Marshwood+ January 2024

Preview January 2024

Festival veteran comedian
Lyme Regis

MARKUS Birdman, a veteran of Glastonbury Festival and the Edinburgh Fringe, headlines Lyme Regis Comedy Club on Friday 19th January, in a line-up that also includes Burt Williamson and the regular host, Tom Glover.

As one of the most sought-after acts on the comedy circuit, Markus Birdman has performed at all the major comedy venues and extensively throughout the UK and internationally. He is one of stand-up’s most well-travelled comedians, much in demand in the UK and all over the world.

After attending several art schools and even managing to graduate from one, Markus became a graffiti artist, muralist and performance poet. He was the Glastonbury Festival Poetry Slam Champion but he can’t remember which year, because, he says, he was fairly out of it.

He went on to be one of the first British comics to have his own Netflix Special—Live in Amsterdam.

He has written and performed 13 Edinburgh Festival solo shows and toured Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Iraq, Scandinavia and throughout Europe, the Middle East and Far East. He has also appeared on numerous TV and radio shows both in the UK and abroad, most recently reaching the live finals of Britain’s Got Talent.

Fragments of nightmare and love
Buckland Newton and Drimpton

SOMERSET-based contemporary dance company Project Dance brings a new work, Fragments, to Buckland Newton village hall on Friday 19th January and Drimpton hall on Saturday 20th, both at 7.30pm.

Project Dance is led by artistic director James Bamford, who comes from Yeovil and was previously an artist with the English National Ballet Youth Company. The company strives to create ambitious, innovative and ground-breaking professional and youth dance works for stage and screen.

Performed by two dancers, Fragments tells the intimate story of a young couple who, when faced with what anyone else would describe as a nightmare, learn to fall in love with each other again, piece by piece, memory by memory. This uniquely intimate piece of dance theatre expresses the vulnerability, anxiety and helplessness of falling in love.

A memorable Christmas Eve
Dorchester

CHRISTMAS 2023 may be behind us, but there are plenty of Christmasses yet to come, and Somerset’s hilarious and multi-talented Living Spit are coming to Dorchester to transport you to their own version of the best-loved of all festive tales, Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, at the Corn Exchange on Thursday 5th January at 7.30pm.

Despite the very sad news of the death of co-founder and comedy acting treasure Howard Coggins, Living Spit are back on the road, with Howard’s partner in theatrical crime Stu Mcloughlin joined by Bristol actor Craig Edwards.

Hard-hearted Ebenezer Scrooge hates the season of goodwill—until a visit from three phantoms one memorable Christmas Eve makes him rethink his miserly ways and turn his wicked life upside down ... blah blah blah.

We all know the story ... we’ve all seen the film(s) ... but you’ve got a New Year treat in store with Craig Edwards’ unique take on Dickens’ anti-hero. He is bringing Stu Mcloughlin along for the ride to dress up, sing, dance and generally act like a complete idiot while playing ALL the other parts.

Cinderella in the (Electric) Palace
Bridport

CINDERELLA has a special party at the palace to look forward to—join her and Bridport Pantomime Players at the Electric Palace from Wednesday 31st January to Saturday 3rd February, at 7.30pm with a Saturday matinee at 1.30.

The Players promise an unforgettable performance filled with laughter, music, and glittering fun, directed by Greg Horton, bringing everyone’s favourite pantomime story to life, with Jess Goldstone as the enchanting heroine.

Witness Cinderella’s rags-to-riches transformation as she escapes the clutches of her wicked stepmother, Lady Gargoyle (Amy Carlile) and stepsisters Beyoncé and Britney (Holly Gibbs and Justine Gawen). With the help of her Fairy Godmother (Hatti Amos) and her loyal friend Buttons (Amy Day) she is sure to prove that true love conquers all. King Hubert (James Oldfield) and Queen Harriet (newcomer Lauren Good) are determined to find a bride for their son, not realising that magic is at work.

Laughter and excitement will be palpable as Cinderella eventually finds her Prince Charming (Johanna Leins) ably assisted by his servant, Gently, (Alice Scadding), but not without a few twists and hilarious moments along the way; especially when it comes to a certain love machine created by Professor Von Klaptrapp (Ross Hughes).

