Arts & Entertainments

Blake in a field of their own with harmonies

Blake will perform at a concert being held at The Deer Park, Stock Gaylard, Kings Stag, on July 24. Award-winning soprano Camilla Foster Mitchell, born and bred just outside Cheselbourne, and daughter of farmer Giles Foster Mitchell, will feature alongside Blake’s lead vocalist Ollie Baines, whose godfather John Sunnucks lives in Child Okeford. The open air picnic concert will also feature the Piccadilly Strings – Dorset musicians who have played with many of the UK’s top orchestras and recording sessions – and the hugely popular Blackmore Vale Brass quintet Since coming together in 2007 Britain’s number one harmony group Blake have had enormous success throughout the world with over a million albums sold. From Lloyd Webber to Puccini, Sting to Mancini and songs from musicals and films there will be music for everyone. Gates open at 6pm, and the curtain rises at 7pm. Tickets at £40 a head are available from

LOCAL CONNECTIONS: Blake are at Kings Stag in July

Carmen see this concert: if you’re not too Bizet, that is

Concerts in the West are bringing Creating Carmen, a new concert/play by Clare Norburn to three venues in July. On Friday, July 23 it will be at Bridport Arts Centre at 11.30am and then Ilminster Arts Centre at 8pm, then at The Dance House in Crewkerne at 7.30pm the following day. Bizet’s opera Carmen of 1875 is probably the most well-known opera for a fiery and colourful story. The opera is based on part of a novella titled Carmen written 30 years earlier by the French writer, Prosper Merimée. Creating Carmen is a concert-play created by award-winning writer Clare Norburn for Carmenco, a group which features Andrew Massey and Francisco Correa (guitars) with Emily Andrews (flute and mezzo-soprano). Nicholas Renton directs. Prosper Merimée led a colourful and rakish existence with numerous love affaires of a dubious nature. This concert-play imagines how Merimée’s wild escapades gave rise to one of the most infamous femme fatale characters of all time. Go to concertsinthewest.org for more info and to book. Tickets: evening concerts: £15; Bridport: £12 (optional donation at all the concerts) Ilminster only: There will be suppers available before the concert at 6.30pm - £18 per head – Sue Foreman of Somerset Kitchen (book by July 19). The bar will be open before the concert and during the interval for drinks. IAC & town parking & car parks. Disabled access to the concert. Students with a card: £5. FREE entry for children aged 12 and under when accompanied by a paying adult.

CREATIVE: Creating Carmen is at three venues in July

NOVEL: Shaun Leavey Tales of the desert from soldier turned novelist

Sherborne resident Shaun Leavey has written a novel called The Camel Killer, in which the central character is a young Arab officer serving alongside British troops in the 1960s. It draws on Shaun’s own time as a young officer in Aden and South Arabia, his subsequent visits back to the Yemen (and to Eritrea) as well as family connections in Northern Ireland. Shaun (pictured above in South Arabia) said: “The novel seeks to tell the troubled story of the British Army’s latter years in Aden and South Arabia through the eyes of an Arab officer. It will come as little surprise to anyone who was a serviceman that the book includes some language that may make it unsuitable for – say – anyone of less than teenage years.” The novel has been privately printed. For every copy sold Shaun will be donating £5 to organisations (MSF and UNICEF) relieving famine in the Yemen. The sale price of the book including postage is £12. To order email s.leavey@btinternet.com giving your name and full address.

HOORAY HENRY: The Festival Players present Henry V at Halstock Village Hall on July 2

Henry V at Halstock

The Festival Players will present Henry V for one night only on Friday, July 2 at 7pm on Halstock Village Hall Field. Dorset’s rural touring arts charity, Artsreach, have hired the professional international theatre company to deliver the best in open-air Shakespeare. A bar and hog roast will be available from 6pm; bring a chair or rug and dress appropriately. Tickets must be booked in advance at artsreach.co.uk or on 01935 891744.

