29 minute read
ARTS Exhibitions, Music & Movies
By Julie LockeARTS
VISUAL ART
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Until Wednesday 22 December from 9.30am to 5.00pm at The Jerram Gallery, Sherborne, there will be a show of new work from The Small Paintings Group. This will provide a wonderful variety of choice of subject matter and styles. Open: Tuesday to Saturday. For more information, visit www.jerramgallery.com or call 01935 815261.
Until Thursday 23 December from 9.30am at Ilminster Arts Centre, there is a Christmas Craft Collection. A huge selection of handmade gifts made by crafts people from the West Country – something for everyone! Free entry. All welcome. Open: Tuesday to Friday 9.30am to 4.00pm and Saturday 9.30am to 3.00pm (closes at 1.00pm on the final day of the exhibition). For more information, call 01460 54973 or visit www. ilminsterartscentre.com.
Until Friday 24 December from 10.00am to 5.00pm at ACEarts, Somerton, there is an exhibition ‘The Celestial Self’ by Lydia Carter. These works have been created using a range of media and working surfaces, and reflect on aspects of gender, intimacy, and the natural sublime. Though these pieces primarily take inspiration from mythology, they offer an insight into human limitation and the value of mortality. Open: Tuesday to Saturday. For further information, call 01458 273008 or visit www. acearts.co.uk.
Until Friday 24 December from 10.00am to 5.00pm at ACEarts, Somerton, there is an Artisan Christmas Exhibition. ‘Gifted’ will showcase contemporary craft from the best designermakers based in the South West. Unique, handmade, locally designed and produced gifts for Christmas. Open: Tuesday to Saturday. For further information, call 01458 273008 or visit www. acearts.co.uk.
Until Friday 24 December from 10.00am to 5.00pm at Courthouse Gallery, Somerton, there is an exhibition of authenticated lithographs and prints by Henri Matisse. This exhibition of Matisse lithographs comprises work this innovative modern artist completed during his later years as he developed his artwork. Open: Wednesday to Saturday. www. courthousegallery.uk. Until Monday 3 January from 9.00am to 6.00pm at Hauser & Wirth Somerset, Bruton, there is an exhibition ‘Thoughts Unseen’ by Thomas J Price. The artist’s inaugural exhibition with Hauser & Wirth in Somerset presents two decades of conceptual enquiry spanning film, early sculpture and the artist’s largest figurative bronze to date. His personal approach readdresses historic narratives and inverts a sense of familiarity, distilling signifiers of status to question the mechanisms in place that reinforce cultural values.
Until Friday 14 January, registrations are open for Dorset Art Weeks 2022. Dorset Art Weeks will run from Saturday 14 to Saturday 29 May. From individual studios to galleries, workshops to collectives, popups to projects, the event caters for all tastes and interests in the visual arts, covering a wide
Somerton Music & Arts Festival welcomes back its Art & Photography Exhibition
The Somerton Art & Photography exhibition returns to the town next May after an absence of two years.
The exhibition, which is part of the annual Somerton Music & Arts Festival, will open in the Parish Rooms on 28 May and runs until 4 June, opening daily from 10am to 4pm except Sunday.
Alongside the exhibition, the festival will be hosting talks and interactive workshops for all ages in the Pinney Room within the Parish Rooms throughout the week.
The exhibition provides an opportunity for all amateur photographers, artists, Sculptors and needleworkers to display their work, and exhibit entries will be accepted until 13 May. However, space is limited so exhibitors are limited to four pieces in each category and are advised to submit their entries as soon as possible.
The exhibition is free to the public and many of the exhibits will be for sale. Visitors will be able to vote for their favourite piece in each category and the artist/photographer in each category with the most votes at the end of the exhibition will receive a certificate of merit.
With 500 visitors and 100 artists exhibiting, this is a popular event providing opportunity for artists and visitors.
Further information and exhibitor application forms can be found at www. somertonartsfestival.co.uk/ exhibit.
Art & Photography Exhibition
EXHIBIT YOUR WORK!
Amateur photographers, artists, sculptors and needle-workers are invited to display their work at the Parish Rooms, Somerton from 28th May to 4th June.
