Dorchester Arts - Autumn 2010: Get ready for an amazing circus show!
Parklife by No Fit State Circus - click the picture for a taste of what's in store !
Thursday 19 - Sat 21 August • DOUBT: A PARABLE • International Theatre
By John Patrick Shanley
Directed by Melanie Hooley
Supported by British Council Zimbabwe
Dorchester ARTS Centre – Doors and bar 7:30pm / Performance 8pm
Tickets: £8 / £6 members
Actors Kevin Hanssen and Anne Fischer come to Dorchester from Zimbabwe to take the leads in this Pulitzer / Tony award-Winning Drama. Funny, shocking, stimulating and ultimately wise, this brilliant and powerful drama asks the question “What do you do when you are not sure?” The 2008 film with Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman gained five oscar nominations. If you saw the movie, don't miss this Brisith Council-supported stage version.
Themes relating to the nature of doubt, the desire for justice and the right of individuals to live with integrity, freedom and safety, are explored in a series of evocatively terse scenes, leading to an explosive climactic confrontation between self-righteousness and compassion.
Director, Mel Hooley, brings you a very relevant piece for these troubled times, as the conflict between a well-intentioned progressive priest and a conservative nun develops over the priest’s relationship with a young boy at a school in the Bronx. An evening of unmissable drama.
Monday 23 - Saturday 28 August • Summer Workshops and Performance
Dorchester Arts' Inspirational week of musical theatre making for young people
WORKSHOPS: Monday to Friday 9.30am – 5pm - £95 / £50 second sibling
Commitment needed for the full week – book now.
PERFORMANCES: MILTON ABBEY SCHOOL – Friday 7.30pm – Saturday TBC – £5 / £3 child.
Dorchester Youth Theatre want to inspire you to act, sing and dance your way to creating a performance in one week! The workshops will be led by a professional team of writers, directors and musicians. Learn new theatre skills and meet new people!
24 Aug - 15 Sept • Theatre residency • Angel Exit
23 October • Mowlem Theatre, Swanage
27-28 October • Lighthouse, Poole
Dorset based physical theatre company Angel Exit are taking their sell-out show, Moonfleet - co-produced by Dorchester Arts - back on tour in the UK this Autumn. A fearsome and funny show for everyone with a sense of adventure aged from 8 to 108.
13 – 19 September 2010 • Parklife Dorchester • Inside Out Spectacular
Maumbury Rings, Dorchester • Workshops – 14-17th September
Finale Performance 19th September • pre-show 6pm, performance 7.30pm • FREE
NoFit State Circus bring their extraordinary Parklife project to Maumbury Rings in Dorchester as a part of Inside Out 2010.
Have you ever wanted to run away with the circus? Here’s your chance! NoFit State Circus will be in residence at Maumbury Rings for the week, running workshops and taster sessions for adults and community groups. To get involved contact Dorchester Arts on 01305 266926 or via the website
'Talent Spot' – the opportunity for anyone with a special talent to come and share it with the company and for it to be incorporated into the final show
'Park Stories' – the collecting of significant or memorable things that have happened to people at Maumbury Rings
“The future of British circus…Cirque du Soleil without the Disney and the disinfectant..” • • • • The Guardian
Saturday 25 September • Bluesnight • Station House
‘Station House’ is a rarity in being led by a drummer - the legendary Sam Kelly. Five-times UK blues drummer of the year, Sam's band plays a unique mix of blues with a flavour of funk, soul, and reggae, reflecting the backgrounds and experiences of the musicians in the band.
What a great way to kick-off the new Bluesnights season!
www.sam-kelly.com
Friday 1 October • Puppets/Masks/Physical Theatre • The Under Milk Wood Project
Under Milk Wood, Dylan Thomas’s most famous play, is described as an orchestration of voices, sights and sounds that conjure up the dreams and waking hours of an imagined seaside village. The newly established Weymouth based Conspiracy Theatre bring these voices to life with a helping of physical theatre, mask and puppetry.
The 'dismays and rainbows' of its inhabitants are played out within the cycle of one day. The larger-than-life characters engage the imagination and lead us to explore our own fears and desires.
