Arts & Entertainments

The arts and entertainment industry has been hit hard over the past 15 months, but there is still plenty to celebrate in South Somerset with The Octagon Theatre, Westlands Entertainment Venue and our Arts Engagement and Outreach Programme presenting work across the district. South Somerset District Council’s entertainment venues in Yeovil have been forced to close their doors to patrons under government national and regional lockdown measure restrictions. Gradual reopening in summer / autumn last year lasted a short period of time before the venues were forced to close again, but that’s not stopped arts and entertainment thriving in South Somerset. SSDC’s Arts and Entertainment Service annual review (2020/21) has recently been published and it highlights some of the key achievements for a service that has endured a rollercoaster of a year. In a year where the doors mainly remained closed and with a total of 9,835 tickets sold for both The Octagon Theatre and Westlands Entertainment Venue, a record number of 363 screenings were shown that bought patrons together to enjoy film and live performance. Patrons enjoyed the comfort of the big sofas at Westlands Entertainment Venue and joined us for the best of Hollywood and mainstream cinema. After six months of constant closure and no live performances at the venues, staff were delighted that Paul Zerdin brought live performances back in October with his ‘mini Yeovil residency’ of six performances. Paul kicked off a total of 42 performances across both venues. The Yeovil Literary Festival was also held at Westlands Entertainment Venue that offered enlightening, inspiring and entertaining talks from writers such as Lucy

Worsley, Carrie Hope Fletcher and Jonathan Coe. For two weeks in December, life almost seemed normal with 3,617 people enjoying the Octagon’s special panto performance of Nurse Nellie Saves Panto. The specially written ‘bitesized’ panto was a love letter to live theatre and the magic of panto with all the ‘best bits’ crammed into a 70minute show performed by a socially distanced cast of five. Throughout the pandemic staff in the arts and entertainment service have worked to continue delivering activities online with many Octagon Academy classes, talks with film industry professionals, online tutorials plus much more being streamed to offer residents the chance to get their much needed arts and entertainment buzz. Once we were able to return to inperson classes we continued to support access to participation, offering the first class back free to participants, and subsidising the cost of room hire whilst capacity remained limited. With income reduced due to closure, the council has sought alternative sources of income to protect and maintain its venues. In total, over £400,000 of external funding has been secured which has helped to protect jobs, maintain our building and deliver activities online and in person. Councillor Mike Best, portfolio holder for Health and Wellbeing, said: “In a year that has changed our world and brought so much turmoil it can be painful to consider looking back. However, there remains much to celebrate and to be proud of.” You can view the full Arts and Entertainment Service Annual review (2020/21) for yourself online and read all about the successes of the past year.

THAT’S SHOWBUSINESS: Ventriloquist Paul Zerdin and, inset below, Nurse Nellie Saves Panto

The show DOES go on even with latest covid restrictions

Joan’s lockdown paintings go on show

Fine art needn’t break the bank and it can even break the monotony, too, as Friends of Blandford Hospital volunteer Joan Capron discovered. After being instructed to shield due to covid and to avoid it getting her down, the talented Blandford artist created a variety of new and unique artworks that will now go on show in her upcoming Affordable Art Exhibition at the charity’s Blandford shop. All funds from the sales of Joan’s work go straight to the Friends of Blandford Hospital, so as well as some seriously good-value art, you get that feelgood factor into the bargain. This will be Joan’s fourth exhibition for the Friends and she admits that it wasn’t easy to prepare in what has been a difficult year. She found herself shut away from sources of inspiration and art materials. Undeterred, she challenged herself by experimenting with painting on whatever came to hand, including slate, silk, stones, canvas, textured wallpaper and even cotton sheeting! Trying out the effects of pastels, inks, acrylic paints and powder, oils, pencil and collage wound up being fun and to add to the variety of original art in the exhibition, other volunteers offered to donate examples of their work. Lockdown not only affected the subject matter and style but also the cost, so while Joan’s exhibits have always been priced to bring art within everyone’s reach, it’s now even more so; alongside framed, original paintings and mounted, signed prints at a fraction of the cost of originals, there will also be a range of greetings cards. n The exhibition runs from Friday, July 30 to Saturday, August 7 10am-4pm at the in Barnack Walk shop.

