ARTS

ARTS By Julie Locke

VISUAL ART

During August and September, Bruton Art Society’s 67th Annual Exhibition will be online at www. brutonartsociety.co.uk. View some of the finest art in the southwest from the Society’s professional and amateur artist membership. All work in the exhibition will have gone through a selection process and will be for sale. Bruton Art Society has about 230 members which include amateur and professional artists. Thinking of joining? Membership costs just £15 per annum. For general enquiries, email secretarybrutonart@gmail.com. From Tuesday 1 to Saturday 19 September from 10.00am to 2.00pm at Ilminster Arts Centre, there is an exhibition ‘Creative Caboodle’. This is a mixed exhibition with six artists, including painting, sculpture and the ancient art of kirigami (a variation of origami that involves cutting paper, rather than folding, and typically does not use glue). Gallery is open daily, Tuesday to Saturday. Box Office 01460 54973. www. themeetinghouse.org.uk.

Creative Caboodle Exhibition

From Saturday 5 to Tuesday 29 September at David Simon Contemporary, Castle Cary, there is an exhibition ‘Fragment’ by Julia Cooper. For her fourth solo exhibition at this gallery, Julia has completed a remarkable series of compositions inspired by the south coast of Cornwall. Whilst drawing on common shapes of harbours, headlands and coves, these paintings are abstracted and semi-figurative. Julia constantly renders down her familiar visual territory, reducing the landscape to the simplest forms. Gallery opening times: Monday to Saturday 10.00am to 5.30pm (closed Wednesday and Sunday). For further information, phone 01963 359102 or visit www.davidsimoncontemporary. com. From Saturday 5 to Tuesday 29 September at David Simon Contemporary, Castle Cary, there is an exhibition of ceramics by Emily-Kriste Wilcox. EmilyKriste creates vessels of a very individual and distinctive form: slab-built in earthenware, each piece raised up on an inset foot, joints not smoothed away and the rim of each piece formed from a separate length of clay. There is something painterly and expressive about the decoration of each piece. Using a cool colour palette of blues, whites and greens, her ceramics reflect the colours of the Cornish coast and exude a freshness with broad bold layers of overlapping glazes. Gallery opening times: Monday to Saturday 10.00am to 5.30pm (closed Wednesday and Sunday). For further information, phone 01963 359102 or visit www.davidsimoncontemporary. com. Until Saturday 12 September from 10.00am at ACEarts, Somerton, there is an exhibition entitled ‘Somerset’ by Jenny Graham. The series of large paintings of the five districts of Somerset was created especially for this exhibition space, and includes etchings and assemblages relating to this magnificent county. Exhibition opening times for August: Thursday to Saturday 10.00am to 1.00pm and 2.00pm to 5.00pm. In September, the exhibition will also open on Wednesdays. For further information, phone 01458 273008 or visit www.acearts. co.uk. From Saturday 19 September to Sunday 4 October, Somerset Art Works will hold its annual Somerset Open Studios event online. It will be a digital extravaganza, including a special 16-day programme of online workshops, talks, studio tours and events! Through an interactive brochure, visitors will be able to curate their own tours of artists’ works, see into studios and hear how they develop their work through films. Audiences will be invited to get hands on and interact with artists through a programme of talks, workshops, demonstrations and artists’ films hosted on Somerset Art Works’ website. Look out for the online guide in late August. For further information, visit www.somersetartworks.org.uk. From Saturday 19 September to Sunday 24 October from 10.00am at ACEarts, Somerton, there is an exhibition entitled ‘Towards the Tipping Point’ by Rebecca Bruton and Lydia Needle. Environmental textile artists present an exploration of consumption versus the earth’s finite resources. Exhibition opening times: Thursday to Saturday 10.00am to 1.00pm and 2.00pm to 5.00pm. For further information, phone 01458 273008 or visit www. acearts.co.uk.

