Arts & Entertainment

Music veteran is still going strong

by Lorraine Gibson

He may be 83, but Marty Wilde, the original 1950s pioneer of British rock and roll and veteran recording artist and songwriter, is still performing live and very much kicking.

Speaking to him ahead of his show at the Tivoli in Wimborne, we get chatting about Elvis Presley and he says that The King was a huge influence on his early career.

“We all wanted to be Elvis. Me, Cliff [Richard] and Billy [Fury], we all copied him – the hair, the clothes, the dancing, the turned-up collars and rolled up sleeves. It took me a while to realise that I wasn’t Elvis and needed do my own thing.”

Marty did do his own thing, racking up hit after hit with the likes of Bad Boy, Sea of Love, Endless Sleep and Teenager in Love. Then he wrote songs for Lulu, Status Quo and the massive next-generation teen anthem, Kids in America for his daughter, Kim Wilde.

“You could feel the excitement in those early Elvis performances and that’s the thing that’s stayed with me. It’s what I still aim to bring to every show I do,” Marty said.

He’s been taking the current show to venues all year, including a 23-date tour with fellow 1960s artists Mark Wynter and Eden Kane.

But taking a rare month off – his first break in several years – has seen him write new songs, as well as his memoirs, and even get back in the recording studio.

By the end of 2022, the evergreen hit machine will have completed 54 concert dates and shows no sign of flagging with more dates scheduled for 2023.

Marty and his band, the Wildcats, will be rocking the stage at the Tivoli Theatre on Thursday 1 December.

Marty Wilde says Elvis was a huge influence on his career

Halo Fine Art in Brewery Square, Dorchester, is holding a Fabian Perez event in the gallery on Friday 11 November.

Fabian (pictured) has become a leading figurative artist of his generation, collected and acclaimed across the world. He is at the gallery

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

LEO SAYER: THE SHOW MUST GO ON! PLEASE KEEP CHECKING OUR WEBSITE

Friday 28th October 7.30pm Tickets £35

(Box Office bookings incur £1 booking fee per transaction)

BLANCMANGE Private View Tour

Saturday 29th October 7.30pm Tickets £25

(Box Office bookings incur £1 booking fee per transaction) BETH NIELSEN CHAPMAN: CRAZYTOWN TOUR 2022

Sunday 30th October 8pm Tickets £32.50/£27.50

(Box Office bookings incur £1 booking fee per transaction) AMSTERDAM (15)

31st Oct 7.30pm Matinees 1st November 2pm & 3rd November 1pm Tickets £8 eve / £7 mat £6 U16s

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

Tuesday 1st November 7.30pm Tickets £13

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

THE GREATEST LOVE OF ALL:

A Tribute to Whitney Houston starring Belinda Davids Wednesday 2nd November 7.30pm Tickets £25.50 THE BRITISH CARPENTERS

Thursday 3rd November 7.30pm Tickets £23.50 LES DAWSON: FLYING HIGH STARRING JON CULSHAW

Friday 4th November 7.30pm Tickets £25 THE LOST KING (12A)

5th, 7th & 9th

November 7.30pm

Matinee 8th

November 2.00pm

Tickets £8 eve / £7 mat £6 U16s BANFF MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL 2022 (12A)

Embark on a thrilling night of adventure with a brand-new collection of short films!

Red Programme: Tues 8th Nov 7.30pm. Tickets £14.50 (concs £13.00), Groups of 6+: £13 each, available via Box Office

Arts & Entertainment

Fresh take on a Shakespeare classic

A radical and electrifying new adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Richard II is being performed in Gillingham next week.

A nation is in turmoil. Three first cousins – Richard, Aumerle and Henry – battle for the supreme position of authority. Who will succeed in saving their country from a trail of ultimate destruction? And who will survive the challenge for the throne?

African-Caribbean theatre

company Tangle’s unique interpretation of one of the most compelling of Shakespeare’s history plays explores the politics of power and family alliances, and an original score of Zimbabwean music and song. The play is being performed at Gillingham School Theatre (phone 01747 213023) on Wednesday 2 November at 7pm. Further information and tickets are available online at www.artsreach.co.uk Ready, steady – it’s panto-time!

The festive season may still be some time away but it’s never too early to start planning Christmas, according to Yeovil’s Octagon Theatre which is taking bookings for this year’s panto, Dick Whittington.

The magical tale of the young man who set out to seek his fame, fortune and happiness in London Town, complete with his clever cat, runs from 9 December to 1 January.

Performances feature Yeovil favourites Gordon Cooper and Jack Glanville, and make the perfect introduction to theatre for youngsters, with plenty of fun, games and audience participation.

More details on ticket bookings at www.octagontheatre.co.uk

Folk from Scotland

Firelight Trio are a new Scottish band who perform a full broad and colourful sweep of European folk music, from the music of the Balkans to Scandinavian polkas, and irresistible klezmer.

Band members Phil Alexander, Gavin Marwick and Ruth Morris (pictured) have over 25 years of experience as professional musicians in bands including Moishe’s Bagel, Gavin Marwick’s Journeyman and more. Firelight Trio are in Briantspuddle (07788 100273) on Saturday 12 November and Shillingstone (01258 860319) on Sunday 13 November. Further information and tickets are also online at www. artsreach.co.uk

Richard the Second will be performed in Gillingham

Veteran Cornish actor David Mynne is bringing The Odyssey to Piddletrenthide Memorial Hall next month. The performance is based very loosely on Homer’s epic poem – a love story that last decades, ‘proper Greek stuff’ with all the boring bits removed!

He will perform in Piddletrenthide (07786 880676) on Friday 11 November. Further information and tickets are available online at www.artsreach.co.uk Special evening at town museums

Visitors to any of a trio of Dorchester museums can now take in all three for the price of one special evening ticket today (Friday, October 28).

The town’s Keep Military Museum, Dorset Museum and Shire Hall Museum have teamed up to offer a special one-off ticket for all three to be used between 4-8pm.

Each of the venues will be hosting a unique activity on the night to welcome visitors.

The Keep will be encouraging guests to track down runaway mannequins, while Ghostbusters will be welcome at the Dorset Museum for spooky sightings, and the Shire Hall Museum will be showing off the historic cells in a new light with torchlight tours.

Adult tickets are available for £10, with children going free.

For more details, and to buy tickets, log on to www. discoverdorset.co.uk