Young Lit Fix By Nicky Mathewson

Expect a musical feast as Opera Holloway soprano Callie Gaston, tenor William Branston and baritone Sam Oram perform well-loved operatic arias, duets and ensembles as well as some musical theatre classics.

Artsreach assistant director Yvonne Gallimore says: “The Artsreach programme exists to make the arts more accessible, and this is exactly what Opera Holloway are striving to do for opera—we are delighted to welcome them back to our programme this autumn.”

It’s Greek to David

VILLAGES VETERAN and versatile Cornish actor David Mynne is back with Artsreach for three dates, 11th to 13th November, performing his uniquely clever and funny version of The Odyssey—Greek Stuff!

From the company that brought you Christmas Carol, Great Expectations, Dracula and Canterbury Tales, comes a tale more exciting than your wildest dreams. Based (very loosely!) on the epic poem by Homer, The Odyssey is the ultimate journey ... to hell and back again, with gods and monsters.

A love story that lasts decades, this is proper Greek stuff (sex! swords! sandals!) with all the boring bits removed, with a host of characters, including the terrifying Sea God Poseidon, Circe the Sexy Sorceress and the dreaded Siren of the Sea, who combine to conjure up a mighty storm and keep you on the edge of your seat.

Artsreach director Kerry Bartlett says: “Dave Mynne is quite simply an outstanding performer; his skill with just a few simple props and captivating storytelling never fails to entertain.”

David Mynne will perform The Odyssey – Greek Stuff! at the Memorial Hall, Piddletrenthide on Friday 11th November, Shipton Gorge on Saturday 12th and Langton Matravers on Sunday 13th.

Scottish folk trio

VILLAGES A NEW Scottish folk group, the Firelight Trio, who play a broad and colourful sweep of European folk music, from the Balkans to Scandinavia, Scottish reels to soulful klezmer, come to Wootton Fitzpaine village hall on Friday 11th November, Briantspuddle on Saturday 12th and Shillingstone’s Portman Hall on Sunday 13th.

With more than 25 years of experience as professional musicians in bands including Moishe’s Bagel and Journeyman, Firelight Trio has a repertoire of traditional material and original compositions which are strongly influenced by the band members’ individual experience.

Together, Phil Alexander, Gavin Marwick and Ruth Morris create a rich tapestry of folk dance and song on fiddle, nyckelharpa and accordion.

Classic Christie

HONITON HONITON Community Theatre takes over the town’s Beehive Centre from 3rd to 5th November, with a production of Agatha Christie’s 1946 whodunnit, The Hollow, with curtain up at 7.15pm.

A classic country house murder story, The Hollow features Christie’s famous Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot, and is better described as a will-she-get-awaywith-it tale of unhappiness, love and loyalty.

Other live performances at the Beehive during November include the regular folk cafe on Wednesday 16th, a tribute concert, Simon and Garfunkel Through the Ages on Saturday 19th and The History of Rock, with a live band travelling through decades of rock music, on Friday 25th.

There is a treat on screen for ballet lovers, with a live from Covent Garden screening of the Royal Ballet’s diamond anniversary showcase on Thursday 24th. The programme includes a new work by Christopher Wheeldon, the choreographer who was born and had his first dance lessons at West Coker.

The Young Lit Fix

Ghostlight by Kenneth Oppel

Published by Guppy Press. RRP £7.99

Recommended by Antonia Squire for ages 9+

WHEN Gabe takes a summer job guiding tourists around the island lighthouse, he happily invents ghost stories to intrigue the visitors. All in fun of course, Gabe doesn’t believe in ghosts. Right up until Rebecca Strand makes herself known to him on his latest visit to the lighthouse. 100 years earlier Rebecca and her father, the lighthouse keeper, die in mysterious circumstances. Their bodies found on the rocks below with no explanation of how they both fell to their deaths.

Rebecca needs Gabe’s help to find the Ghostlight to finally destroy a malevolent spirit that grows ever stronger and threatens to turn all living things into lost souls. With help from both the living and the dead, Gabe and Rebecca set off on a terrifying adventure to save humanity.

Fun and creepy, this is a heart pounding good adventure perfect for readers 9+. I loved every moment of it, and it’s perfect for Halloween!