Towards the Tipping Point Exhibition

From Tuesday 22 September to Saturday 10 October from 10.00am to 2.00pm at Ilminster Arts Centre, there is an exhibition ‘Same Skies’. Vanessa Worrall and Vicki Gillow, two painters from Cornwall and Devon, exhibit works influenced by the landscape of the west country, its wild seas and skies. Gallery is open daily, Tuesday to Saturday. Box Office 01460 54973. www.themeetinghouse. org.uk. Until end of September from 10.00am to 4.00pm in The Hanging Chapel, Langport, is a new Pop-up Gallery. The spectacular thirteenth century Hanging Chapel has been made available as the backdrop for the Hanging Gallery by kind permission of the Portcullis Lodge of Freemasons and Langport Town Trust. The gallery showcases the work of David Sims, a resident of Langport, who has been nominated for British Landscaper Photographer of the Year 2020 in two categories. The pieces are inspired by the wildlife and light of the Somerset Levels. His work is created on different mediums, including metal, aluminium, wood and paper. Viewing is by appointment; only two people maximum and social distancing at all times. Book via Facebook or Instagram or by phone (07850 997671). The Wild West collection is now available to order via the Facebook online shop.

ACEarts Virtual Exhibitions

‘In Search of Northern Soul’ by abstract artist Leonard Green explores the energetic movement in the dances related to Northern Soul music. Powerful dynamic compositions overlaid with gestural drawing. Jenni Dutton’s ‘The Dementia Darnings’ explores the effects of ageing and dementia using wool and thread. These current virtual exhibitions can be viewed at www.theabsentgallery.co.uk/ acearts. ACE stands for Art Care Education. As a charity they aim to provide art and creative activity to inspire, empower and enable people to develop and grow.

MUSIC

Concerts in the West (CinW) is launching an online series of concerts. The website will be updated with full details about the series (look for the

information under Upcoming Concerts). These concerts will be streamed in August through to October to give the audience a taster of future live concerts in CinW’s local venues. CinW would be very grateful for support towards the cost of putting on this series. There is an opportunity to give a donation via Just Giving and CAF (Charities Air Foundation). For wonderful music and dazzling performances, visit www.concertsinthewest.org. On Thursday 27 August at 6.00pm, Concerts in the West presents the third concert of its Online Series. Mariela Shaker (violin) and Riyad Nicolas (piano) will perform works by Schubert, Mozart, Maias Alyamni. To watch the performance, go to www.concertsinthewest.org/ events then click on the link to Facebook or YouTube.

Mariela Shaker

On Thursday 3 September at 6.00pm, Concerts in the West presents the fourth concert of its Online Series. Colin Scobie (violin), Manuel Vioque-Judde (viola) and Zéphyrin Rey-Bellet (cello) will perform Dohnányi’s Serenade in C and other works. To watch the performance, go to www.concertsinthewest.org/ events then click on the link to Facebook or YouTube. On Monday 7 September at 6.00pm, Concerts in the West presents the fifth concert of its Online Series. Savitri Grier (violin) and Olivier Robin (violin) will perform works by Bartók, Leclair, Wieniawski and Pleyel. To watch the performance, go to www.concertsinthewest.org/ events then click on the link to Facebook or YouTube. On Thursday 10 September at 6.00pm, Concerts in the West presents the sixth concert of its Online Series. The Linos Piano Trio will perform works by Debussy, CPE Bach and Beethoven. The trio comprises Prach Boondiskulchok (piano), Konrad Elias Trostmann (violin) and Vladimir Waltham (cello). To watch the performance, go to www.concertsinthewest.org/ events then click on the link to Facebook or YouTube.