IN THE FRAME: Joan Capron will be exhibiting the paintings she did during lockdown at the Friends of Blandford Hospital shop

It’s on! Make a date in your diary for Leigh Art Show

After a year of uncertainty, the Leigh Art Show 2021 is on. The biennial event will take place in Leigh Village Hall in October and will showcase a range of work, including paintings, sculpture and ceramics from professional and amateur artists. Run entirely by volunteers, Leigh Art Show raises money for local charities through sales of artwork as well as fresh coffee, tea, soft drinks and cakes for visitors to buy throughout the exhibition. The show opens with a Preview on Friday, October 22 from 6 to 8pm and the main show runs on Saturday and Sunday, October 23 and 24 from 10am to 4pm both days at the Chetnole Road venue.

Somerton and Frome MP David Warburton has backed a campaign to help the UK music industry get back on its feet. Warburton, a composer himself, was the founder, chief executive and chairman of Pitch Entertainment Group before entering politics and has a keen interest in the entertainment industry. He joined a crossparty group of 22 MPs to call on PM Boris Johnson and the Government to back a motion outlining the vital support needed by the music industry, which contributed £5.8 billion a year to the economy pre-covid. The MPs say many freelancers and selfemployed workers – who make up around threequarters of the 200,000 in the music industry – have been without work since March 2020. The MPs say the workers and businesses that make up the music industry’s ecosystem “are a national asset who will be critical to the recovery”. In their motion, MPs are calling on Prime Minister Boris Johnson to: n Establish a Governmentbacked insurance scheme to pave the way for live music events to proceed n Extend existing Government support to match the extension of covid-19 restrictions n Ensure parity across UK nations and regions regarding extension of the 100% business rate relief n Continue the VAT freeze at 5% for cultural tickets beyond September n Give additional support to freelancers Mr Warburton, who is AllParty Parliamentary Group on Music chairman, said: “I’m acutely aware of how challenging this pandemic has been for musicians and the broader music industry – and this situation has only been made worse by the delay to the covid roadmap. “I’m delighted that the Government has listed and extended the ban on commercial evictions and supported many music venues, but more support is urgently needed to match the extension of restrictions. “Our excellent music industry is national asset and it needs our support, now more than ever.”

MP’s backing for music industry

KEEPING IT LIVE; MP David Warburton, inset, is backing a campaign to support the music industry

New Blackmore Vale, July 9, 2021 Arts & Entertainment Author’s book has the accent on dialects

A Somerset author has delved into dialects – and insults – for his new book. The county’s unique insults feature large in The Cornfield Critics by Simon Davies a children’s story about a group of scarecrows on a Somerset farm who form a book club…. however they have a big problem as they have never seen a book and they cannot read. This difficulty is overcome when they enlist Will, the farmer’s son, to be their Reader in Residence. Various adventures follow, and the scarecrows and the boy spend most of the book trying, and failing, to understand each other. Gradually and tragically, they learn what really matters in life. “They say everyone has a book in them,” said Davies, 64. “And this is very much the book that was in me. It started off as a story my youngest daughter wrote when she was about 10. It brings together my love of books, poetry, Somerset and dialect. The scarecrows speak in the broad old Somerset accents you hardly ever hear these days.” Originally from Yorkshire, Davies moved to Somerset in 1980 and spent most of his working life as a social worker for the county council. He realised there was something singular about the accent when, soon after he arrived, he was greeted by a burly workman with the words ‘All right, my lover?’ In researching the book he delved into the archaic words and phrases that have passed out of common use. “They seemed to love the letter Z,” he said. “Somerset itself was pronounced ‘Zummerzet’ and my favourite is ‘zowerzapped’ which means sour-tempered. “Above all I learned that Somerset is the spiritual home of the insult. There are dozens of them and no letter of the alphabet seems to be left out, from ‘addlehead’ to ‘zahty-poll’, which both mean ‘stupid idiot’. Some of them are magnificent: chuckle-head, doak, dodipol, grizzle-de-mundy, knaw-nor, ninny-hammer, nug-head, stun-pole and toby-trot, to name a very few. And the scarecrows use these insults freely in the book.” Fortunately, there is a helpful glossary of terms. The book is a family effort. Simon’s wife Julie proofread it, daughter Abigail is the illustrator and Bethany, the daughter who had the original idea, arranged the publication. It is available on Amazon.