(exhibition closed Sunday 29th May)
HOW TO ENTER
It’s easy to submit your work. Just fill in our online entry form and make the appropriate payment.Entries will be accepted until 13th May. www.somertonartsfestival. co.uk/exhibitorinfo
“ Categories... Sculpture Up to four pieces of work Entry charge: £2.00 per item Needlework Up to four pieces of work Entry charge: £2.00 per item Framed Artwork/ Canvasses/Photography Up to four framed pictures or canvasses Entry charge: £2.00 per item Unmounted / mounted Artwork & Photography Up to five unframed items Entry charge: £1.00 per item Cards Entry charge: £1.00 per item ..................................... Full terms and conditions of entry on website. Please contact Jackie on 07778 006543 or email art@somertonartsfestival.co.uk if you have any queries. For full details of categories, max size and display requirements, visit our website
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variety of art forms. It’s a great opportunity to see artists’ ideas at their source and to appreciate the breadth and depth of creative talent in the county. For artists thinking of taking part or needing to reregister, details are available on the Dorset Art Weeks website. For more information, contact producer@ dorsetartweeks.co.uk or call 07598 138295.
From Tuesday 4 to Saturday 29 January from 9.30am at Ilminster Arts Centre, start the new year with an exhibition of the prize winners’ artwork from the 2021 Open Art Competition and Exhibition. The exhibition will include paintings and sculpture. Free entry. All welcome. Open: Tuesday to Friday 9.30am to 4.00pm and Saturday 9.30am to 3.00pm (closes at 1.00pm on the final day of the exhibition). For more information, call 01460 54973 or visit www. ilminsterartscentre.com.
From Saturday 8 to Saturday 29 January from 10.00am to 5.00pm at ACEarts, Somerton, there is an exhibition ‘The Red Dress and its Somerset Artisans’. Over 250 artisans, 29 countries, 1 dress – The Red Dress is a global collaborative embroidery project conceived by British artist Kirstie Macleod. Twelve years in the making, it seeks to connect individuals from all walks of life and provide a platform for women’s voices to be heard. This exhibition presents the unique garment alongside images and stories of the artisans who helped create her, including the stitched work from eight local embroiderers who have contributed to the Red Dress. Open: Tuesday to Saturday. For further information, call 01458 273008 or visit www.acearts. co.uk.
From Saturday 8 to Saturday 29 January from 10.00am to 5.00pm at ACEarts, Somerton, there is an exhibition ‘Hope Emerging’ by Tara Kennedy. Textile sculptures and wall art inspired by an emotional response to different cultures and religions suffering in conflict. Important messages of acceptance, empathy and hope are shown emerging from this pain. Coloured yarns provide a metaphor expressing the transformation from blood spilt and the pain of suffering through graduated tones to ivory conveying hope. Open:
Yeovil Town Centre Window
Artwork Project Love Yeovil has recently been awarded funding from South Somerset District Council to help brighten up the town centre by bringing art and graphics into the empty shops. The group has been working with The Museum of Somerset on a new installation – a very unique piece of artwork by Brian Rice which can be seen at 48 High Street, the former Edinburgh Woollen Mill Shop (permission granted by the property owner). Brian Rice is a Somerset-born painter-printmaker who made an international name for himself in 1960s’ London. The installation supports an exhibition of his work being held at The Museum of Somerset, Taunton. Love Yeovil hopes to fill many more windows with artwork and graphics, once permission of landlords has been obtained.
MUSIC
Until Thursday 23 December in Middle Street and Quedam, Yeovil, there will be live music by local musicians. Live music will run on various days throughout this period in the run up to Christmas. A full schedule of who will be playing and when can be seen at www.loveyeovil.com. On Friday 7 January at 7.30pm at Ilminster Arts Centre, Jemima Farey presents Flying Folk. For the first set, ‘Stomping’ Dave Allen and ‘Slammer’ Durrant, with guitar, banjo, fiddle, piano, harmonica, vocals and tap dancing, will perform a very lively selection of American ‘roots’ music, including folk, blue grass and blues. For the second set, the Farey family from the Blackdown hills, with a variety of instruments and stunning close harmony voices, will sing beautifully, as only they can do. Doors open at 7.00pm, bar available. Tickets £10. To book, email musicbookingsIAC@gmail. com or phone 01460 54973. www.ilminsterartscentre.com.
On Wednesday 12 and Thursday 13 January at 7.30pm at the Octagon Auditorium, Yeovil, The Classic Rock Show is back, bigger and even better, celebrating the very of best of classic rock. Paying tribute to its favourite rock heroes The Classic Rock Show thunders through legendary performances from the likes of Led Zeppelin, Dire Straits, Steely Dan, Eric Clapton, AC/DC, Queen, The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, The Who and many more. Performed with note-for-note precision, bringing the original iconic and era defining recordings back to life on stage, with a sound-andlight show to match. Definitely not to be missed! Tickets £29.50 to £39.50. Box office 01935 422884. www.octagon-theatre. co.uk.