Local physical theatre performer Jackie Avery turns her hand to directing the play, with an aim to establish innovative, contemporary and thought provoking home grown performance . The project includes original sound and videoscapes by local composer Martin Hedley and musician/visual artist Thomas Hughes from band Triops.
Saturday 2 October • Afrobeat • Wessex Afrobeat Band with Lekan Babalola
Dorchester Arts • 8pm (doors and bar 7.30pm) • tickets £10
Get into the groove with Afrobeat from the source itself!
The man the Washington Post called a wizardry percussionist - Lekan Babalola - brings his irresistible rhythms to Dorchester for an amazing evening of music and dance.
Hot on the heels of hip-hop, drum n’ bass and Acid Jazz, Afrobeat is a genre that is currently becoming very popular among dance music goers.
Saturday 9 October 8pm • Jazz • The Baddest Blues Band (ever!)
Described by Time Out magazine as a ‘quaking blues mix’ of jazz and rock, The Baddest Blues Band (ever!) brings together six of the funkiest musicians from the parallel worlds of blues, jazz and rock.
Sassy vocalist Zoe Schwarz and virtuoso guitarist Rob Koral are joined by charismatic harp blower Si Genaro and Hammond organ grinder extraordinaire, Pete Whittaker with legendary rhythm section Malcolm Creese and Paul Robinson combining for some truly kick-ass blues sounds.
“They are superb…” Blues Matters
www.myspace.com/thebaddestbluesbandever
Sunday 10 October • workshop • Afrobeat workshop with Lekan Babalola
Dorchester Arts • 3-6pm • £10
Wizardry percussionist Lekan Babalola leads a workshop for professional and semi professional musicians. A custodian of the Afro beat genre of music and a protégé of Fela Kuti, Lekan will bring a twist to local Dorset tunes with the Afrobeat groove. If you are into learning new rhythms and grooves, come and enjoy being put through your musical paces!
Friday 15 October • Dance/spoken word • The Shiver - Introduced by Quentin Cooper from Radio 4
The Shiver - Introduced by Quentin Cooper from Radio 4’s ‘The Material World’ and followed by a Café Scientifique post-show discussion
The Shiver - from Subathra Subramaniam’s new dance company Sadhana - is a performance waiting for a spine to tingle.
Choreography based on the stunning South Asian dance form Bharata Natyam combines with poetry from Lemn Sissay and the latest science to create something contemporary and compelling in which three dancers explore why we shiver ....whether through pleasure or pain.
After the performance Quentin Cooper leads a Café Scientifique post-show discussion
Sunday 17 October • music workshop • Afrobeat with Lekan Babalola
Music workshop - for aged 14+ Afrobeat with Lekan Babalola
The man the Washington Post called a Wizardry percussionist - Lekan Babalola - leads a workshop for confident musicians aged 14 and over. A custodian of the Afro beat genre of music and a protege of Fela Kuti, Lekan will bring a twist to local Dorset tunes with the Afrobeat groove. If you are into learning new rhythms and grooves, come and enjoy being put through your musical paces!
Monday 18th October • AGM • Dorchester Arts members
Dorchester Arts • 6pm - doors 5.30 • Refreshments served
Come to our AGM and get the inside track on Dorchester Arts. Join our growing team of volunteers and supporters - or just come and have your say.
We’ll be reviewing the past year’s events and showing a short film of this year’s Dorchester Festival
Come to our AGM and get the inside track on Dorchester Arts. Join our growing team of volunteers and supporters - or just come and have your say.
We’ll be reviewing the past year’s events and showing a short film of this year’s Dorchester Festival
Saturday 23 October • Bluesnight • Toby Walker
This fifth appearance at Bluesnights is an indication of both the enduring and growing popularity of U.S. artist Toby Walker. Each time he plays Dorchester Arts he just gets better. Expect classic and contemporary blues, ragtime, gospel, together with tracks from his new instrumental album ‘Speechless’.
www.littletobywalker.com
Mon 25 - Fri 30 October • Dance/drama/puppet making/animation • Half term workshops
October Half Term Workshops for children
Dorchester Arts 10am - 4pm • bring packed lunches • £18 per day (£80 for the week) • Age 7 - 14
Monday 25
Puppet making with Kathy Webb
Design and make a range of puppets for traditional tales - these may be used in the drama day on Tuesday.
