Arts & Entertainments

Amelia’s Di and Viv and Rose at the Swan

The Swan Theatre Yeovil will present Di and Viv and Rose by Amelia Bullmore from Monday, January 17 to Saturday, January 22 at 7.45pm. Di, Viv and Rose meet at university. Rose likes boys, Di likes girls, and Viv wears clothes from the 1950s. They are young, hopeful and the best of friends. Together they can face the world through laughter and tears. Di and Viv and Rose is a funny and thoughtful exploration of female friendship. It is neither sentimental nor nostalgic. It just feels real. “Funny, universal and wise…. it is a play that will last” – The Times Tickets are £12 from swan-theatre.co.uk

Handmade for Christmas

Open daily 9.30am – 4.30pm until New Year’s Eve

(closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day)

A glorious collection of unique and beautiful handmade gifts from local makers, designers and artists

Visit us or shop online... The Workhouse Chapel Bath Road Sturminster Newton Dorset DT10 1DS www.workhousechapel.co.uk

ON SHOW: Silver Birches by Fran Lancaster

STURMINSTER NEWTON NEW YEAR’S DAY VINTAGE AND CLASSIC VEHICLE RUN

Visit Sturminster Newton’s Station Road car park between 10 and 11:30am to see around 200 vehicles gather and set off on the run Event sponsored by Harts of Stur

www.hartsofstur.com Held in aid of Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance For information contact Howard Copland on 01258 817628 aitch2@hotmail.com

Art group hosting New Year show at theatre restaurant

Some 40 original works of art by local artists will festoon the walls of the Gallery Restaurant and Bar at the Octagon Theatre in Yeovil between Thursday, January 6 and Tuesday, February 14. Yeovil Art Group’s New Year Exhibition will be launched by Mayor of Yeovil Evie Potts-Jones at the reception on January 6. The paintings show the extraordinary range of talent that exists in and around the town and will be available for to buy at reasonable prices. Yeovil Art Group has been in existence for over 70 years and has more than 80 members. Informal painting sessions are held every Monday afternoon at Birchfield Community Hall and members can attend regular workshops, demonstrations and critiques with professional artists as well as annual field trips. A minimum of two exhibitions in places of local interest are held each year to encourage artists to sell their work. To find out more about the group go to yeovilartgroup. com or email hello@ yeovilartgroup.com. For the exhibition contact lizwebster08@gmail.com or ring 01935 474095.

The David Hall, in Roundwell Street, South Petherton, is offering a variety of events to chase away the winter blues in January.

n Cara Dillon Saturday, January 15, 8pm Cara Dillon occupies an enviable position at the very top of her genre. This extraordinary Irish singer has been captivating audiences and achieving exceptional acclaim for over 20 years. She has (according to Mojo magazine) “Quite possibly the world’s most beautiful female voice”. Alongside a selection of favourites from her previous releases, Cara will be performing material from her new album Wanderer, which is a collection of beautiful and moving songs recorded in an intimate setting with her husband and musical partner Sam Lakeman. Every note and word sung with a passion and confidence earned through a life of experience singing traditional songs. Legions of fans will attest to their impassioned performances with Cara’s warm and natural stage presence something to savour. Tickets: £22. No concessions

n Wille and The Bandits Saturday, January 22, 8pm Essentially, Wille and the Bandits is a classic Blues Rock three-piece, much in the vein of Cream or The Jimi Hendrix experience. But in a similar way to how these bands pushed the genre in their time, Wille and the Bandits try to take their sound beyond what is expected of such a traditional line up. The use of bizarre instrumentation and eclectic influences in the songwriting often pushes them more into a World music or progressive category. Wille and The Bandits have toured with artists such as Deep Purple through to the John Butler trio and played major festivals across Europe. Tickets: £17/ £16 Concessions

BEAUTY: Cara Dillon is at The David Hall on January 15. Below: Willie and the Bandits and, right, The Churchfitters

Winter blues are banished with Hall’s January events

n Coffee Morning Wednesday, January 26, 10am Pop in for a cup of real coffee and a chat. Look around the book and bric-abrac stalls and more often than not, listen to some live music. Entry is free.