On Friday 14 January at 7.30pm at the Octagon Auditorium, Yeovil, Big Girls Don’t Cry celebrate the iconic music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. During the 60s and 70s, number one hits ‘Sherry’, ‘December 1963 (Oh What a Night)’, ‘Walk Like a Man’, ‘Rag Doll’ and ‘Big Girls Don’t Cry’ helped propel the Four Seasons and Frankie Valli to super stardom. This internationally acclaimed show authentically revives the sublime harmonies of New Jersey’s finest. Tickets £28. Box office 01935 422884. www.octagon-theatre. co.uk.
On Friday 14 January at 7.30pm at The Jubilee Hall, Yetminster, award-winning internationally renowned Dutch violinist Tim Kliphuis and his Trio return to Dorset with a brandnew programme of classical, gypsy, jazz and folk music. Doors and bar open from 7.00pm. Admission £12, under 18s £5. Tickets from www.artsreach. co.uk or by email to ycp873@ gmail.com or call David or Claire on 01935 873546.
On Friday 14 January at 8.00pm at Ilminster Arts Centre, enjoy an evening of vintage jazz with Mike Denham and his Sunset Café Stompers, the South West’s favourite traditional jazz band. The Sunset Café was a top nightspot on Chicago’s infamous South Side: Al Capone owned it, Louis Armstrong starred there and The Stompers play the music that was heard there – the whole jazz spectrum from Scott Joplin’s ragtime to Fats Domino and his Rock’n’Roll. Doors open at 7.00pm, bar available. Tickets £20. To book, email musicbookingsIAC@gmail.com or phone 01460 54973. www. ilminsterartscentre.com. On Saturday 15 January at 7.30pm at the Octagon Auditorium, Yeovil, New Purple Celebration, formally known as Purple Rain: A Celebration of Prince, is back with a brilliantly funky, musical extravaganza, celebrating the music, life and legacy of Prince. This nine-piece band delivers a non-stop, hitpacked show. Expect to see, hear and feel the hits from one of the most loved artists of all time; ‘1999’, ‘Little Red Corvette’, ‘Purple Rain’, ‘Kiss’, ‘Diamonds and Pearls’, ‘U Got the Look’, ‘When Doves Cry’, ‘Cream’, ‘I Wanna Be Your Lover’ and many more. Tickets £27.50, concessions £26. Box office 01935 422884. www.octagontheatre.co.uk.
On Saturday 15 January at 8.00pm at The David Hall, South Petherton, there is a concert by Cara Dillon. This extraordinary Irish singer has been captivating audiences and achieving exceptional acclaim for over 20 years. Alongside a selection of favourites, Cara will be performing material from her new album Wanderer – a collection of beautiful and moving songs recorded in an intimate setting with her husband and musical partner, Sam Lakeman. Cara’s warm and natural stage presence is something to savour. Tickets £22. To book, call 01460 240340 or visit www.thedavidhall.org.uk. On Sunday 16 January at 3.00pm at All Saints Church, Merriott, Allington Strings with Jonathan Delbridge on piano will perform ‘A Russian Romance’. This concert will feature works by Shostakovich, Glinka, Borodin, Kalinnikov, Rachmaninov and Tchaikovsky. Tickets £10, under 18s free, available from the Feed Station, Merriott, and on the door. Reservations via allingtonstrings@outlook.com. On Wednesday 19 January at 7.30pm at the Octagon Auditorium, Yeovil, internationally respected virtuoso pianist, Noriko Ogawa, brings a programme of fascinating keyboard masterpieces to the Classical Concert Series. She will play works from Mozart, Beethoven, Satie, Debussy and Chopin – for full programme details, visit the website. Tickets £12 to £15. Box office 01935 422884. www.octagon-theatre. co.uk.