BRUTON ART SOCIETY 67th Annual Exhibition

AffordableArt fromthe bestRegionalArtists Opens 15 August online only - brutonartsociety.co.uk

Linos Piano Trio

On Saturday 12 September at 2.30pm and 7.00pm at Westlands Entertainment Venue, Yeovil, there Is a screening of Jonas Kaufmann: My Vienna, a deeply personal tribute by the star tenor to the world-famous SECOND STREAMED EVENT Roundwell Street, South Petherton, Somerset TA13 5AA melodies from the birthplace of waltz and operetta. Filmed TO SUPPORT THE DAVID HALL SECOND STREAMED EVENT TO SUPPORT THE DAVID HALL live in the magical setting of the Following the success of its first on-line concert in June, Wiener Konzerthaus, the concert features popular Viennese Petherton Arts Trust will stream a You Tube performance by Phil Beer on Saturday 19 September, starting at 8pm. Similar Following the success of its first on-line concert in June, Petherton Arts Trust will stream a You Tube performance by Phil Beer on Saturday 19 September, starting at 8pm. Similar to the previous event –music from Die Fledermaus to the previous event – which featured Crewkerne-based which featured Crewkerne-based singer, Reg Meuross –the cost is £15 per household, but this time and Wienerblut by Johann there singer, Reg Meuross – the cost is £15 per household, but this will be no limit on places. Strauss and Franz Lehár’s The time there will be no limit on places. Ordinarily, Phil’s performance would take place in South Petherton at The David Hall –which is owned Merry Widow, plus many of the and run by Petherton Arts Trust (PAT). However, as the venue is currently partially closed due to the classic songs inspired by the Ordinarily, Phil’s performance would take place in South corona virus, PAT has chosen an online option. city. Jonas Kaufmann performs Petherton at The David Hall – which is owned and run by The talented multi-instrumentalist Phil Beer is renowned as one half of the award-winning duo, Show of with the Prague Philharmonia under the baton of Maestro Petherton Arts Trust (PAT). However, as the venue is currently partially closed due to the corona virus, PAT has chosen an Hands, and is equally in demand for his solo shows. Phil has become something of a national treasure on the Folk, Roots and Acoustic music scene, and is a popular regular performer at The David Hall. Jochen Rieder and is joined by online option. Tickets can be booked via The David Hall website - www.thedavidhall.org.uk - and on 19 September, the internationally acclaimed The talented multi-instrumentalist Phil Beer is renowned as one everyone who has paid will receive an email with a private link to You Tube. PAT will close applications at 12noon on the day. At 8pm, Phil Beer will perform two 45-minute sets, with a 10-minute interval. soprano Rachel Willis-Sørensen. half of the award-winning duo, Show of Hands, and is equally Plus, after the gig, Phil will be available for a Q&A session, via Zoom. Tickets £8.50 to £14.00. Box Office 01935 422884. in demand for his solo shows. Phil has become something of a national treasure on the Folk, Roots and Acoustic music scene, “Our first on-line event was a sell-out and we are certain that Phil Beer’s gig will be just as successful,” said Emma Westerman, Administrator at The David Hall. “People clearly enjoy being able to see a On Monday 14 September and is a popular regular performer at The David Hall. performance in the comfort of their own home –and they pay the same amount, no matter how many people are watching at the time.” at 6.00pm, Concerts in the West presents the seventh Tickets can be booked via The David Hall website - www. thedavidhall.org.uk - and on 19 September, everyone who has With the doors of The David Hall closed to PAT’s usual live audiences, there is no regular income to help maintain The Hall, which is a Grade 11 listed building. PAT is still waiting to hear details of how much the concert of its Online Series. The paid will receive an email with a private link to You Tube. PAT government is offering to venues like The David Hall and meanwhile, funding is vital. News of events Askew Sisters, Emily (fiddle, will close applications at 12noon on the day. At 8pm, Phil Beer cello, voice) and Hazel (voice, will perform two 45-minute sets, with a 10-minute interval. melodeon, concertina), rework Plus, after the gig, Phil will be available for a Q&A session, via and reinterpret English folk Zoom. music songs and dance tunes, from rhythmic foot-stomping “Our first on-line event was a sell-out and we are certain tunes to powerful interpretations that Phil Beer’s gig will be just as successful,” said Emma of songs and ballads. To Westerman, Administrator at The David Hall. “People clearly watch the performance, go to enjoy being able to see a performance in the comfort of their www.concertsinthewest.org/ own home – and they pay the same amount, no matter how events then click on the link to many people are watching at the time.” Facebook or YouTube. With the doors of The David Hall closed to PAT’s usual live On Thursday 17 September audiences, there is no regular income to help maintain The at 6.00pm, Concerts in the Hall, which is a Grade 11 listed building. PAT is still waiting to West presents the eighth hear details of how much the government is offering to venues concert of its Online Series. like The David Hall and meanwhile, funding is vital. News of The Consone Quartet will events aimed at raising funds while The David Hall is closed perform a programme of works can be found on the website – www.thedavidhall.org.uk by Beethoven. The quartet