n The Churchfitters Saturday, January 29, 8pm Why “Churchfitters”? Nobody knows! They’re not fitters and have absolutely nothing to do with churches. The name’s origin is lost in the mists of time but there is one aspect that suits them perfectly – its quirkiness. When your array of instruments includes a motorcycle petrol tank, a musical saw and a Mercedes Benzouki made from hubcaps, there’s little point worrying if the name makes sense… Saucepan dulcimer, glass harp, BingBong machine and magic boots all join some more conventional instruments (fiddle, banjo, sax and whistle, to name a few) to back Rosie Short’s sublime voice. The three flamboyant characters that make up Churchfitters present their uplifting and entertaining show with a unique dynamism and describe their music as ‘Folk Unlimited’. Tickets: £15. No concessions.

Tickets can be booked at thedavidhall.org.uk or on 01460 240 340.

Book illustrations go on show at gallery

TH T H E EXCHEXCHANGE NGE

STURMINSTER NEWTON

Fri 21st Jan, 7:30pm My Mountain Life by Simon Yates

Tal by accomplished exploratory mountaineer. £16/ £15 conc ––––––––Sat 22nd Jan, 7:30pm Greatest Songs of the Movies

From Pinewood to Hollywood! £17/ £16 conc ––––––––Thurs 27th Jan, 7pm Touching the Void (15)

inematic telling of Simon Yates' perilous journey. £5 ––––––––Sat 29th Jan, 7pm Radio GaGa

The ultimate Queen tribute. £21.50 ––––––––Fri 4th Feb, 7:30pm AA Fever

Live vocals and authentic outfits! £21.50

01258 475137 www.stur-exchange.co.uk Imagine: illustrating stories is the title of a new exhibition to be held at Salisbury’s Vanner Gallery from January 14 to 9 April 9. The gallery, in the High Street, (vannergallery.com) will feature original artwork from more than 20 new and established names in contemporary book illustration, with over 50 framed works available. Leading artists include Raymond Briggs, Eric Carle, Lauren Child, Shirley Hughes, Oliver Jeffers, Anita Jeram, David McKee, Jill Murphy, Helen Oxenbury, Axel Scheffler, Shaun Tan and many others. All original artwork is available for purchase in the gallery and online, and prices start at under £500. An online preview opens on Friday, January 7. Published artwork alongside

ON SHOW: Carle Papa’s Get Me The Moon working sketches will be on display, featuring many muchloved characters from favourite books such as Fungus the Bogeyman, Alice in Wonderland, Charlie and Lola, and The Nutbrown Hare. Gallery director David Christie said: “We’re thrilled to be showing this exhibition of contemporary book illustration. Illustration is such a diverse and vibrant area in contemporary art. We’re especially pleased to bring together some of the most famous and much-loved names in book illustration with artists who have built their reputations more recently. “Illustration has a unique power to ignite our imaginations. The pieces in Imagine: illustrating stories show just how wide and varied illustration can be. We can’t wait for our visitors to discover new favourites alongside iconic illustrations familiar to generations of readers.” The gallery is open Tuesday to Saturday 10am-5pm and Mondays by appointment. n vannergallery.com

It is now a legal requirement to wear a face covering when visiting and attending the theatre,

to reduce the risk both to yourself and to others and we respectfully request that customers continue to use the hand sanitisers provided, and to check in using the NHS COVID-19 app.

PLEASE KEEP CHECKING OUR WEBSITE

SLEEPING BEAUTY

17th December to 2nd January

(various times) Tickets Adults £17.50 U16s £14

1 in 10 free available via Box Office Plus Adults only (age 16+) performances on 30th Dec, 1st & 3rd Jan 7.30pm

(Box Office bookings incur £1 booking fee per transaction) A COUNTRY NIGHT IN NASHVILLE

Thursday 6th January 7.30pm Tickets £28

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

7th, 10th, 11th & 12th January 7.30pm Matinee 13th January 1pm Tickets Adult: £8 eves Matinee: £7 U16s: £6

(Box Office bookings incur £1 booking fee per transaction) MONEY FOR NOTHING

“Undoubtedly the best Dire Straits tribute in Europe”

Saturday 8th January 7.30pm Tickets £20

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

Thursday 13th January 7.30pm Tickets £22.50

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

KEEPING BAD COMPANY

The best of Free & Bad Company

Friday 14th January, 7.30pm Tickets £19.50 FROM GOLD TO RIO

Celebrating the music of Spandau Ballet & Duran Duran

Saturday 15th January 7.30pm Tickets £21 THE FRENCH DISPATCH (15)

17th & 18th January 7.30pm Matinee 18th January 2pm Tickets Adult: £8 eve Matinee: £7 U16s: £6

ADULT PANTO: LITTLE RED RIDING…!