On Thursday 20 January at 7.30pm at the Octagon Auditorium, Yeovil, there is a simply breathtaking concert of Elton John’s fifty-year career in show business ‘I’m Still Standing: The Music of Elton John’. Joel Buckingham and his fabulous band, The Jets, perform all the hits including ‘Crocodile Rock’, ‘Rocket Man’, ‘Candle in the Wind’, ‘Sacrifice’, ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’ and many more. Book now for this incredible celebration of one of the UK’s best-selling artists of all time. Tickets £24.50, concessions £22. Box office 01935 422884. www.octagon-theatre.co.uk. On Friday 21 January at 8.00pm at Ilminster Arts Centre, Ensemble Burletta Quintet brings the very best chamber music for clarinet and strings to audiences across the UK and beyond. This group of exciting and innovative performers comprises Shelley Levy (clarinet), Lucy Russell (violin), Lucy Hewson (violin), Nichola Blakey (viola) and Cressida Nash (cello). They will perform works from Mozart, Glazunov, Krein and Weber – see the website for full programme details. Doors open at 7.00pm, bar available. Tickets £20. To book, email musicbookingsIAC@ gmail.com or phone 01460 54973. www.ilminsterartscentre. com.
On Saturday 22 January at 7.30pm at The Exchange, Sturminster Newton, join Five Star Swing for ‘Greatest Songs from the Movies’ – an unforgettable mix of themes and songs from the greatest movies of all time - Star Wars, James Bond, Lawrence of Arabia, and more! Five Star Swing have famously played for Pinewood Film Studios, Whoopi Goldberg, Michael Winner, Jeremy Irons, Michael Caine, and Film and Television Veterans Association. Tickets £17, concessions £16. Book online at www.sturexchange.co.uk or via the box office (01258 475137). On Saturday 22 January at 7.30pm at the Octagon Auditorium, Yeovil, celebrate the sounds of the 50s and 60s with ‘Jukebox and Bobbysox’. This show takes the audience on a musical journey through the most influential decades in the history of popular music with the songs of Elvis Presley, Dusty Springfield, Cilla Black, The Everly Brothers, Eddie Cochran, Buddy Holly, and of course The Beatles, plus the sounds of The Shadows, Cliff, Lulu, Brenda Lee, Billy Fury and so many more. Stunning vocals, beautiful harmonies, colourful costumes and the sound of a live band will make it a night to remember! Tickets £19.50, concessions £18. Box office 01935 422884. www. octagon-theatre.co.uk. On Saturday 22 January at 8.00pm at The David Hall, South Petherton, Wille and The Bandits are back live! This classic blues rock three-piece, much in the vein of Cream or The Jimi Hendrix Experience, try to take their sound beyond what is expected of such a traditional line-up. The use of bizarre instrumentation and eclectic influences in songwriting often pushes them more into a world music or progressive category. Wille and The Bandits have toured with artists such as Deep Purple through to The John Butler Trio and played at major festivals across Europe. Tickets £17, concessions £16. To book, call 01460 240340 or visit www. thedavidhall.org.uk. On Friday 28 January at 8.00pm at Ilminster Arts Centre, vibes player Roger Beaujolais, trumpeter Jamie Brownsfield and tenor sax man Robert Fowler join Craig Milverton and his trio for another of his regular ‘Three of the Best’ gigs. They will be playing a mix of their own choice of mainstream/modern jazz favourites, mostly standards with probably one or two lesser known surprises as well. Over the years, these gigs have been a great success and are generally a sell-out, so book early! Doors open at 7.00pm, bar available. Tickets £20. To book, email musicbookingsIAC@gmail.com or phone 01460 54973. www. ilminsterartscentre.com.
On Saturday 29 January at 7.30pm at Caryford Hall, Castle Cary, blues guitarist and harmonica player, Joe Strouzer, sings songs from his travels from Newcastle to New Orleans. The support act is a local singer/songwriter, Dani Sharp, performing original material with her acerbic, erudite wit, warmth, charm and humour. Doors open 6.45pm. Tickets £10 via www. caryfordhall.co.uk, £12 on the door. In aid of the Caryford Hall Extension Project. On Saturday 29 January at 7.30pm at The Exchange, Sturminster Newton, Radio GaGa, The Ultimate Queen Tribute, is back with a brand-new show. Radio GaGa recreates two magical hours live on stage, celebrating the magic, fun and showmanship of Queen’s touring days, playing all the favourite hits including, ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’, ‘I Want to Break Free’, ‘Somebody to Love’, ‘Another One Bites the Dust’, ‘We Are the Champions’, ‘We Will Rock You’ and of course ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’. Tickets £21.50. Book online at www.stur-exchange. co.uk or via the box office (01258 475137). On Saturday 29 January at 8.00pm at The David Hall, South Petherton, enjoy an evening of entertainment with The Churchfitters. Why ‘Churchfitters’? Nobody knows! One aspect of the name suits them perfectly – its quirkiness. Instruments such as saucepan dulcimer, glass harp, bing-bong machine and magic boots all join more conventional ones (fiddle, banjo, sax and whistle, to name a few) to back Rosie Short’s sublime voice. The three flamboyant characters, that make up Churchfitters, present their uplifting and entertaining show with a unique dynamism. Tickets £15. To book, call 01460 240340 or visit www.thedavidhall.org.uk.
