10 minute read
Arts & Entertainments
Chess the musical is anything but black and white
by Lorraine Gibson
With its two protagonists – an American and a Soviet – pitted against one another in a battle to prove who’s the most powerful, Chess has never been more relatable.
Written by Sir Tim Rice, he of monumental hits like Evita, Joseph and The Lion King, along with ABBA songwriters, Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, Chess is a complex but engrossing rock opera.
And with mighty songs like One Night in Bangkok and I Know Him So Well, it no great surprise that it attracts full houses and standing ovations the world over.
Now it’s Christchurch’s turn, as the award-winning Milton Musical Society returns to the Regent’s stage with their take on this anything-but-black-andwhite musical.
In a politically-driven, Cold War-era chess tournament, two grandmasters of the game, one from the US and the other from the Soviet Union, clash, not over borders but over a woman who manages one, and loves the other.
The metaphor is unmistakable, the tale as old as time.
From Merano to Bangkok, the players, lovers, politicians and spies manipulate and are manipulated to a pulsing rock score that also includes: Heaven Help My Heart, Nobody’s Side, Someone Else’s Story and Anthem.
The original One Night in Bangkok, performed by Murray Head with Anders Glenmark, was a worldwide smash, reaching number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, while I Know Him So Well, by Elaine Paige and Barbara Dickson was number one in the UK charts for four weeks in February 1985.
Chess opened in London’s West End the following year and stayed for three! It enjoyed a West End revival in 2018 and has been popular all over Europe.
This is Milton Musical Society’s first production at the Regent Centre prepandemic. Its previous best-selling productions include: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and Oklahoma.
Curtain up is from Wednesday 27 to Saturday 30 April at 7.30 pm with a Saturday matinee at 2.30pm.
Tickets: £18 (concessions £17) from www.regentcentre. co.uk or 01202 499199.
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
SUPERSONIC 70s SHOW
Friday 1st April 7.30pm Tickets £21.50
(Box Office bookings over £20 incur £1 booking fee)
EXCITING SCIENCE
Tuesday 12th April 1pm Tickets £12.50 / U16s £10 SNAKE DAVIS & HIS BAND
Saturday 2nd April 7.30pm Tickets £20
(Box Office bookings incur £1 booking fee per transaction)
JOHN VERITY BAND
Thursday 14th April 7.30pm. Tickets £18.50 THE DUKE (12A)
4th & 5th April 7.30pm Matinee 6th April 2pm Tickets £8 Eve, Mat £7, U16s £6
(Box Office bookings over £20 incur £1 booking fee)
PHANTOM OF THE OPEN (12A)
16th 18th & 19th April 7.30pm Matinee 20th April 2.30pm Tickets £8 Eve, Mat £7, U16s £6
Wimborne Musical Theatre Society presents
Wimborne Musical Theatre Presents LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS
Thur 7th - Sat 9th April 7.30pm AT THE
Matinee - Sat 9th April 2.30pm
Tickets £16, Concessions £14 West Borough, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 1LT Thursday 7th - Saturday 9th April 2022 7.30 pm evenings & 2.30 pm Saturday matinee
(Box Office bookings over £20 incur £1 booking fee) Tickets £16.00, Senior Citizens & Children under 16 - £14.00
Box Office 01202 885566 Book online at www.tivoliwimborne.co.uk RUSSELL KANE Outside Box Office hours please phone 01202 659425 LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS THE ESSEX VARIANT! Book and Lyrics by HOWARD ASHMAN. Music by ALAN MENKEN Based on the film by Roger Corman, Screenplay by Charles Griffith. Originally produced by the WPA Theatre (Kyle Renick, Producing Director). Originally produced at the Orpheum Theatre, New York City by the WPA. Theatre, David Geffen, Cameron Mackintosh and the Shubert Organization. This amateur production is presented by arrangement with Music Theatre International (Europe). All authorised performance materials are also supplied by MTI Europe www.mtishows.co.uk. LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS was originally directed by Howard Ashman with Musical Staging by Edie Cowan. www.wimbornemusical.co.uk @wimbornemusical wimbornemusical (SOLD OUT)
Wednesday 20th April 8pm Tickets £20 ALI & AVA (15)
11th, 12th & 13th April 7.30pm Matinee 13th April 2.30pm Tickets £8 Eve, Mat £7, U16s £6
(Box Office bookings over £20 incur £1 booking fee)
AN EVENING WITH JOHN ILLSLEY
“The Life and Times of Dire Straits – Music & Memories”. Thursday 21st April Tickets £30
Camp it up at Dorset’s biggest, boogiest family music festival
by Lorraine Gibson
It may be 14 years since Rob da Bank and his wife Josie staged their first Camp Bestival at Lulworth but he admits that he still gets a huge kick from those first glimpses of the castle as he arrives.