comprises Agata Daraskaite Roberts (flute), Luba Tunnicliffe all parliamentary debates. On a and January 1949. Originally (violin), Magdalena Loth-Hill (viola) and Oliver Wass (harp). summer’s morning in 1988, Tory written in French and first (violin), Elitsa Bogdanova (viola) To watch the performance, go politician Robin Hesketh returns performed in Paris in January and George Ross (cello). To to www.concertsinthewest.org/ home to the idyllic Cotswold 1953, the play was controversial watch the performance, go to events then click on the link to house he shares with his wife from the start, and opinion www.concertsinthewest.org/ Facebook or YouTube. of 30 years, Diana. But all is not has been divided ever since; events then click on the link to Facebook or YouTube. On Saturday 19 September at 8.00pm, enjoy ‘Live at Home with Phil Beer’ via YouTube from the comfort of home. Like all of Phil’s performances, this gig will be full of top-quality musicianship, together with a great deal of wit and humour. The first set lasts 45 minutes, followed by a 10-minute interval and then the second set starts again at 8.55pm. Phil will be available for an optional Q&A session after the gig via Yeovil Chamber Choir seeks new Musical Director for September 2020. The Choir, which has about 20 singers from Somerset and Dorset, is an amateur mixedvoice choir with a good local reputation. Rehearsals observe the academic calendar and members perform concerts at least three times a year as well as participating in other events, such as the annual Light Up a Life service for St Margaret’s Hospice. The repertoire is broad, including both accompanied as blissful as it seems. Diana has a stinking hangover, a fox is destroying the garden, and secrets are being dug up all over the place. As the day draws on, what starts as gentle ribbing and the familiar rhythms of marital scrapping quickly turns to blood-sport. Don’t miss this witty and devastating portrait of the governing class. Writer: Simon Woods. Director: Simon Godwin. Cast: Lindsay Duncan, Alex Jennings. Tickets £11.50 to £17.00. Box Office 01935 422884. however, in 1990 the National Theatre voted it ‘the most significant play of the 20th Century’. Bring seating and a picnic! Ticket price £10 includes a free drink, a programme and a raffle ticket. Tickets available from www.aps-sherborne.co.uk, 07585 278722 or at the gate. On Tuesday 15 September at 7.00pm at The Bishop’s Palace and Gardens, Wells, there is a performance of Shakespeare’s most famous love story ‘Romeo and Juliet’. However, the wellestablished theatre troupe, The

Zoom. Full details of how to and a cappella music. Anyone On Thursday 10 September Handlebards, will be giving this access the gig, together with with previous experience of at 2.30pm and 7.00pm at classic tale a unique spin, so the links will be provided on the choral conducting who is Westlands Entertainment Venue, audience is guaranteed lots of afternoon of the gig. No need interested in the position should Yeovil, there Is a screening of laughs as well as tears in their to download any software for visit www.yeovilchamberchoir. ‘The Lehman Trilogy’. This is the slick 90-minute production. the performance. Tickets £15 org or phone Vee Cockerell story, told in three parts, of a Doors open at 6.00pm. For (price per household, allowing (Chairman) 01935 882604 or family and a company, Lehman all performances, audience any number of people in one Elizabeth Gowers (Secretary) Brothers, that changed the members will be well spaced, residence to watch the gig). 01935 425383 for further details. world. On a cold September and will need to bring their