The Players are joined by dancers from The Lyric School of Dancing. Be prepared to sing along, cheer for your favourite characters and become part of the action as the magic unfolds before your eyes.

They aren’t retiring
Bridport

THE Blues Band may be retiring from touring, but their two lead vocalists are still on the road—Paul Jones and Dave Kelly bring their acoustic tour to Bridport’s Electric Palace on Saturday 20th January.

Ruggedly durable and timeless, the blues is as popular today as it has ever been. Young musicians still cut their teeth on its enticing 12-bar appeal, but its real rewards, true virtuosity, poise and knowledge, only come with age.

Founder members of The Blues Band, Paul Jones and Dave Kelly’s tangled and colourful roots go way back into the deep undergrowth of the tradition. As well as their own original material, they not only know and perform the work of the greats, including Howling’ Wolf, John Lee Hooker and Sonny Boy Williamson—they actually played alongside them, and enjoyed their friendship.

Paul Jones first made his mark on the blues scene as the lead singer of the great Manfred Mann (formed in 1962). And after more than a quarter of a century as presenter of his BBC Radio 2 R&B show, and more than 60 years as a charismatic singer and harmonica maestro, what Paul doesn’t know about the blues can be written on a pinhead.

The same can be said about Dave Kelly, who has played with them all, including legends such as James Burton and Buddy Guy. Superb blues vocals and guitar virtuosity have elevated him into the higher echelon of international blues performers.

Myths and storytellers
Cerne Abbas

CERNE Abbas, deep in the heart of Dorset, below a mysterious and world-famous chalk figure, seems just the right setting for an evening of wild and wonderful stories and myths from the distant past. Wild Visions and Untamed Myth comes to the village hall on Sunday 21st January.

Storytellers Katy Cawkwell and Lucy Lill are coming to Dorset with two ancient myths that have women centre stage.

Plunge into the wild world of the goddess Artemis for an ecstatic encounter with the Dawn, a moonlit path that leads to transformation and a dilemma that maybe only the audience can solve.

Then meet Kassandra, a daughter of the Trojan King Priam, blessed with the power to see the future, cursed with never being believed. It’s a story of betrayal, war and destruction—urban, dark and devastating.

Join these two acclaimed storytellers on a path less trodden, as they go hunting in the wild places and raking through the ashes of a fallen city to bring you epic tales of women taking their power whatever the consequences ...

Wild Visions and Untamed Myth is also at the Pamela Hambro Hall at Winterborne Stickland on Saturday 20th January. Both performances are at 7.30pm.

Take it From The Top
Dorchester

THE Irresponsible Theatre Company comes to Dorchester Arts at the Corn Exchange on 11th and 12th January with a new murder mystery, From The Top, a delightful mix of mischief, comedy, chaos, audience participation—and a whole host of things that are not as they seem.

In partnership with the drama department of Thomas Hardye School, the theatre company makes its debut, exploring murder at Monty’s Manor, set at a party for the esteemed Monty Grey, where the heir to his inheritance is about to be revealed! From The Top is a play-within-a-play—it’s funny, innovative and has something for everyone to enjoy.

Fifty years of love letters
Dorchester

A PLAY which revolves around 50 years of love letters comes to Dorchester Corn Exchange on Thursday 25th January in a new production by The Group Theatre Co.

Have you ever known someone who touched every part of your life? Have you loved someone through time and distance? Share in the story of Melissa and Andrew as they grow together through the power of the pen.

AR Gurney’s Love Letters is the story of a 50-year correspondence between Melissa Gardner and her childhood-friend-turned-love-interest, Andrew Makepeace Ladd III.

Premiered on Broadway in 1989, the play has been revived constantly and the list of acting pairings who have taken part is testament to the quality of the writing: Sigourney Weaver and Jeff Daniels, Charlton Heston and Jean Simmons, Elizabeth Taylor and James Earl Jones to name but a few!

