Arts & Entertainments

You’ll need your laughing gear in order!

by Faith Eckersall

If you fancy a laugh as the autumn nights approach, it’s time to get booking at Salisbury Playhouse which has two shows for lovers of great comedy. The first, from October 4 to 8, is Spike, by Have I Got News For You’s Ian Hislop and Nick Newman, a homage to Spike Milligan of Goon Show fame. It’s the booming fifties, and Britain is in the clutches of Goon mania as men, women and children across the country scramble to get their ear to a wireless for another instalment of The Goon Show. While Harry Secombe and Peter Sellers get down to the serious business of becoming overnight celebrities, fellow Goon and chief writer Spike finds himself pushing the boundaries of comedy, and testing the patience of the BBC. Will Spike’s dogged obsession with finding the funny elevate The Goons to soaring new heights, or will the whole thing come crashing down with the stroke of a potato peeler? Meanwhile, on September 17, Jenny Éclair stars in her one-woman show Sixty (FFS!). In her show, which has extended its tour, Jenny confronts ‘a new decade of decrepitude’. Now it takes 20 minutes of scrolling down to find her DOB when filling in forms online, should she celebrate or crawl into a hole? What will her 60’s hold for this 1960’s babe and is it a legal requirement to buy Nordic walking poles? Find out on September 17. Visit: wiltshirecreative.co.uk/ whats-on/main-house.

See TV star via live National Theatre

HIGH ST, CHRISTCHURCH (01202) 499199 www.regentcentre.co.uk

ELVIS (12A)

Fri 15 Jul: 10:30 | Mon 18 Jul: 11:00 (Sub), 20:00 | Tue 19 - Wed 20 Jul: 15:00 | Thu 21 Jul: 11:30

SAVE THE CINEMA (12A) Fri 15 July: 14:30 A hairdresser begins a campaign to save the Lyric theatre, enlisting the help of Steven Spielberg to host a special premiere.

A WEEKEND BY THE SEA WITH TALKING PICTURES TV

Sat 16 – Sun 17 July | £30 a day. £50 for the weekend Talking Pictures TV hosts a weekend celebrating fi lm and TV history, with lots of newsreels, short fi lms, Saturday Morning Pictures, lost TV episodes and fi lms on the big screen.

GOOD LUCK TO YOU, LEO GRANDE (15) Mon 18 Jul: 14:30, 17:00 | Tue 19 - 20 Jul: 12:00, 20:00 | Thu 21 Jul: 15:30 (Subtitled)

NT LIVE: PRIMA FACIE (15) Thu 21 July: 19:00 | Sun 24 July: 14:00 Jodie Comer (Killing Eve) makes her West End debut in the UK premiere of Suzie Miller’s award-winning play.

THE RAILWAY CHILDREN RETURN (PG) Fri 22 Jul: 11:00, 14:00, 17:00, 19:30 | Sat 23 Jul: 11:00 | Sun 24 Jul: 11:00, 19:30 | Mon 25 - Wed 27 Jul: 11:00, 14:00, 17:00, 19:30 | Thu 28 Jul: 11:00

CINDERELLA – P*SSED UP PANTO (LIVE) Sat 23 July: 19:30 | 16+ Have you ever watched a pantomime and wondered what mischief the cast would get up to if there weren’t any children in the audience? Now’s your chance to fi nd out!

THE MANY VOICES OF DEBRA STEPHENSON (LIVE) Thu 28 July: 19:30 Join Debra (Dead Ringers, Spitting Image) as she hurtles through a multiverse of musical icons, politicians and celebrities.

MINIONS: THE RISE OF GRU (U) Fri 29 Jul: 11:00, 14:30 | Sat 30 Jul: 11:00, 14:30 (Sub) | Tue 2 Aug: 11:00 (Sub), 13:30, 15:45 | Wed 3 - Thu 4 Aug: 11:00, 13:30, 15:45 | Fri 5 Aug: 11:00, 13:30, 15:45 (Sub) | Sat 6 Aug: 11:00 | Sun 7 Aug: 12:00 | Mon 8 - Wed 10 Aug: 11:00, 14:30 | Thu 11 Aug: 11:00, 13:15 (Sub), 15:30