Box Office for this event will Applications must be received morning in 1844 a young man own low-backed seating or close at 12.00pm on Saturday by Monday 31 August 2020. The from Bavaria stands on a New rugs. Picnics and drinks are 19 September. For further Choir is a registered educational York dockside dreaming of a encouraged, and the shows will information, phone 01460 charity and a member of Making new life in the new world. He go ahead whatever the weather, 240340. www.thedavidhall.com. Music (the National Federation is joined by his two brothers so be prepared! Tickets £18,

On Monday 21 September at 6.00pm, Concerts in the West presents the ninth concert of its Online Series. Katharine Dain (soprano) and Sam Armstrong (piano) will perform works by Debussy, Dutilleux, Messiaen and Saariaho. To watch the performance, go to www.concertsinthewest.org/ events then click on the link to Facebook or YouTube. of Music Societies). PERFORMANCE ArtsReach’s Digital Diary and the ArtsReach YouTube playlist will be regularly updated on the website. The page is constantly changing so keep checking back and keep sharing it. Past performances can also be viewed at www.artsreach.co.uk/ whats-on. and an American epic begins. 163 years later, the firm they established spectacularly collapses into bankruptcy and triggers the largest financial crisis in history. This critically acclaimed play will be broadcast live from London’s West End as part of National Theatre Live’s 10th Birthday season. ‘Engrossing play and an acting masterclass’ (Guardian). Writer: Stefano Massini. Director: Sam child £10, small number of key workers tickets available £10. Contact 01749 988111. www. bishopspalace.org.uk.

On Thursday 24 September On Wednesday 26 August at Mendes. Cast: Simon Russell NT Live: King Lear at 6.00pm, Concerts in the West presents the tenth concert of its Online Series. Emma Halnan and Eblana String Trio will perform works by Mozart, Sibelius and Andrew Norman. Emma plays flute and the trio members are Jonathan Martindale (violin), Lucy Nolan (viola) and Peggy Nolan (cello). To watch the performance, go to www.concertsinthewest.org/ events then click on the link to Facebook or YouTube. 6.00pm at The Bishop’s Palace and Gardens, Wells, there is a storytelling evening with seasoned storyteller Beth Webb. ‘Gawain and the Green Knight’, a medieval tale of blood and honour, is aimed at adults and will be told over the course of an hour by the terrace near the Rose Garden. Doors open at 5.30pm. Tickets £15, palace members and key workers £12. Contact 01749 988111. www. bishopspalace.org.uk. Beale, Adam Godley, Ben Miles. Tickets £11.50 to £17.00. Box Office 01935 422884. On Saturday 12 September at NT Live: The Lehman Trilogy On Thursday 17 September at 7.00pm at Westlands Entertainment Venue, Yeovil, there Is a screening of ‘King Lear’. This broadcast, captured live from London’s West End in 2018, is a contemporary retelling of Shakespeare’s tender, violent, moving and shocking play. Considered by many to be the greatest tragedy ever written, King Lear sees two ageing fathers – one a King, one his courtier – reject the children who

On Monday 28 September at On Thursday 27 August 2.30pm at Paddock Gardens, truly love them. Their blindness 6.00pm, Concerts in the West at 2.30pm and 7.00pm at Sherborne, Amateur Players unleashes a tornado of pitiless presents the eleventh concert Westlands Entertainment Venue, of Sherborne present ‘Waiting ambition and treachery, as family of its Online Series. Pelléas Yeovil, there Is a screening of for Godot’ by Samuel Beckett, and state are plunged into a

Ensemble will perform works by ‘Hansard’ captured live in 2019 directed by Jerome Swan. violent power struggle with