ZUM EFFORT: Simon Davies with his book the Cornfield Critics

Batcombe Jamboree

All set fair to celebrate summer at Swans Yard

A summer fair is being held this Saturday, July 10 at Swans Yard, in the centre of Shaftesbury. The one-off event is aimed at celebrating the joys of summer. There will be local artists and crafts people selling their work, a chance to see how wool is spun, to have a massage and purchase beautiful hand made woodwork, embroidery, cushions and much more. The Cygnet Gallery will be open with the resident artists showing their new work and there will be a presentation of prizes for the Young Person’s Art Competition at 2.30pm. Swans Yard will be hosting a day of music, with talented local musicians playing in the yard. The Ugly Duckling café will be open selling delicious cakes, cream teas, snacks and drinks, as will the Potting Shed selling beautiful plants, pots and all sorts of accessories for your garden. Also open is Coconut and Cotton, an Eco friendly, zero waste and plastic free shop.

Open Gardens Weekend

Saturday & Sunday 17th and 18th July 2021 2.00 pm-5.30 pm

£7.00 per person a ticket covers both days Teas and ice creams Under 12 s free

In aid of Batcombe Church

The Wimborne cast of Project Play’s latest production Dad’s Army is remaining staunch in the face of adversity. Despite having to reschedule performances twice since the beginning of the first lockdown, the production is now scheduled to go ahead at the town’s Tivoli Theatre from August 5-7. Project Play is a communitybased project offering theatre enthusiasts the opportunity to be involved in a professional staging of a popular play in their local theatre. The outcome is a touring production that travels around various theatres in the south west, recruiting actors and stage crew from that locality. “Project Play brings communities together through a shared passion for theatre,” explains its producer, Matthew Rock. “Essentially it is a touring play with a different cast at each venue. “They have rehearsed together, formed friendships and connections and been part of an amazing theatrical experience. “In addition, there are four other people in towns across the south who are playing exactly the same role as them and having the same experience in their own community. It offers a unique opportunity to compare notes and go on a shared journey.” Just as the cast of Dad’s Army was preparing to return to rehearsal from 21 June, a delay to the relaxing of lockdown restrictions was announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, causing yet more challenges. “Whilst covid is the underlying cause of this disruption I feel it’s more a case of poor decisions by the government that have left us where we are now,” Matthew explains. “I’m therefore not going to reschedule our performances again. They will go on and all our Dad’s Army casts are ready to think outside the box to make this happen, whatever it takes. We are even using outside spaces to rehearse the play safely!” Other Project Play locations for Dad’s Army include Yeovil, Weymouth, Burnham-on-Sea, Chippenham and Frome.

DON’T PANIC!

PLEASE NOTE MASKS MUST BE WORN

n To book tickets for the Wimborne production visit. tivoliwimborne.co.uk or the box office on 01202 885566.

PLEASE KEEP CHECKING OUR WEBSITE

SUPERNOVA (15)

5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 12th & 13th July 7.30pm Matinee 8th July 2.30pm (13th July 2.30pm TBC) Tickets £8, Matinee £7, U16s £6

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

Ultimate Genesis

Sat 10th July, 7:30pm Tickets £21

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

Rhythm & Blues Review

Thur 15th July, 7.30pm Tickets £25

(Box Office bookings over £20 incur £1 booking fee) The Blandford School presents RENT (PG13)

Wednesday 21st July and Thursday 22nd July 7:30pm Tickets £15 (Concs £12)

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

Dorset Blues HANNAH ROBINSON

Fri 23rd July 7.30pm Tickets £12

(Box Office bookings incur £1 fee per transaction)

London Repertory Players present DEATHTRAP by Ira Levin

Wed 28th July 7.30pm to Fri 30th July 7.30pm Matinee Thur 29th July 2.30pm Tickets £16.50, Matinee £14 1 in 10 tickets FREE! Via Box Office only

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

...The Band Plays On

Sat 31st July 7.30pm Tickets £18

(Box Office bookings over £20 incur £1 booking fee) DAD’S ARMY

Thur 5th to Sat 7th August 7.30pm Tickets £16 Matinees Fri 6th & Sat 7th August, 2.30pm Tickets £16

1 in 10 tickets FREE! Via Box Office only

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

Fri 13th August, 7.30pm Tickets £20.50

(Box Office bookings over £20 incur £1 booking fee) BARRY STEELE & FRIENDS

The Roy Orbison Story

Sat 14th Aug 7.30pm Tickets £24.50

(Box Office bookings incur £1 fee per transaction)