PERFORMANCE
Until Sunday 2 January at the Octagon Auditorium, Yeovil, have fun and laughs with ‘Mother Goose’. Everyone loves Mother Goose but she’s not happy as she wants to be beautiful! It just so happens that the evil, self-obsessed Demon Vanity can offer her everything her heart desires but there’s a price – she must give up the thing she loves the most: her prized goose! Will fame, fortune and beauty change Mother Goose? With hilarious comedy, beautiful sets and costumes, and fantastic music, Mother Goose promises to be the Octagon’s funniest, most spectacular pantomime ever! See website for various performance times. Tickets from £14.50. Box office 01935 422884. www.octagon-theatre.co.uk. On Thursday 6 January at 2.30pm and 8.00pm, Artsreach is back with another online murder mystery ‘Sherlock in Homes: Murder at the Games’. Sharp Teeth Theatre’s unique show is packed with dramatic twists and turns that unfold online, as this interactive theatrical experience plays out on zoom. Interrogate suspects and attempt to solve the case with fellow audience members. Ideal for fans of murder mysteries, improv theatre and comedy, the show provides the perfect way for friends and families to come together, don their deerstalkers and enjoy some light-hearted, sleuth-filled entertainment. So stock up on snacks and refreshments, and prepare to head to the games! E-tickets £10 per device. For more information and to book, visit www.artsreach.co.uk.
On Sunday 16 January at 7.30pm at Westlands Entertainment Venue, Yeovil, there is an evening of comedy with Ed Byrne in ‘If I’m honest’. Ed will take a long hard look at himself in his brand new tour and will try to decide if he has any traits that are worth passing on to his children. A thoroughly entertaining show! Suitable 16+. Tickets £26. Box office 01935 422884. www.westlandsyeovil. co.uk.
From Monday 17 to Saturday 22 January at 7.45pm at The Swan Theatre, Yeovil, The Swan Theatre Company presents ‘Di and Viv and Rose’ by Amelia Bullmore. Di, Viv and Rose meet at university. Rose likes boys, Di likes girls, and Viv wears clothes from the 1950s. They are young, hopeful and the best of friends. Together they can face the world through laughter and tears. ‘Di and Viv and Rose’ is a funny and thoughtful exploration of female friendship. It is neither sentimental nor nostalgic. It just feels real. Tickets £12. Advance
online booking preferred via www.swantheatre.co.uk. Doors open 7.15pm. For more information, call 07500 376031. On Thursday 20 January at 7.30pm at The Warehouse Theatre, Ilminster, join the Rain or Shine Theatre Company for a knock-about adventure full of mishaps, tomfoolery, British stiff upper lip, curious camels and lashings of comedy in ‘Around the World in 80 Days’. It’s 1872. The Nightingale, the famous art thief, has struck again and is trying to flee the country with stolen paintings. At the same time, Phileas Fogg is attempting to circumnavigate the world in 80 days to win a £20,000 bet. Or is that just a cover story to hide The Nightingale’s escape? That’s what Scotland Yard’s finest detective, Chief Inspector Fix, believes and he will stop at nothing to capture them! Doors open 7.00pm. Tickets £12, students £6. Tickets from Harrimans Menswear or online at www.thewarehousetheatre.org.uk. For more information, call 03306 600541.