“As we get towards Lulworth, it’s always a beautiful sight and we can’t wait to get to the beach for a swim. It always feels like going on holiday and we’re delighted to be coming back to Dorset again this year.”
Rob and Josie have four boys, and as we chat we discover that a couple of our children are similar ages so we have equally similar family memories of ‘Camp Besti’ over the years. Like dressing up with as much gusto as the kids, or hoisting them up to see Mr Tumble and their being so tired from the activities that they’d be literally dropping come (inflatable) bed-time.
Rob and Josie were already running a music festival when they discovered their ‘castle in a field’. “We’d been running Bestival but we went to Big Chill Dorset at Lulworth,” he says. “We thought it would be a great place for a family festival. Having kids was the reason we set up Camp Bestival: we wanted something a bit more child-friendly.
He adds: “That’s not to say a boring thing with screaming kids, anything but, it’s always been a place where grown-ups have as much fun as the children.
“So, we rang the owner, James Weld and he was bang up for it.
“Over the years there have been so many highlights: Chuck Berry, PJ Harvey, Florence and the Machine…” says Rob, “but the main one is still walking round the fields and seeing everyone so happy. No parents shouting at children, just good vibes.”
Tickets for the four-day event are selling fast and, surprisingly, Rob says that almost 50 per cent of attendees now book boutique camping. That’s a hefty chunk but, aftermath of covid restrictions on travel aside, Rob has a theory.
“People are doing less festivals so the ones they do, they seem to want to do well.
“That doesn’t mean you need to spend a lot of money. Other people prefer to turn up, get stuck in and they have just as good a time. That’s what I love about it.”
This year’s theme is Desert Island Disco, so don your satin flares and lurex top for a line-up that includes the holy trinity of disco - Sister Sledge, Earth, Wind & Fire Experience and Kool and the Gang.
Attractions reflect Camp Bestival’s eclecticism.
“We have the Wall of Death, tree climbing and new attractions,” says Rob. “The stunts in Extreme Bike Battles will be spectacular, but the most exciting thing will be the Guinness world record disco-dance challenge.”
“I can’t wait for that,” says the big kid at heart. Camp Bestival runs 28-31 July at Lulworth. www.dorset.campbestival.net.
YEOVIL PHOENIX BRIDGE CLUB A NEW BEGINNING
YEOVIL PHOENIX BRIDGE CLUB A NEW BEGINNING Starting on STARTING ON THURSDAY 7TH APRIL at 1.30pm THURSDAY 7th APRIL at 1.30pm
Thereafter friendly duplicate bridge every Thursday at 2pm at the Yeovil Golf Club, assisted play and partners. Thereafter friendly duplicate bridge every Thursday at 2pm at the Yeovil Golf Club, assisted play and partners.Register your interest at
yeovilphoenix@gmail.com
Or call Bob Warrender REGISTER YOUR INTEREST AT 01963 440 070 yeovilphoenix@gmail.com www.bridgewebs.com/yeovil OR CALL BOB WARRENDER 01963 440070
STURMINSTEwww.bridgewebs.com/yeovil R NEWTONTHE EXCHANGE
HAPPY & GLORIOUS
THURS 21ST APRIL, 2PM Neil Sands and his wonderful West End cast celebrate the 70 glorious years of Her Majesty’s reign.