The Real Manhunter
Honiton

HALF a lifetime of cracking cold cases and chasing serial killers, followed by a second career as a writer and broadcaster, has made Colin Sutton a popular public speaker. The former detective chief inspector is coming to the Beehive Centre at Honiton on Friday 26th January, at 7.30pm.

The Real Manhunter takes you through his career, which begin with 30 years in the police, the last nine years as head of a Metropolitan Police murder squad for the last nine years of that period.

After retirement in 2011, Colin wrote books about two of his major investigations. These were adapted into the acclaimed ITV drama series Manhunt, both seasons starring Martin Clunes as Colin. The second season, Manhunt: The Night Stalker, was nominated for the Best Drama BAFTA in 2022.

Colin writes and presents The Real Manhunter, a true crime documentary series on Sky Crime, which is now in its third season. In the Honiton show, he will talk the audience through his career, how policing has changed, what it is like to chase a serial killer and how he made the step from policing to story-telling.

New name for popular choir
Bridport

AFTER more than half a century, Bridport’s New Elizabethan Singers can hardly call themselves new any more. And they have never sung Elizabethan (Tudor) music. So the choir is starting the new year with a new name—the West Dorset Singers.

Indeed the original name has caused some confusion among those who do not know this long-established group. So the new name makes sense—but everything else is the same, the members of the choir, the musical director, Matt Kingston, and the high standards!

The West Dorset Singers’ first concert of 2024 will be at St. Swithun’s Church, Bridport, on Saturday, 27th January—a programme of modern works that are settings of two of the most ancient Christian hymns.

John Rutter’s Magnificat from 1990 expresses Mary’s joy when sharing her news that she is expecting Jesus, the promised Messiah. Paul Carr’s Stabat Mater from 2017 reflects Mary’s sorrow when witnessing Christ’s crucifixion, yet remains calm and confident.

The singers will also present the first concert performance of Matthew Coleridge’s new Stabat Mater Dolorosa. (Matthew Coleridge is the name under which Matt Kingston composes). The choir will be joined by a professional soprano soloist and musicians.

The concert starts at 7pm and tickets are available from Goadsby Estate Agents in Bridport or online at ticketsource.co.uk/wds

Hungry for change
Bridport

BRIDPORT Arts Centre hosts a double bill of food documentaries on Thursday 25th January, at 7.30pm—Hungry for Change and Food for Thought.

In Hungry for Change, the film maker and forager Josh Quick explores the shocking facts that we import nearly 50 per cent of all our food in the UK, and waste one-third of it—so it is unsurprising that the food we eat and the way we produce it are responsible for a huge part of our carbon emissions.

Cornwall Climate Care’s Hungry for Change, looks at our reliance on this intensive, hyper-globalised, fossil fuel-driven food system—which is itself becoming more and more vulnerable to climate shocks.

Presenter Josh Quick asks whether there are ways of producing more of our food locally and in more imaginative, but less damaging, ways. It takes a fascinating and inspiring look at a whole range of stories, from the gleaners picking ‘waste’ crops in our fields to projects growing food in unusual places and a microbiologist keen to get us all eating low-carbon insects.

Food for Thought, presented by organic beef farmer Lisa Guy, asks another timely question—should we all be giving up meat and dairy if we are to have a hope of avoiding dangerous climate breakdown?

This is what the headlines seem to tell us. But is this too simplistic a picture—and what would this mean for Cornwall, where the majority of farmland is used to raise livestock or to grow crops for these animals to eat?

The film looks at the undeniable impacts of modern animal agriculture as well as some of the incredible Cornish initiatives under way to mitigate them—and also the role that regenerative farming could play in actually combating climate change while producing nutritious food.

Food for Thought aims to inspire much-needed conversation and action about a crucial subject that has become one of the most contentious within the climate debate.

A national treasure in spats
Lyme Regis

EARL Okin is a man of many parts—musician, raconteur, philosopher, broadcaster, composer ... owner of absolutely no casual clothing and wearer of spats. Self-styled as a “jazz cabaret artiste”, Earl comes to the Marine Theatre at Lyme Regis on Friday 12th January.