On Friday 21 January at 7.30pm at The Exchange, Sturminster Newton, mountaineer Simon Yates talks about ‘My Mountain Life’. In June 1985, Simon was being slowly pulled off the mountain face by his injured partner dangling 50 metres below. His decision to cut the rope saved their lives. The epic account of their survival became the subject of the book, and later a film and stage play, ‘Touching the Void’. Simon is still a very active exploratory climber and guide. Share with him the drama, excitement and beauty of modern, lightweight alpinism – told with wit, dry humour and lavishly illustrated with images and film collected on his great climbs. Tickets £16, concessions £15. Book online at www.stur-exchange.co.uk or via the box office (01258 475137). On Saturday 22 January at 8.00pm at Westlands Entertainment Venue, Yeovil, after two consecutive sell-out years, Carl Hutchinson returns with a brand new show! Expect stories, observations and audience interaction. Always an exciting night, join this dynamic and versatile performer for a truly unmissable evening of comedy. Suitable 14+. Tickets £16.50. Box office 01935 422884. www.westlandsyeovil.co.uk. From Tuesday 25 to Saturday 29 January at the Octagon Auditorium, Yeovil, Yeovil Amateur Pantomime Society returns with a brand-new magical family pantomime, ‘Cinderella’. By chance, Cinderella meets handsome Prince Charming in the forest, but slips away without leaving her name. In an effort to find the girl, the Prince holds a royal ball – but she enters in disguise and escapes, leaving behind only a crystal slipper. The Prince declares, whoever the slipper fits, he shall marry! Only Fairy Godmother and Buttons can help Cinderella on her magical journey! Featuring sensational scenery and costumes, toe-tapping songs and incredible special effects, this year’s show is sure to be a hit with all the family. See the website for performance start times. Tickets £16. Box office 01935 422884. www.octagon-theatre.co.uk. On Thursday 27 January at 2.30pm and 7.00pm at Westlands Entertainment Venue, Yeovil, there is a NT Live screening of Tom Stoppard’s award-winning new play Leopoldstadt - a passionate drama of love, family and endurance. Early twentieth-century Leopoldstadt was the old, crowded Jewish quarter of Vienna. But Hermann Merz, factory owner and baptised Jew married to Catholic Gretl, has moved up in the world. Leopoldstadt follows his family’s story through war, revolution, impoverishment, annexation by Nazi Germany and the Holocaust. Ticket £11.50 to £17. Box office 01935 422884. www.westlandsyeovil.co.uk. On Thursday 27 January at 7.00pm at The Swan Theatre, Yeovil, there is a NT Live screening of Tom Stoppard’s award-winning new play Leopoldstadt - a passionate drama of love, family and endurance. Early twentieth-century Leopoldstadt was the old, crowded Jewish quarter of Vienna. But Hermann Merz, factory owner and baptised Jew married to Catholic Gretl, has moved up in the world. Leopoldstadt follows his family’s story through war, revolution, impoverishment, annexation by Nazi Germany and the Holocaust. Ticket £15. Advance online booking preferred via www.swan-theatre. co.uk. For more information, call 07500 376031.
On Sunday 30 January from 7.30pm at The David Hall, South Petherton, it’s Acoustic Night. Petherton Arts Trust encourages budding artists of all genres to come to The David Hall and perform on a professional stage. Everyone has the opportunity to deliver for 10 to 15 minutes with full PA and lighting. Please pre-book a performance slot or seat – don’t walk up on the night. To attend as a performer or audience member, email Chris Watts at folk@chriswatts.org or call 07715 501157. Suggested donations: performer £1, audience member £2. Please pay on the door. Every first and third Monday from 7.30pm at Ilminster Arts Centre, come along for a Jazz Jam. These informal sessions generally involve a group of a dozen or so jazz-minded individuals of varying levels of ability. All instruments are welcome, as are vocalists. Give it a go, or just come and listen. £3 per session. For more information, call 01460 54973 or visit www. ilminsterartscentre.com.
CHILDREN MOVIES
AROUND THE TOWNS AND VILLAGES
ANOTHER ROUND (12A)
Four teachers embark on an experiment where they each sustain a certain level of alcohol intoxication during everday life, believing that all people in general would benefit from a slightly higher blood alcohol content! As a result, their working experiences and lives are turned upside down. Starring Mads Mikkelsen, Thomas Bo Larsen, Lars Ranthe and Magnus Millang.
SHOWING AT Crewkerne on Friday 21 January,
Wadham School, 7.30pm. Membership £20. Visitors £5 per film. Contact: 07749 614048.
BIRDS OF PASSAGE (15)
Torn between his desire to become a powerful man and his duty to uphold his culture’s values, Rapayet enters the drug trafficking business in the 1970s to secure a dowry to marry Zaida and finds quick success despite his tribe’s matriarch Ursula’s disapproval. Ignoring ancient omens, Rapayet and his family get caught up in a conflict where honour is the highest currency and debts are paid with blood. Starring José Acosta, Natalia Reyes and Carmiña Martínez.