£15/ £14 conc
ROXY MAGIC
SAT 30TH APRIL, 7:30PM Celebrating the music of Roxy Music and Bryan Ferry.
£19/ £18 conc F A RI VISION OF 6TH MAY, ELVIS 7:30PM Rob Kingsley is internationally renowned as the best Elvis Presley tribute touring the world today.
£22
FULL EVENT LISTINGS AT: www.sturexchange.co.uk 01258 475137
Arts & Entertainment
by Faith Eckersall
There’s the chance to spend the Evening with Wayne Sleep, as well as enjoy music from a Roxy Music tribute coming up over the next few weeks at Sturminster Newton’s Exchange venue.
On 22 April, for the first time, Wayne Sleep invites theatre audiences to join him as he looks back over a glittering career spanning over five decades. There’ll be a little bit of dance and the unique opportunity of a Q&A in the second half of the show, which starts at 7.30pm.
If Roxy Music’s more your thing, then mark 30 April in your diary as that’s the day the UK’s only Roxy Music/ Bryan Ferry tribute rolls into town, with sweet sounds from four decades of music. Book at stur-exchange.co.uk.
Diana Spencer comes to Blackmore Vale
By Faith Eckersall
Spencer, the film about Princess Diana, is coming to Yetminster and Castle Cary as part of the Moviola Film Nights, which have restarted.
The film will be screened at the Jubilee Hall in Church Street on 5 April with doors open at 7pm.
Yetminster Film Nights work in partnership with Moviola, a registered charity which provides a rural cinema service operating in the West Country and is run by volunteers.
Films are shown in the Jubilee Hall, on the first Tuesday of the month from autumn to early summer. Tickets are priced at £6 – which includes a choc ice – and are available at the Spar Shop in Yetminster from two weeks before each showing. Wine is also on sale on the evening.
On 27 April, Spencer will then be screened at the Caryford Community Hall in Maggs Lane with doors open at 7pm. For up-to-date information about which films are showing, go to the Moviola website www.moviola.org.
Help sweep Dorset’s sands clean
The Great Dorset Beach Clean is back for 2022 and will take place over the week of April 2-10, coinciding with the first weekend of the Easter holiday.
Organised by Litter Free Dorset, this will be the 32nd annual Great Dorset Beach Clean. No less than 16 beach cleans are being organised for the event, and each one will be hosted by local organisations and community groups along the Dorset Coast, from Lyme Regis to Christchurch.
Sophie Colley, Litter Free Dorset’s coordinator, said: “Get involved with this year’s Great Dorset Beach Clean to have some fun, meet like-minded people from the community and take part in an Easter litter hunt.
“Help us clear up our beaches prior to the summer season so we can spread the message that in Dorset we like to keep our beaches clean.”
Last year’s 2021 Great Dorset Beach Clean saw more than 300 volunteers take part. Thanks to the hard work of local volunteers, the event cleared 165 bags of rubbish including tyres, buried rusty lobster pots, tents, oil drums and a gazebo from Dorset’s beaches.
Cleaning up the beautiful coastline will not only prevent new materials from entering our marine environment, but it will also help to remove materials and degrading plastics washed ashore that may have been in the sea for many years. Over time, plastics break up into lots of smaller pieces, becoming harder to remove from the marine environment. While larger littered items can entrap and entangle marine life, smaller pieces can be easily ingested, also causing harm.
She added: “By taking part in this year’s Great Dorset Beach Clean, you’ll be working alongside other brilliant volunteers to extract and prevent litter from entering/returning into our oceans, positively impacting our local bathing water quality and the marine life within it.”
Lizzie Prior, beach-watch manager at the Marine Conservation Society, said: “The Great Dorset Beach Clean is a fantastic project and we’re really pleased to be involved in this year’s events.
“Getting involved in beach-cleaning projects is a fantastic way to get outdoors, give back and protect our ocean.”
Anyone who would like to join this year’s Great Dorset Beach Clean is invited to check out Litter Free Dorset’s social media platforms to stay updated and to find a beach clean near you: Facebook @LitterFreeDorset Instagram @litterfreedorset Twitter @LitterFreeDrst