Described as the finest performer of bossa nova outside of Brazil, he is a singer, songwriter, “mouth-trumpeter,” pianist, guitarist, comedian, former-schoolmaster and all-round national treasure!

Active since the 1960s, he’s toured with Paul McCartney and Wings, performed alongside Billy Connolly, appeared on television with Michael Parkinson and the Two Ronnies, performed for royalty, successfully took his one man show to Edinburgh Fringe for 18 consecutive years, travelled internationally plying his craft and met and worked with just about everyone who’s anyone! He is also a long-time regular at Ronnie Scott’s legendary London jazz club.

Earl is unsure who would play him in a movie about his life, now that Cary Grant is gone, but there is a forthcoming documentary about his illustrious career.

Twenty years of vintage hot jazz
Villages

ARTSREACH favourites Spats Langham and Hot Fingers are back in January for a three-date tour, celebrating 20 years of hot jazz from the 1920s and 30s, starting at Langton Matravers village hall on Thursday 25th at 7.30pm.

Join Hot Fingers on a musical journey, weaving together the history of the songs in their repertoire with tales of 20 years on the road together. Expect an eclectic mix of vintage acoustic music, from the red-hot jazz of 1920s New York and sophisticated 1930s swing, to the king of gypsy swing Django Reinhardt, the blues guitars of Eddie Lang and Lonnie Johnson and the syncopated Latin rhythms of Argentinean Oscar Aleman.

Hot Fingers frontman Tom ‘Spats’ Langham has been entertaining since his teens on tenor banjo, guitar, ukulele and vocals and has performed with such notables as The Pasadena Roof Orchestra, The Temperance Seven and Acker Bilk. Malcolm Sked, on tuba, sousaphone and double-bass, has toured the world with Bob Kerr’s Whoopee Band and The Charleston Chasers. Together with vocalist Emily Campbell and multi-instrumentalist Danny Blyth on clarinets, guitar, mandolin and harmonica, Hot Fingers regularly fill jazz clubs, halls and theatres up and down the country.

Twenty Years with Hot Fingers is also at Broadwindsor’s Comrades Hall on Friday 26th January and Briantspuddle village hall on Saturday 27th, both at 7.30pm.

Stomping New Year bluegrass
Villages

OLD Baby Mackerel, an English blue-grass quartet bring their high energy, foot-stomping sound to three Dorset villages on an Artsreach tour in January, from 11th to 13th January.

The line-up of renowned virtuoso musicians use the rhythmic sounds of banjo, guitar, mandolin, fiddle and double bass, to create blistering solos and gorgeous harmonies.

Be prepared to be transported back in time to the early 20th century and across the Atlantic to the Appalachian mountains of Virginia, the Carolinas and Tennessee, where songs dramatised the small-town preoccupations of religion, locomotion and the veneration of whisky and bootleg liquor.

Catch this New Year treat on Thursday 11th January at Hinton Martell, Friday 12th at Portesham and Saturday 13th at Halstock. All concerts are in the village halls at 7.30pm.

Tuning into the past
Artsreach tour

JOIN comedian and broadcast historian Paul Kerensa for An Evening of (very) Old Radio… the First Firsts of Broadcasting, on four dates with Artsreach in Dorset, starting on Thursday 25th January at Nether Compton village hall, followed by West Stafford on Friday 26th, and Marnhull on Saturday 27th, all at 7.30pm, and Studland village hall on Sunday 28th at 2.30.

So, in the great tradition of radio ... Are you sitting comfortably? Then we’ll begin...

Journey back to the 1920s in this one-man ‘stand-up history’ show on how the BBC began, researched, written and performed by Paul Kerensa, a British Comedy Award-winning writer (Miranda, Not Going Out), comedian and broadcast historian.

Expect tales, clips and re-enactments of Auntie Beeb’s earliest landmark moments, including the first BBC broadcast, the first children’s drama, sports commentary and so much more.

A regular on BBC Radio 2’s Pause For Thought, Paul Kerensa has performed more than 3,000 stand-up gigs, including at the Royal Albert Hall, The Comedy Store and Montreal Comedy Festivals.

GPW