SHOWING AT Yeovil on Wednesday 5 January, The
Swan Theatre, 7.30pm. Members £1, Swan Theatre members £4, guests £5. www.cinematheque.org.uk or 01935 421905.
DREAM HORSE (PG)
A heart-warming true story of the triumph of the underdog. Dream Alliance is an unlikely racehorse bred by small-town Welsh bartender Jan Vokes. With no money and no experience, Jan persuades her neighbours to chip in their meagre earnings to help raise Dream, in the hopes he can compete with the racing elites. Starring: Toni Collette, Owen Teale and Alan David.
SHOWING AT Milborne Port on Friday 21 January,
Village Hall, 7.30pm. Advance tickets £5 available from 3 January from Wayne Pullen, Butcher, or £6 on the door. Contact: 01963 251217.
Every Friday from 10.00am to 10.30am at Sherborne Library, it’s ‘Rhyme Time’ - songs and rhymes for children under 5. Booking is essential so please call 01935 812683.
LAWRENCE: AFTER ARABIA (12A)
This film tells the story of the last years of T.E. Lawrence - Lawrence of Arabia. Retiring to his cottage in Dorset, Lawrence hopes to forget his past fighting in Arabia but soon he is drawn into political intrigue and his many enemies begin to plot against him. Was his fatal motorcycle crash an accident or an assassination attempt by the British Secret Service? Starring Brian Cox, Hugh Fraser and Michael Maloney. Followed by Q&A with director/producer/ writer Mark J.T. Griffin.
SHOWING AT Sturminster Newton on Tuesday 25
LEAVE NO TRACE (PG)
Will (Ben Foster) and his teenage daughter, Tom (Thomasin Harcourt McKenzie), have lived an ideal existence off the grid for years in the forests of Portland, Oregon. When the authorities stumble on them, their idyllic life is shattered. Unable to settle into ‘normal’ suburban life, Will and Tom set off on a harrowing journey back to their wild homeland. A film of depth and compassion with wonderful acting.
SHOWING AT Ilminster on Saturday 8 January,
MINARI (12A)
Set in 1980s America, a Korean-American family moves to a tiny farm in the Ozarks in search of a better life. Jacob plans to grow Korean vegetables but his wife Monica worries about the family finances. Family life becomes more complicated with the arrival of Monica’s mother who is not quite the grandmother the children had expected. An intimate portrayal of the resilience of family and what really makes a home. Starring Steven Yeun, Yeri Han and Academy award-winner Yuh-Jung Youn.
SHOWING AT Batcombe on Friday 14 January, Jubilee
Hall, 7.45pm. For information about Batcombe Film Society and for guest tickets, call 01749 850307.
PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE (15)
In eighteenth-century France, young painter Marianne is commissioned to do the wedding portrait of Héloïse without her knowing. Therefore, Marianne must observe her model by day to paint her portrait at night. Day by day, the two women become closer as they share Héloïse’s last moments of freedom before the impending wedding. Starring Noémie Merlant and Adèle Haenel.
SHOWING AT Ilminster on Saturday 22 January,
THE COURIER (12A)
Unassuming British businessman Greville Wynne (Benedict Cumberbatch) becomes entangled in one of the greatest international conflicts in history. Recruited by MI6 and a CIA operative, Wynne forms a covert partnership with Soviet officer Oleg Penkovsky (Merab Ninidze). Both men risk everything in a dangerous race against time to provide the intelligence needed to prevent nuclear confrontation and to end the Cuban Missile Crisis.
SHOWING AT Martock on Saturday 29 January, Parish
Hall, 7.30pm. Tickets £5.50 in advance from Martock News, Moorlands Precinct or £6 on the door. Contact: 01935 826457.
Norton-sub-Hamdon on Tuesday 18 January, The Lord Nelson, 7.30pm
Tickets from 01935 881227.
West Camel on Friday 28 January, The
Davis Hall, 7.30pm. Admission £5 on the door. Contact: 01935 851214.
Yetminster on Tuesday 4 January,
Jubilee Hall, 7.30pm. Tickets £6. Advance tickets: Spar Shop. Contact: 07770 806990.
THE LAST BUS (12A)
An elderly man, Tom, whose wife had just passed away, uses only local buses and his free bus pass on a nostalgic trip to carry her ashes all the way from John O’Groats to Land’s End, where they originally met. Unbeknownst to Tom, his journey captures the imagination of the local people that he comes across and ultimately becomes a nationwide story. Starring Phyllis Logan, Timothy Spall, and Grace Calder.