Rameau, Bissill and Ravel. The from London’s National Theatre. ‘Waiting for Godot’ was written bitter ends. An ‘extraordinarily ensemble members are Henry Hansard; the official report of in Paris between October 1948 moving portrayal’ of King Lear 22 To advertise – 01935 424724 • email: info@theconduitmagazine.co.uk • www.theconduitmagazine.co.uk

by Ian McKellen (Independent). Director: Jonathan Munby. Cast: Ian McKellen, Sinéad Cusack, Danny Webb. Tickets £11.50 to £17.00. Box Office 01935 422884. On Thursday 24 September at 2.30pm and 7.00pm at Westlands Entertainment Venue, Yeovil, there Is a screening of ‘Cyrano de Bergerac’. James McAvoy returns to the stage in an inventive new adaptation of Cyrano de Bergerac, broadcast live from London’s West End. Fierce with a pen and notorious in combat, Cyrano almost has it all - if only he could win the heart of his true love Roxane. He has just one big problem: a nose as huge as his heart. Will a society engulfed by narcissism get the better of Cyrano or can his mastery of language set Roxane’s world alight? This classic play will be brought to life with linguistic ingenuity to celebrate Cyrano’s powerful and resonant resistance against overwhelming odds. Writer: Simon Woods. Director: Jamie Lloyd. Cast: James McAvoy. Tickets £11.50 to £17.00. Box Office 01935 422884.

CHILDREN

On Sunday 30 August at 5.00pm and 7.30pm at Castle Gardens, Sherborne, outdoor theatre returns with a performance of Kenneth Grahame’s ‘The Wind in the Willows’. Critically-acclaimed theatre company, Illyria, promises big laughs, classic characters and plenty of family fun. With two live performances set to be staged beneath the summer sky, children and grown-ups alike can enjoy the adventures of Mole, Rat, Mr Toad and Mr Badger, brought to life in Illyria’s inimitable style. Following the latest social distancing guidelines for open air theatre, tickets will be limited to 120 per performance. Audience members are encouraged to bring picnics, blankets, seating and warm clothes, as family and friends come together for an evening of raucous comedy in the walled garden. Doors open at 4.00pm and 6.30pm respectively. Tickets £10, child (0 to 16) £7.50. Tickets now on sale from Castle Gardens and online via www.illyria.co.uk. On Saturday 5 September from 10.30am to 12.30pm at Ilminster Arts Centre, there is a ‘Children’s Art Chest’ session with Margaret Micklewright. Texture, rubbings and collage: use crayons and pencil to explore textures that may be found around the Arts Centre or from Margaret’s bag of interesting things! £6 per session (materials included). Age 8+. To book, phone 01460 54973. www.themeetinghouse. org.uk. On Saturday 19 September and Saturday 26 September from 10.30am to 12.30pm at Ilminster Arts Centre, there is a ‘Step into Art’ session with Heather Ford. Create exciting artworks inspired by famous paintings. Each workshop will teach how to look at works of art and what is required to create a masterpiece of one’s own. Different techniques and materials for each workshop: charcoal and chalk, pastels, painting, collage, scrafitti and mixed media. £12 per session (materials included). Age 9+. Restricted numbers. For more information and to book, email heatheraford@gmail.com. www. themeetinghouse.org.uk. ‘My Summer at the Palace’ The Bishop’s Palace, Wells, is running a photography competition for children over the summer holidays. Children are invited to submit their best photo on the theme of ‘My Summer at the Palace’. The photos must be taken within the grounds or buildings of the Palace, and there will be three separate age categories for entries; 1 to 4 yrs, 5 to 10 yrs and 11 to 15 yrs. The winners and runners up will have their work featured in an exhibition to be held in the Stable Yard Room at the Palace at the end of the holidays, and the winners from each category will also be featured on the Palace website. To enter, families can post/ tag the image to the Palace Facebook or Instagram account with the hashtag #MySummer or email it to info@bishopspalace. org.uk.