TOP GUN: MAVERICK (12A) Fri 29 Jul: 16:45 | Sat 30 Jul: 16:45, 20:00 | Sun 31 Jul: 20:00

by Lorraine Gibson

After enjoying huge critical acclaim for her role as the beautiful but deadly assassin Villanelle in the hit TV series, Killing Eve, Jodie Comer has become theatrical gold. Now there’s the chance to see the award-winning actress’s West End debut performance in Prima Facie, at London’s Harold Pinter Theatre via NT:LIVE. Comer plays Tessa, a young and brilliant barrister who, after working her way up from a working-class background, is at the top of her game when she faces an unexpected event that forces her to confront her patriarchal power. Captured live in the intimate theatre, this is as close to the real thing as you’ll get and minus the train fares and fancy London ticket prices. It’s at the Regent Centre on Thursday, July 21, at 19:00 and Sunday, July 24, at 14:00 (Cert. 15/120 mins). Tickets £14 (concessions £12).Regentcentre.co.uk.

Arts & Entertainments

Everybody clap your pans!

Cook up a stink as part of Rufus Skumskins O’Parsleys’ kitchen crew or bring a pot to bang and ward off evil cakes as LAStheatre head to Dorset this summer with their outdoor theatre show The Rascally Diner - a fun-filled, messy performance about food! Chef Rufus Skumskins O’Parsley is famous for creating some of the world’s most disgusting dishes. (You might know him from the award-winning children’s book The Rascally Cake, written by Jeanne Willis and Korky Paul). Rufus went viral after baking a huge, human-eating cake from ingredients including snot, blubber and a cowpat. He only escaped being gobbled up by the gruesome gateau because he tasted awful - a result of his foul diet. For 10 years now, Rufus has been on a mission to make everyone taste bad and protect them from the creature he cooked up... Join LAStheatre for a show that gently explores food provenance, sustainability, and healthy eating in a silly, song-filled, riotous open-air performance for children aged five+ and their families. Visit The Rascally Diner at Alderholt Village Hall (07709 933652) at 2:30pm on Thursday, July 28, and Broadmayne First School Field at 11:30am on Friday, July 29 (07443 659912). Please note that this is an outdoor event - dress for all weather and bring your own chair/blanket to sit on. Further information and tickets are available online atartsreach.co.uk.

Although it is not currently a legal requirement, please consider wearing a face covering to protect yourself and others when visiting the Tivoli. PLEASE KEEP CHECKING OUR WEBSITE

THE ULTIMATE CLASSIC ROCK SHOW

Saturday 16th July 7.30pm Tickets £25

(Box Office bookings over £20 incur £1 booking fee) The Blandford School presents SWEENEY TODD

Tuesday 19th - Friday 22nd July, 7pm Tickets £15 Concs £12

(Box Office bookings over £20 incur £1 booking fee) KOSSOFF:

THE BAND PLAYS ON

A celebration of the music of Paul Kossoff featuring songs from Free and Back Street Crawler Saturday 23rd July 7.30pm Tickets £18

(Box Office bookings over £20 incur £1 booking fee) GRETCHEN PETERS

Friday 26th August 7.30pm Tickets £32.50 & £27.50

(Box Office bookings over £20 incur £1 booking fee) PRONGHORN & THE TWO MAN TRAVELLING MEDICINE SHOW

Wed 31st August 7.30pm Tickets £15

(Box Office bookings over £20 incur £1 booking fee)

LONDON REPERTORY PLAYERS RETURN TO THE TIVOLI, PRESENTING A SUMMER SEASON OF 5 PLAYS! TAKING STEPS

by Alan Ayckbourn

Wed 27th July - Sat 30th July 7.30pm, Sat 30th July 2.30pm

(Box Office bookings over £20 incur £1 booking fee) THE SMALL HOURS

by Francis Durbridge

Wed 3rd Aug - Sat 6th Aug 7.30pm, Sat 6th Aug 2.30pm

(Box Office bookings over £20 incur £1 booking fee) FALLEN ANGELS

by Noel Coward

Wed 10th Aug - Sat 13th Aug 7.30pm, Sat 13th Aug 2.30pm

(Box Office bookings over £20 incur £1 booking fee) I HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE

by J.B Priestley

Wed 17th Aug - Sat 20th Aug 7.30pm, Sat 20th Aug 2.30pm

(Box Office bookings over £20 incur £1 booking fee) ABIGAIL’S PARTY

by Mike Leigh

Tues 23rd Aug - Thurs 25th Aug 7.30pm Mat Thurs 25th Aug 2.30pm

(Box Office bookings over £20 incur £1 booking fee)

Are you ready to rock and roll?