Tuesday 26
Create a play in a day
Create a story board, play games, improvise a story and perform at the end of the day. Under the guidance of Dorchester Youth Theatre Leader Jo Simons
Wednesday 27
Dance like Diversity
Learn some basic streetdance moves with professional dancer Katey Leader.
Katey, from the show Elvis Still my Heart, will have you breaking, popping and locking as she takes you through a range of popular hip hop dance moves.
Katey trained at London Contemporary Dance School and during which time worked with Trisha Brown Dance Company, Merce Cunningham Dance Company and performed in an original choreography by Henri Oguike.
Thursday 28 and Friday 29
Create an animation over two days
Create a short animated film from story board to DVD with community film maker Alastair Nisbet. Children will develop a story and bring it to life using a variety of stop frame animation techniques. Parents invited to watch the “rushes” at 4pm on the second day. All children receive a copy on DVD.
Watch previous films at www.nisbetmedia.co.uk
Dorchester Arts 10am - 4pm • bring packed lunches • £18 per day (£80 for the week) • Age 7 - 14
Monday 25
Puppet making with Kathy Webb
Design and make a range of puppets for traditional tales - these may be used in the drama day on Tuesday.
Tuesday 26
Create a play in a day
Create a story board, play games, improvise a story and perform at the end of the day. Under the guidance of Dorchester Youth Theatre Leader Jo Simons
Dance like Diversity
Learn some basic streetdance moves with professional dancer Katey Leader.
Katey, from the show Elvis Still my Heart, will have you breaking, popping and locking as she takes you through a range of popular hip hop dance moves.
Katey trained at London Contemporary Dance School and during which time worked with Trisha Brown Dance Company, Merce Cunningham Dance Company and performed in an original choreography by Henri Oguike.
Create an animation over two days
Create a short animated film from story board to DVD with community film maker Alastair Nisbet. Children will develop a story and bring it to life using a variety of stop frame animation techniques. Parents invited to watch the “rushes” at 4pm on the second day. All children receive a copy on DVD.
Watch previous films at www.nisbetmedia.co.uk
Saturday 13 November • Music • The Great Canadian Songbook
Keith James' personal interpretation through music and film of the music of Joni Mitchell, Neil Young and Leonard Cohen. Includes rare and never transcribed poetry by both Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen that Keith has set to music
http://www.keith-james.com/
‘The UK’s most celebrated and evocative interpreter of golden music’ The Guardian ‘Musicians brave enough to make the music they really believe in. Keith James is one of these’ Bob Harris BBC Radio 2 ‘Some of the most atmospheric and emotive music you will ever hear’ The Independent
Friday 19 November • Theatre • Ill met by Moonlight
Ill Met by Moonlight by Hijinx Theatre
Would you risk your freedom…for love?
Ill Met By Moonlight by Charles Way is a play which will strike chords with people of all ages. It is a haunting and tender love story, a tale of magic and evil spirits.
Set on the border of Wales and England at a time when country people believed in faerie-folk, a descendant of Puck roams the countryside causing mayhem and madness wherever he goes. By his malicious meddling he attempts to thwart the growing love between two lonely country folk with hilarious and sometimes tragic results. Will he be triumphant, or will true love shine through?
Commissioned and first toured in 1994 and again in 2001, Ill Met by Moonlight has received outstanding audience and critical response for both productions including the BBC Arts Award for Company of the Year in 1994.
Saturday 20 November • Bluesnight • Bad Influence
Bad Influence’s first appearance at Bluesnights in May 2008 guaranteed them a return visit. Fronted by Val Cowell – national award-winning vocalist and rhythm guitarist – this band is one of the finest to be found playing anywhere in the U.K. Whether interpreting blues standards or delivering their own contemporary material, Bad Influence are guaranteed to thrill audiences with their dazzling musicianship.
www.badinfluence.org.uk
Friday 26th November • Café Scientifique • Bioethics with John Bryant
John Bryant Professor Emeritus of Cell and Molecular Biology at the University of Exeter discusses the moral maze of modern medicine.
Modern medicine promises much - 'miracle' cures, freedom from genetic disease, repair of damaged or worn-out tissues - but also raises significant moral concerns. Genetic selection of embryos and the use of embryonic stem cells provide excellent examples and will be the main focus of discussions.