MOVIES AROUND THE TOWNS AND VILLAGES

FROZEN II (U)

Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, Olaf and Sven leave Arendelle to travel to an ancient autumn-bound forest of an enchanted land. They set out to find the origin of Elsa’s powers in order to save their kingdom. A story inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s ‘The Snow Queen’.

SHOWING AT Yeovil on Saturday 29 August, Westlands Entertainment

Venue, 11.00am, 2.30pm. Tickets £5.00 to £10.00. Box Office 01935 422884.

Yeovil on Sunday 30 August, Westlands Entertainment

Venue, 2.30pm. Tickets £5.00 to £10.00. Box Office 01935 422884.

THE GREATEST SHOWMAN (PG)

PT Barnum (Hugh Jackman) is a man with little more than ambition to his name. When the company he works for goes bust, he decides to leave his mediocre life behind, and takes his family on a journey that would lead to establishing the foundations of show business.

SHOWING AT Yeovil on Wednesday 26 August, Westlands Entertainment

Venue, 11.00am, 2.30pm, 7.00pm. Tickets £5.00 to £10.00. Box Office 01935 422884.

Yeovil on Thursday 27 August, Westlands Entertainment

Venue, 11.00am. Tickets £6.50 to £10.00. Box Office 01935 422884.

Yeovil on Friday 28 August, Westlands Entertainment

Venue, 11.00am, 2.30pm, 7.00pm. Tickets £5.00 to £10.00. Box Office 01935 422884.

WISE CHILDREN (15)

A big, bawdy tangle of theatrical joy and heartbreak, Wise Children is a celebration of show business, family, forgiveness and hope, with a generous dash of Shakespeare, scandal and mischief, taking the audience on a rollercoaster ride of emotion.

SHOWING AT Yeovil on Wednesday 2 September, Westlands

Entertainment Venue, 2.30pm, 7.00pm. Tickets £8.50 to £14.00. Box Office 01935 422884.

Yeovil on Thursday 3 September, Westlands Entertainment

Venue, 2.30pm, 7.00pm. Tickets £8.50 to £14.00. Box Office 01935 422884.

MOVIOLA shows films in village halls and other community venues across Dorset and parts of Somerset. Some of these venues are hoping to restart soon. Please contact your local Moviola venue to find out when the next show is going ahead (to find contact details, click the venue name on the website). To find out more, visit www.moviola.org. To advertise – 01935 424724 • email: info@theconduitmagazine.co.uk • www.theconduitmagazine.co.uk

SOMERSTOCK FEELINGS

By Ross Owen Williams, Presenter on Radio Ninesprings, 104.5fm Many from the area know about the long-running Somerton Arts Festival – in fact, it was one of the first regional events I personally attended after moving to the area in 2013. My band was booked as the support group for a Queen Tribute act held one of the evenings of the 10-day event, and I was impressed with the layout and organisation (and the Freddie impersonator was pretty good too!). Fast forward a number of years and during conversations with Nevertheless’ Jon Sackett about his band and their tremendous original tracks, it emerged that Jon is involved in the organisation of both the Arts Festival and proverbial ‘spin off’ event, Somerstock. Putting two and two together, we realised that we must have met way back in 2014, long before we met in 2019 after I began on air with Ninesprings. A very small world indeed! The idea behind the aforementioned Somerstock, held for the first time and to great acclaim in 2019, was to cap off the Arts Festival with a full day music event rather than spacing out the acts one or two per day in the evenings. It’s a family friendly affair, free for children under 12 and with reduced rates for older children, students and seniors, with a silent disco, face painting, hair braiding, a bouncy castle, plenty of food and drink stations and then, of course, there’s the music. Running from 11am to midnight over three stages, an impressive 18 acts performed in 2019, unquestionably giving the audience some serious bang for their buck with performers from across the South West, and a chart topping headline attraction (last year was Toploader). Understandably, the 2020 event has had to be postponed due to the pandemic, but tickets already purchased for this year’s event are valid for Somerstock 2021, which will be held on Saturday 10 July and most of the bands scheduled for 2020, including headline act The Christians (Harvest for the World), Jack Humphries, Al O’Kane, the Legendary SnakeSnakeSnake and many others, have confirmed the new date. If you’ve not got your tickets yet for this exciting, family-friendly event, please visit somerstock.com or email contact@ somerstock.com and support both regional arts and our wonderful local music scene. Ross Owen Williams presents ‘Lunch With Ross’ every weekday from midday to 2pm, including a local musical spotlight segment at 12.50pm, as well as The Sunday Spotlight from 4pm to 6pm each Sunday.