Suitable for ages 16+

Wednesday 19th Jan 7.30pm Tickets £18.50 THE ELO EXPERIENCE

Friday 21st January 7.30pm Tickets £26

Dorset’s touring arts charity Artsreach is excited to release details of its special Christmas gift to audiences across the county this winter; a series of performances available to enjoy online in the comfort of your own home; from Christmas classics and a seasonal celebration with a Dorset twist, to an interactive online murder mystery. Celebrate the festive season with a mesmer ising performance of Charles Dickens’ timeless, transformative story A Christmas Carol, devised, adapted and performed especially for film by veteran Cornish actor and founder member of Kneehigh, David Mynne. Expect Dickens’ original words with added silliness. Silliness? Bah humbug! A Christmas Carol is available to enjoy online anytime until midnight on Sunday, January 2. E-tickets are free but donations to Artsreach are welcomed. Enjoy A Dorset Christmas with The Ridgeway Singers and Band and hear the story of how our ancestors celebrated Christmas in this film which features music, song, story and dance. In December 2020 Artsreach was delighted to support The Ridgeway Singers and Band, led by Tim Laycock and Phil Humphries, to capture an alternative festive offering that’s truly inspired by Dorset. With tunes and songs from the Puddletown and Hinton St Mary manuscripts and new carols in the West Gallery tradition, interspersed with readings, archive photographs and other images from across Dorset, plus a special performance of While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night, expect a heartwarming seasonal celebration of all things Dorset. Captured and edited by Pageant Productions, A Dorset Christmas’is available to watch anytime until midnight on Sunday, January 2. Again, e-tickets are free but donations to Artsreach are welcomed. Finally, Sharp Teeth Theatre return after their runaway global hits, Sherlock In Homes I: Murder at The Circus and Sherlock In Homes II: Murder On Ice, with a brand new and better-than-ever online interactive murder mystery – Murder at the Games! On your marks, get set, go… to 1960 to solve a crime that will make your heart race. Could it be the chill of the cold war or the heat of the Italian sun? Zoom into Rome’s Olympic village to find out. You’ll interrogate the suspects and attempt to unmask a murder with your fellow audience members as you pit your wits against some of the UK’s most talented performers and improvisers. Take part in this online murder mystery on Thursday, January 6 at 2.30pm or 8pm. Advanced booking is required and etickets are £10 per device (not per person). Artsreach Co-Director Kerry Bartlett said: “Whilst we await the start of our brand new spring programme of live performances in rural communities, we are delighted to be able to spread some Christmas cheer to our audiences at home through this digital programme.” n artsreach.co.uk.

OH CAROL: David Mynne presents A Christmas Carol

Online treats for you this Christmas? Bah humbug!

Have a cultural start to the New Year with art history talks

Art history courses and talks are being offered from January 13 by Pam Simpson MA, Associate Lecturer, London College of Fashion. For six weeks, starting on Thursday, January 13 you can learn about Renaissance Art at 6.30pm, on Zoom –fee £55. On Friday, January 14 at 2pm there’s a talk on Zoom called Exploring Winter, A New Exploration on Painting, Photography, Poetry & Prose. From Scott of the Antarctic and Shackleton’s photographers, and artist responses to the season and poetry & prose. Fee £11. On Friday, January 21 at 2pm there’s a talk on Bridgerton & the Regency Period in Art, Dress, Taste, Architecture & Interiors at Bridport, United Church Hall. Masks and ventilation. Fee £11. On Friday, January 28 at 2pm there’s an online talk entitled Grayson Perry, Potter & Artist and so much more.’. Fee £11, To book a course or a talk email chris.pamsimpson @btinternet.com.