New Blackmore Vale, July 9, 2021 Arts & Entertainment King Arthur’s tales of Sir Laugh-a-Lot

Somewhere in England, a long time ago, a very, very, very long time ago. So long ago that nobody quite knows whether it happened or not. Or where it happened or not. A boy pulled a sword from a stone and became King…. The Last Baguette make entertaining, accessible, and eccentric work for family audiences, and are resident artists at Pound Arts, Corsham. The company was formed from a shared love of theatre, bakery, and humour in Paris by graduates of the Philippe Gaulier and Jacques Lecoq schools. King Arthur is a brand new, fun, and farcical adventure from this internationally acclaimed company, which brings to life the well-known and much-loved Arthurian Legend. Packed with live music, physical comedy, and lo-fi acrobatics, expect a story of the old world with knights, wizards, mist, and magic. Dorset’s rural touring arts charity Artsreach is delighted to present King Arthur for one special performance in the open air at Stalbridge Village Hall on Saturday, July 31 at 2pm. Tickets must be booked in advance and full details about the event are available online. Find out more by visiting artsreach.co.uk.

Enjoying the great outdoors with PaddleBoat Theatre Co

An open-air theatrical adventure for families is being staged in Dorset this summer and promises to deliver a truly spellbinding performance. PaddleBoat Theatre Company is on a tour with Artsreach and will be setting up camp in Winterbourne and Buckland Newton in August for their theatre production Rustle, which is jam-packed with puppets, songs and outdoor surprises. The story of four adventurous children on an expedition into the forest as they try to survive alone in the great outdoors will unfold by the Devon-based theatre company. Sleeping bags become monsters, rucksacks become friends and torches illuminate the forest’s darkest secrets. Artreach co-director Yvonne Gallimore said: “It’s exciting to be welcoming this young, dynamic company with a really exciting outdoor performance for children and their families to enjoy in the open-air this summer.” Two performances will take place on Sunday, August 1 Winterbourne Valley First School at 11am Gaggle of Geese, Buckland Newton at 4pm Tickets must be booked in advance at artsreach.co.uk

E T H

nSaturday July 31, 2pm. Stalbridge Village Hall. 01963 362978 artsreach.co.uk

Friday 26th August, 7.30pm Totally Tina

A spectacular tribute to Tina Turner Tickets £19.50/£18.50 Thurs 9th Sept, 7.30pm Lucy Worsley presents A Very British Murder Tickets £22 Tuesday 14th Sept, 2pm Neil Sands Productions Bringing Back the Good Times

Tickets £13, £11, £9 Sat 18th Sept, 7.30pm Rob Kingsley is A Vision of Elvis

Elvis’ Greatest Hits Tickets £22 Sat 25th Sept, 7.30pm The quintessential tribute band. The ultimate 1985 Dire Straits experience dS:uK Dire Straits

Tickets £18

Friday 8th Oct, 7.30pm

Lawrence: After

Arabia (12A)

(1 ) Tickets £10, £8

01258 475137 info@stur-exchange.co.uk

Find us on Facebook www.stur-exchange.co.uk

Art plan for Yeovil

Yeovil’s past and future will be celebrated and integrated into the town centre through art concepts in collaboration with community groups. The council carried out an open procurement exercise earlier in the year and following –interviews with a range of artists appointed YOU&ME Architecture and Beth Calverley, a poet who specialises in collaborating with community members to co-create poetry, to develop concepts for art to integrate with the planned changes to the streets. Work has been underway through 2021 to develop concepts and engage the community to inform the design process. Due to the pandemic this has been done remotely with local primary schools in the town, key employers such as Leonardo, the Yeovil arts community supported by Yeovil District Hospital’s arts coordinator and some traditionally hard to reach groups. The aim of this work was to help animate the town centre through artwork and celebrate Yeovil’s past and future. Groups and stakeholders have explored various opportunities to celebrate the town’s past and future through art and have come up with a series of key themes. Some of the ideas will be displayed at an exhibition in July at the Yeovil Art Space venue in the Quedam Shopping Centre. Other ideas that could be explored across the town centre include illuminating public buildings with colours and poems associated with Yeovil and looking at street furniture and directional signs that could incorporate some of the artwork. Visit yeovilartspace.uk to find out more.