarymuseum.org
Retro & All Wrapped Up - Until 30 September
Blandford Fashion Museum hosts this dazzling collection of everyday outfits from the 1920s through to the 1970s, including a gorgeous Biba mini dress. Alongside is a second exhibition featuring fabulous outerwear including coats, capes, jackets and muffs.
More at blandfordfashionmuseum.co.uk
MUSIC
A History of Opera (Abridged!) - 1 April
Swansea City Opera’s light-hearted musical romp through 400 years of opera includes works by Handel, Mozart, Puccini and Verdi.
Corn Exchange, Dorchester 01305 266926
BSO Concert: English Serenade - 6 April
Kirill Karabits leads the orchestra through a quintessential selection of English-inspired pieces from Bach, Mozart and Britten at Lighthouse, Poole 01202 280000.
Gabrielle Ducomble - 8 April
Gabrielle performs iconic songs by the likes of Edith Piaf, Serge Gainsbourg and Jacques Brel at the Corn Exchange, Dorchester.
Box office 01305 266926
Stacey Kent - 15 April
The Grammy-nominated jazz vocalist, returns to the Regent, Christchurch to perform tracks from her latest album Tenderly.
Box office 01202 499199
Harmony Singing from around the World - 16, 22 & 23 April
Northern Harmony performs harmony singing from South Africa, Corsica, Georgia, the Balkans and many American traditions. You can also join them in a singing workshop at Milton Abbey (23 April 10.30am – 12.30pm, places limited 01305 269512).
All concerts start 7.30pm. 16 April: Wootton Fitzpaine VH 01297 560948; 22 April: St James Church, Kingston 07720 784269; 23 April: Milton Abbey 07785 117773
Mantovani King of Strings - 17 April
The cascading strings of Mantovani’s music are lovingly recreated by The Magic of Mantovani Orchestra with original scores and arrangements at Bournemouth Pavilion 0844 576 3000.
Concerts in the West - 22 & 23 April
Amy Jolly (cello) and Gemma Beeson (piano) perform works by Schubert, Janacek and Rachmaninov at these two concerts.
22 April, 11am Bridport Arts Centre, 01308 424204; 23 April 7.30pm The Hub, Lyme Regis 01297 442594
Jah Wobble - 22 April
Jah Wobble & The Invaders Of The Heart bring their unique take on world music to the Tivoli Theatre, Wimborne 01202 885566.
Petite Messe Solenelle - 23 April
The Dorset Guild of Singers perform Rossini’s Mass at Lighthouse, Poole 01202 280000.
Ben Waters - 23 April
The Dorset-based boogie-woogie maestro combines the music of his heroes with cutting edge original material at Lighthouse, Poole.
Box office 01202 280000
Brass and Bells - 23 April
Poole Grammar School Choir and Bournemouth Youth Handbell Team join Vintage Brass for an evening of popular classics and jazz in aid of Cancer Research UK.
7pm, Salvation Army HQ, Palmerston Road, Boscombe. Tickets 01202 422074
The Folkish Festival - 24 April
New folk festival at Upton Country Park featuring local, up and coming and well known music acts such as Rusty Shackle, Tankus the Henge and Richard Digance as well as food, real ale, crafts and more. Midday – 9pm.
Tickets in advance recommended folkish.co.uk
PERFORMANCE
The Wizard of Oz - 2-3 April
Easter pantomime about a Kansas farm girl and her adventures over the rainbow, starring comedian Bobby Davro as Scarecrow and Dani Harmer (CBBC’s Tracy Beaker amd BBC Strictly Come Dancing) as Dorothy.
Bournemouth Pavilion 0844 576 3000
Blofeld & Baxter: Rogues on the Road - 7 April
Wonderful (and occasionally outrageous) reminiscences from two broadcasting legends.
Marine Theatre, Lyme Regis 01297 442138
Cinderella - 8-9 April
Isle of Portland Amateur Dramatics Society (IPADS) present a pantomime guaranteed to end the Easter Holidays with a bang at Portland Borstal Officers Club, Grove Road, DT5 1DL. Ticket from IPADS.contact@gmail.com
The Night of One Hundred Voices - 9 April
Debra Stephenson, the star of BBC’s Dead Ringers and The Impressions Show takes to the stage for an evening of comedy, music and impressions at the Regent, Christchurch 01202 499199
The Three Keepers - 9 April
Welcome to Flounder Rock Lighthouse, where three men live and work, with only the seagulls for company. This silent comedy blends physical theatre with slapstick family comedy.
Lighthouse, Poole 01202 280000
Akram Khan - 13 April
Khan builds bridges between the worlds of contemporary dance and the Indian classical dance from Kathak at Lighthouse, Poole.
Box office 01202 280000
Shot at Dawn - 13 & 14 / 21 & 22 April
World War One courtroom drama, by Doppelganger Productions, about two men from the Dorsetshire Regiment on trial for cowardice, performed in the atmospheric setting of Dorset’s historic law courts, and Bridport Town Hall.
13 & 14 April: Shire Hall, Dorchester 01305 266926; 21 & 22 April: Bridport Town Hall. Tickets 01308 424204
Alexi Sayle - 14 April
Class and comedy, politics and love come together in sharp witty banter at the Tivoli Theatre, Wimborne. Box office 01202 885566
The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe - 16-17 April
Enter the land of Narnia in this spectacular adaption of the magical C.S. Lewis story by the Centre Stage School of Dance and Performing Arts.
Lighthouse, Poole 01202 280000
The Company of Wolves - 21–23 April
Burn the Curtain’s take Angela Carter’s mysterious tale outside and invite walkers and runners on this promenade adventure along a 2 – 3 mile route (4 miles for runners) as a red cloaked girl sets off into the deep dark forest. Bring a torch! Meet at Learning Centre, Durlston Country Park 7.15pm.
Box office 01929 424443
Great Expectations - 21–23 April
The Amateur Players of Sherborne bring Charles Dickens’ classic coming-of-age novel to the stage.
7.30pm, Digby Hall, Sherborne
Graeme of Thrones - 26 April
Direct from London’s West End, Graeme takes you through the Seven Kingdoms in this un-authorised take on the Game of Thrones.
Lighthouse, Poole 01202 280000
Speakeasy - 28 April
A 1920’s-themed swinging performance of Faust, with Lindy Hop and Charleston dancing gangsters, bootleggers, gamblers, flappers, and hepcats from the Southpaw Dance Company.
Pavilion Dance South West, Bournemouth Box office 01202 203 630
BEST OF THE REST
Hidden Heritage Conference - 9 April
This inaugural conference at the Corn Exchange, Dorchester is dedicated to hidden heritage and features a panel of 17 international speakers.
More details 01305 264459
Anna Pavord & Claire Harman on Bronte - 11 & 26 April
Gardening writer Anna Pavord gives an illustrated talk (11 April) on her new book Landskipping - a celebration of landscape through art and literature. On 26 April, Claire Harman talks about her biography Charlotte Brontë: A Life. Both events at 2.30pm, Symondsbury Tithe Barn. Tickets Bridport TIC 01308 424901.
Bushmaster: Hunting the Snake Hunter - 28 April
Talk at Dorset County Musuem by Dan Eatherley on American herpetologist Raymond Ditmars, and his quest for the legendary Bushmaster – the world’s largest viper. Starts 7pm.