SHOWING AT Hardington Mandeville on Thursday 20
January, Village Hall, 7.30pm. Tickets £5 in advance from Springfield Stores (01935 862363) or £6 on the door.
THE PEBBLE AND THE BOY (15)
The story follows a 19-year-old from Manchester who embarks on a journey to Brighton, the spiritual home of the Mods, on an old Lambretta scooter left to him by his father. The film is a celebration of Mod culture and fashion, and features music by Paul Weller and The Jam. Starring Jesse Birdsall, Max Boast and Rick S Carr.
SHOWING AT Odcombe on Monday 10 January,
TOUCHING THE VOID (15)
The true story of two climbers and their perilous journey up the west face of Siula Grande in the Peruvian Andes in 1985. Mountaineer Simon Yates found himself in a desperately unenviable position. He was being slowly pulled off the mountain face by his injured partner, Joe Simpson, dangling 50 metres below. His decision to cut the rope saved their lives. This is an epic account of their survival.
SHOWING AT Sturminster Newton on Thursday 27
Music Gigs
All Music Gigs are FREE entry unless mentioned.
DECEMBER
31 Frank Martino, Swing, The Castlebrook Inn, Compton
Dundon, 8.00pm. Entry charge
Nevertheless, Rock Covers, The Halfway House, Pitney, 5.30pm
Powercut, Rock/Pop, Stoke-sub-Hamdon Working
Mens Club, 9.30pm
JANUARY
8 Bad Edukation, Classic Rock, White Hart, Sherborne, 9.00pm 15 Chill, 60s to 90s Covers, White Hart Inn, Crewkerne, 9.00pm 28 Ian Valentine, 60s to Present Covers, The Old Pound
Inn, Langport, 8.30pm 29 The Dockneys, Rock/Pop Covers, The Thatched
Cottage, Shepton Mallet, 9.00pm
THE SHORT ANSWER TO HOW RADIO STARTED – SHORTWAVE!
By Steve Haigh, Station Manager, Radio Ninesprings 104.5 FM
Hardly anyone talks about shortwave radio today. Apart from radio hams and the military, few other people use it or even know it exists.
But how different it was a 100 years ago, when the first shortwave signal was transmitted across the Atlantic, marking the start of a century of wireless progress. The breakthrough came on 12 December 1921, when a shortwave signal was successfully received on the west coast of Scotland, sent by a group of radio amateurs in Connecticut, some 3,000 miles away. Voices spoken on one side of the Atlantic were heard on the other side of the ocean. It was a watershed moment and brought into focus the untapped potential of shortwave as a mechanism for access to, and transference, of signals of all sorts from around the globe.
Throughout the 1920s experimental approaches to radio – broadcast and otherwise – were an area of intense interest and research. It was aided by a boom in broadcast hardware and a growing understanding of how the technology could be deployed to change the way in which transmission of voice, music and other signals could be sent over greater and greater distances. Energy and money were initially poured into the development of all bandwidths but the people in charge of running radio on a commercial basis placed a greater emphasis on AM (medium wave) and FM (very high frequency). Shortwave sits between those frequencies. As the twentieth century unfolded, the relevance of shortwave started to decline, with amateur broadcasters adopting it as their frequency and recognising its usefulness in influencing various social, political and cultural phenomena. When the unsinkable Titanic hit an iceberg, the ship’s distress call was heard on shortwave radio by the RMS Carpathia that sailed to the rescue. And, during World War I, shortwave radio was a hugely important means of communication.
When those radio amateurs in Connecticut transmitted the first short wave signal across the Atlantic, they unleashed a wave of experimentation and development, with the result being the radio stations we
enjoy today, 5G smartphones, wireless internet, smart homes, TV shows beamed from satellites, and Bluetooth connectivity.
To listen to Radio Ninesprings:
Yeovil and South Somerset 104.5 FM Chard/Ilminster 107.6 FM Wincanton/Bruton 103.3 FM New Local Radio Station for To listen online: www.radioninesprings.comYeovil and South Somerset
Listen on Smart Speakers:
say: ‘Alexa enable the Radio Ninesprings skill’ thereafter: ‘Alexa play Radio Ninesprings’ Radio Ninesprings can also be heard on Amazon TV