One of the most evocative images of the Somerset Levels are paintings and photographs of pollarded willow trees emerging from the landscape in early spring morning mist. Old willow trees once a common SHOPPING IN sight lining the ditches pollarded, ‘beheaded’ about from the ground. A new MILBORNE are 8ft head of straight branches grows from this point and can be harvested when PORT out the branches become thick enough. A few pollarded By Dr Lesley Wray avenues can still be seen as one drives across the Levels. With shops now re-opening it will be interesting to see which Throughout history civilizations have used baskets manage to survive the lockdown. Shops have always been at the from cradle to grave. Basket makers and withy-beds mercy of changing circumstances and shopping habits. Since the were common place in communities. Hundreds of rise in personal transport from the 1960s, through the growth of years ago, one of Sherborne’s withy-beds used to be the chain stores; and later the advent of internet shopping; shops where the International College now stands, at the have had to cope with falling returns and rising costs. junction of Marston Magna and Sandford Orcas Roads. There remains some evidence of old withy beds and Milborne Port began as a shopping centre. Its name reflects this; Port is an Anglo-Saxon word for market, and the market here was the most profitable in Somerset. Craftsmen would visit wealthy customers to get work, while the less wealthy would visit the craftsmen’s homes to choose goods. Poorer customers would go to the market where journeymen (those who had finished an apprenticeship but not yet gained the experience to be craftsmen) would sell their wares alongside other traders.

In Milborne Port the market place was the triangle now formed by the A30, South Street and Thimble Lane. In 1720 a market house was built with a vaulted cellar, an arcaded ground floor, and a room above; this is now the Town Hall. With the advent of the gloving industry in the nineteenth century, Milborne Port supported a wide range of shops, and older residents who remember the 1930s can recall that there were still around forty retailers of everything from boots and shoes to fish and chips. However, changes to shopping habits and the closure of the glove factories meant many of these disappeared.

Even in 1980 Milborne Port still had a number of shops. The London Road Stores stood at the corner of East Street, followed by the Queens Head and Monica’s Greengrocers. At the bottom of North Street was Castle Insurance with a sub-branch of a Building Society. Dominic’s the Hairdresser was on the Weighbridge, along with Jean’s Haberdashery - a fascinating shop supplying everything from needles and thread to a summer dress. On that side of the High Street, the Doctor’s surgery was on the corner of South Street, followed by the Newsagents and the Butchers; then another General Store, the Chemist, and a Bakery with wonderful aromas of fresh baked bread.

On the opposite side of the High Street, the Library was beside the Kings Head (now the Tippling Philosopher) which was followed by the Post Office, then the Bank, another Butchers shop, and finally Gear’s Ironmongers. There were other shops, noticeably the Co-op, around the village. However, with easy transport and Sherborne closeby, many of these shops closed long before lockdown.

Today the Co-op has shown its support by building a larger store on the western edge of the village, and the Garage offers a small supermarket and a Post Office Counter, and Wayne Pullen remains an excellent Butcher. There is still a Chemist, a Newsagent, and an excellent Fish and Chip shop, and we still have two pubs and a social club.

If you would like to know more about the village email: les_ wray@yahoo.co.uk to organise a personal tour of the village museum.