Love a tribute band? Then you’ll love these! On October 7 All Floyd are appearing at the Salisbury Arts Centre, bringing the unique sound of Pink Floyd’s finest music. Lovers of the Irish band thin Lizzy should get ready for November’s appearance by Limehouse Lizzy, who are dedicated to keeping the spirit of Celtic rock icon Phil Lynott and his band alive. They appear on Friday, November 18, at 8pm. More details can be found at: wiltshirecreative.co.uk/ whats-on/salisbury-artscentre.

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In the summer season, parties include all of our popular rides and attractions PLUS an exclusive party room where your guests can enjoy a Party Provider of the Year Primary Times Readers Star Awards selection of food, drinks and of course, cake! In the winter season you can party and play in Wild Thing - our huge indoor play centre which includes the interactive game wall, ‘Zap Zone’. Log on to the website for all the information and to check availability. Visit adventurewonderland.co.uk.

Peace, love and wellness = happy campers

by Lorraine Gibson

Festivals have always had a bit of a wellness vibe going on, but often in the shape of a solitary yoga area in a far corner of the field. Not any more. A Pandemic-driven increase in the focus on mental wellbeing and health issues has seen self-care take centre stage this summer and never more so than at local weekender, Camp Bestival. Co-curators, Josie and Rob da Bank, pioneers of the wellbeing movement, have enouraged it at their festivals for years but this time, feelgood options are off the scale. From ice baths, sleep therapies and breathwork, to meditation, moon healings and cleansing fire ceremonies, the family-friendly event at Lulworth will feature fields of calm and restoration for festival-goers to unwind between the music mayhem. Rob da Bank, who told the New Stour & Avon that he sees the Dorset festival as his own family holiday, said: “Josie and I have always had a wellness space since we started Bestival in 2004 and loved being able to sit somewhere quiet and contemplate the world, have a treatment, or try something new - from knitting to chanting with strangers! “This summer,” he added, “we feel even more blessed to be able to put on a festival with everything that’s happening in the world and for the first time are giving our wellness areas the theme - Freedom.” As with most families, the da Bank kids’ happiness is crucial to the ultimate success of their family holiday. “So many of us take it for granted we can jump in a car or on a train, turn up at a festival and watch our kids run free as we sit back and enjoy our freedom,” he says. “This is not the case for so many, so, in the most positive and inspiring way, we hope to inject some of that spirit into everything.” At Slow Motion, a dedicated zone for boosting mental health, reducing stress and improving sleep, ice baths, also known as cold water immersion, claim to improve wellbeing and aid muscle recovery – useful after hours of dancing. Breathing and bespoke mindfulness areas, the Retreat yoga will stage children-friendly yoga workshops and Cosmic Kids will keep them calm. Nearby, is the Sleep Retreat, welcome at an action-packed festival, wild moon wellbeing and women’s circles that ‘give women the tools to connect and live a more balanced life’. Then there are ‘gong’ baths where reverberations are said to rejuvenate the spirits and Shamanic Drumming Journeys to help solve life’s mysteries. The Water and Stone Wild Spa, is all hot tubs, saunas and a Bedouin-style relaxation lounge but if the fastest way to feeling good is a full-on physical blow out, try Camp Bestival’s Boot Camp. The year 2022 marks a 14-year history of entertaining families for Camp Bestival. Rudimental and Rag ‘n’ Bone Man will lead this year’s line-up as legends Sister Sledge, Earth Wind & Fire Experience and Kool and The Gang spread disco fever while Razorlight, Shed Seven, and party bangers King, for example, will also rock the stage. Camp Bestival Dorset is at Lulworth Castle, July 28 to 31. Visit campbestival.net.

HOT AND COLD: Fire ceremony and an ice bath

BSO’s show for residents

Residents from three Dorset care homes enjoyed their own intimate performance by musicians from Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (BSO). French horn and piano player Kevin Pritchard and violinist Jenni Curiel visited the Colten Care residents as part of the care group’s celebrations for World Music Day 2022. The performance had been due to take place alongside a picnic at Poole Park. But after rain was forecast, residents of Fernhill in Ferndown and Abbey View in Sherborne joined with residents at Colten’s newest home Bourne View, in Poole. The musicians led the audience through a stunning one-hour set which included popular pieces by Schubert and Tchaikovsky, as well as hit songs from the 1960s and a medley of Cole Porter classics. Kevin said: “We’ve played at many Colten Care homes and always receive a wonderful welcome.” “Bourne View is an exceptionally beautiful home and performing a summer concert for so many residents together, on the picturesque roof garden level was perfect.” Jenni agreed: “Everyone was swaying, tapping their toes or clapping.”