Bec says there’s something about Mary

By Karen Bate

newsdesk@blackmorevale.net

A show about Cornish highwaywoman, convict, mother and maritime adventurer Mary Bryant is galloping into Dorset for three open-air performances presented by Artsreach. Cornish actor Bec Applebee. Well known for her work with the internationally acclaimed Kneehigh Theatre, Wildworks, Dalla and the Tosta Band, Bec will be bringing Mary Bryant to life in the solo theatre show Oh Mary!. Mary was born in Fowey, Cornwall, in 1765 and after a stint of petty crime, she was arrested and found guilty of a violent highway robbery having stolen a bonnet and some money. Mary was sentenced to hang but was given a reprieve and instead, sentenced to seven years’ transportation to Botany Bay in Australia. On arrival, Mary was married to William Bryant, a fellow convict, and three years later the pair escaped to sea with their young family and a band of fellow prisoners. This was one of Maritime’s greatest escapes in an open cutter. Bec Applebee said: “Mary’s is an epic story of personal strength, bravery and loss, of an indomitable human spirit.” Oh Mary! features specially commissioned tunes by Neil Davey and a soundtrack recorded by Dalla and Radjel, evocative narrative by Anna Murphy (Kneehigh, BBC Radio 4), choreography by Helen Tiplady (Cscape Dance) and direction by Simon Harvey (Kneehigh theatre). Oh Mary! will be performed: Friday, June 25 at 7.30pm in Higher Orchard, Sandford Orcas. 01963 220208 Saturday, June 26 at 7.30pm in Milborne St Andrew Hall Field. 01258 839060 Sunday, June 27 at 2pm at Little Beerlands, Ryall. 01308 424922 Tickets must be booked in advance. Find out more at artsreach.co.uk

A LIFE ON THE OCEAN WAVE: Bec Applebee tells the story of adventurer Mary Bryant

Arts & Entertainment DWT reopens visitors centres with variety of art displays

Dorset Wildlife Trust has reopened its visitor centres. The Fine Foundation Wild Seas Centre at Kimmeridge has some fresh new displays, including a stunning art exhibition by Weymouth artist and scuba-diver Sandra Stalker. Alongside this, a group of local divers and photographers are exhibiting a selection of their work, making normally unseen marine creatures accessible to all. The Fine Foundation Chesil Beach Centre will be taking part in Dorset Art Weeks from now until June 6, with a ‘Dorset Wildlife’ art exhibition, featuring art work created by local artists inspired by the wildlife and natural landscapes in Dorset. The Taste* Café in the Chesil Centre is also open. The Kingcombe Centre near Dorchester has recently opened the new Humble Bee Café, which uses locally sourced ingredients to create a variety of snacks and refreshments for breakfast and lunch. It’s ideal for a stop-off before or after a walk to explore the 450-acre nature reserve surrounding the Kingcombe Centre. To see opening times and directions to our visitor centres and nature reserves, visit dorset wildlifetrust.org.uk.

Having soldiered on despite three lockdowns, Shaftesbury Arts Centre’s Music and Drama Group refuse to ditch their annual January show. So, their latest production, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is a truly ‘must see’ event and proof that well-loved tradition shines through in the toughest of times. This is the wonderful C S Lewis story of the Pevensey children. Evacuated during the Second World War, they move to an old house, with a professor and his terrifyingly strict housekeeper. There they discover a wardrobe, through which they journey to the land of Narnia where a magical age-old tale of good versus evil unfolds. Don’t miss this magical journey. There will be two three-day runs, performed by different casts and tickets purchased for the cancelled shows have been transferred to the same days and times with special arrangements for Sunday matinee tickets. nPerformances from July 8-17. For full details and to book, visit www.shaftesbury artscentre.org.uk

Shaftesbury Arts Centre is proud to be joining together with The Gold Hill Festival and Shaftesbury Rotary Club for a ‘Curtain Up’ Showcase, a variety show of music, song, dance and entertainment celebrating live theatre and positive times ahead. This is a free event and there’s no need to book, you can just turn up at the gate. There will be donation buckets in circulation, collecting for The Arts Centre, but the organisers know that times have been hard and will greatly appreciate anything you’re able to give while welcoming back live theatre to Shaftesbury. Take a picnic, chair or a rug and join in the fun. Government guidance that’s in place at the time will be followed. Shaftesbury Arts Centre wish to thank Shaftesbury Rotary Club for their support in organising and putting on this

What’s on at the arts centre? Frankly, it’s Narnia business

SHOWTIME: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe and Belle Street are coming to Shaftesbury Arts Centre event. nDate: Sat July 3 Time: Doors open at 6.30pm and show starts at 7pm Venue: Barton Hill Recreation Ground Visit www.shaftesbury artscentre.org.uk for further details Box Office 01747854321

Belle Street in The Garden Shaftesbury Arts Centre is inviting you to meet your friends and wander in a beautiful garden, with a glass of Champagne, taking in extensive views over the Blackmore Vale. All this while being serenaded by the delightful Belle Street singing trio. There will be stalls, raffle and great company. So please pop along to this fundraiser. nFriday 23 July 23 Time: To be confirmed - keep an eye on www. shaftesburyartscentre.org.uk Venue: 4 Boyne Mead Price: £12.50 Box Office 01747854321 DoyouCook,CraftorGrow? Ifso GillinghamCountryMarket wantsyou! Come&joinourfriendlyteam. Makeathome-sellwithus.

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