Saturday 27 November • Workshop • Drum Circle
Come, play drums and percussion instruments from Africa, Brazil, Cuba, India, the Middle East and North America, in a group with up to 70 people. Let Magic Drum lead you on a musical journey where you will be the performers and the audience at the same time! Instruments are provided but please bring your own if you have one.
Ralph Cree (01305 853479) ralphcreee@yahoo.comGlyn Bush (01305 848026) biggabush@googlemail.com www.magicdrum.org.uk
Saturday 27 November • Music • y’Strel’s Band Little Red Book Tour
Dorchester Arts • 8pm (doors and bar 7.30pm) • £8y’Strel’s Band will be celebrating the last night of their Little Red Book Tour with us at Dorchester Arts. Helen and John will be entertaining the audience with songs that will take many back to their schooldays. These are some of the songs that were ‘suggested by the Board of Education’ and published as The New National Song Book in 1905. But while many of us were happily singing the songs in our junior school days, very few of us knew the background to these marvellous songs – so expect an evening of shock and revelation!
November 23, 24, and 26th • school workshops • Lantern Making
Lantern Making Workshops with Heidi Steller
Three days of workshops in local schools - to book call 01305 266926
Three days of workshops in local schools - to book call 01305 266926
Wednesday 1 December • Casterbridge Christmas Cracker
Christmas Cracker procession through Dorchester Town Centre • late night shopping from 5.30pm • Procession starts 6.30pm at the Corn Exchange
Friday 3 December • Children’s Theatre • Malina’s Dream
£22 family/ £20 family members
Breath-taking puppets, live music and a specially commissioned soundtrack create an unforgettable experience of magical theatre for everyone over 4 years in Angel Heart Children’s Theatre production of Malina’s Dream.
A show about friendship and finding the way between two worlds.
Malina is an excitable young girl who lives with Grandpa in the land of the midnight sun. Into her frozen world comes a dream and in that dream comes a stranger, whose ship is crushed in the ice. When Malina discovers her dream has become real she knows only she can save the stranger’s life…with just a little help from Grandpa and his magic drum!
A warm-hearted tale inspired by true-life encounters between 19th century Scottish sailors and the Inuit communities of the Arctic.
www.angelhearttheatre.com
Friday 10th December • Poetry • Glamour of Water, Grammar of Rocks
Dorchester Arts • 8pm (doors and bar 7.30pm) • £8/£6
New poems and prose from the Jurassic Coast with Pam Zinneman-Hope, Kate Scott and Paul Hyland. Glamour of Water, Grammar of Rocks has grown out of a National Trust residency celebrating the Poetry Society’s centenary.
Pam, Kate and Paul have joined forces to create a diverse, dynamic and evolving body of work reflecting the physical and social history of the Jurassic Coast - and reflecting possibilities for its future.
New poems and prose from the Jurassic Coast with Pam Zinneman-Hope, Kate Scott and Paul Hyland. Glamour of Water, Grammar of Rocks has grown out of a National Trust residency celebrating the Poetry Society’s centenary.
Pam, Kate and Paul have joined forces to create a diverse, dynamic and evolving body of work reflecting the physical and social history of the Jurassic Coast - and reflecting possibilities for its future.
Saturday 11 December • Bluesnight • Ian Briggs and Jim Crawford
Ian Briggs (harmonica/vocals) and Jim Crawford (guitar/vocals) are veterans of the U.K. blues scene. Yet their take on the music, whether traditional or contemporary, is always fresh. Individually, they are superb musicians; together they are one of the most engaging and entertaining duos around.
www.ianbriggsharmonica.com
www.jimcrawford.org.uk
Friday 17 December • Music • Christmas Night at the Corn Exchange
Dorchester Corn Exchange • 8pm (doors 7.30pm)
Join us for a festive celebration. Details waiting to be confirmed - please check back soon!
Join us for a festive celebration. Details waiting to be confirmed - please check back soon!
Saturday 8 January 2011 • Bluesnight • Thomas Ford & the Dirty Harmonys
This six-piece Devon-based band is led by vocalist, harp player and slide guitarist Thomas Ford.
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