by Lorraine Gibson

When Andrea Hook tells you she’s going to paint the town - she literally means it. Last October, the award-winning Wimborne artist spotted a colourful pumpkin display in her local grocer’s shop and was so inspired that she decided to capture it. The result - a small and beautifully-detailed nod to impressionism - was so well received that Andrea painted another shop, Winfred’s 1929, and then another and then some more. “Originally my only intention was to paint the pumpkin scene for an autumnal post in social media,” she says. “Then I painted Winifred’s as it stocks my work and the local response was so amazing, I kept going.” The resulting miniature masterpieces have now been immortalised in a 2023 calendar called Painting The Town. Naturally, and judging by the surge of positive comments on her Facebook posts, it is rapidly becoming the talk of the town - and beyond. In a charming example of things going full circle, Andrea’s calendar is now stocked in two of the premises she painted - Gulliver’s Bookshop and Wimborne Model Town & Gardens - with others likely to follow suit. Amazed, but thrilled by the success of what began as an artist’s passing whim, she says: “It’s a delight to see my paintings in print, after several months of painting just some of the wonderful, charming independent shops we have in Wimborne. “I am extremely grateful for the support and encouragement I received from the local community and the shopkeepers when I started painting the series. “I’ve met some really lovely people through this painting venture,” she adds, “I’m going to continue painting the town, there are so many characterful and inspiring buildings to capture. I’ll be painting for quite a while.” Besides selling through local stockists Andrea will sell her calendars at local events, including the Wimborne Flower Festival at the Minster, from September 2 to 5, and Handmade Wimborne at the Allendale Centre, on October 16. Time to pop those dates in your soon-to-be-replaced calendar!

Horticultural show is back after two years

Broadstone Horticultural Society members are looking forward to their Summer Show. It takes place in the War Memorial Hall, Tudor Rd, Broadstone, on Saturday, August 13,from 1-4pm. There are classes for all types of fruit, vegetables and flowers as well as cookery, photography, floral art, craft and children’s classes. Most classes are open to nonmembers. There will also be cake and plant stalls, raffle and tombola. Schedules are available on the website. New members are always very welcome and there is a varied mix of speakers from September to June. Membership is £5 and gives discount at some nurseries. Visit: broadstonehortsoc. blogspot.co.uk or email bhs. show@outlook.com.

Save the date and paint the town

Giant buzz expected at music fest

by Lorraine Gibson

Legendary punk band Buzzcocks could well start a commotion when they headline a music festival being held in the shadow of the Cerne Abbas Giant and his famous 36 feet-long appendage. Barnstomper is back after a two year lay-off due to Covid and those who’ve fallen in love with it are already buzzing with anticipation. The Dorset Downs will vibrate to the sounds of bands including Holy Moly And The Crackers, Guns Of Navarone, Imperial Leisure and other well-known acts. Phil Hoyle, landlord of Ringwood’s London Tavern who is one of the festival organisers, said: “Securing these acts has been a real effort but it will be superb. “Holy Moly And The Crackers are a lively female-fronted folk-rock outfit from Newcastle and Imperial Leisure are a ska/rock band from London. “We also have Black Water Country, a six-piece Dorset-based folk-punk band and Warrington’s Roughneck Riot who are folky and punky. “Music and beer go together perfectly and we have plenty of both.” No doubt helped by the venue, the Cerne Abbas Brewery and a range of beers as eclectic as the music line-up. Phil adds: “With the cost of living crisis we have kept the price as low as possible to encourage people to finish off the festival season with a bang. Two days is £75 which includes camping. “We’re looking forward to welcoming our regulars but also new festival-goers to what we believe will be the best Barnstomper yet. “Hopefully we’ll have great weather, but never mind the rain, we’ve got Buzzcocks.” September 2 and 3. Visit: barnstomper.co.uk.

Building a model weekend

Building toys from the 1950s, including Lott’s Bricks, Bayko and Minibrix, will be making a hands-on appearance for one weekend only, at Wimborne Model Town on July 23 and 24, at the start of the charity attraction’s 70th anniversary summer holiday season. The construction model sets, popular before the appearance of Lego, will be available for visitors to try as part of a special Model Buildings Weekend. Jack Gritton from Cobnut 3D will also be on hand to demonstrate and explain the process of model making with 3D printers. Cobnut has been producing the miniature models for the Model of the Model Town, the developing 1/100th scale diorama which forms the 70th anniversary project now on view. Booking is not required and there are no additional charges for the event.