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Arts and Entertainment
purbeckgazette.co.uk
Arts & Entertainment The ‘truth’ of Dickens’ Xmas fiction
By Lorraine Gibson
IT IS 1843, and with Christmas looming Mr Dickens is about to publish his latest instalment of the cautionary yuletide tale.
Meanwhile, Mr Scrooge is at his desk, working desperately to tell his side of the story.
This is the premise of The Scrooge Diaries, an innovative one-man show that aims to put the record straight on the truth behind A Christmas Carol.
In three exclusive performances, Ebeneezer Scrooge opens his diary to expose the awful truth about Tiny Tim, the Fezziwigs, Jacob Marley and the disgustingly jolly, gluttonous, consumerdriven Ghost of Christmas Present, as he calls out Dickens – the ‘vengeful, slanderous, upstart author’ of said novel.
At the suggestion that Marley was dead to begin with, Scrooge retorts: “Humbug, Mr.Dickens! Dead? As sure as the clothes moths in my wardrobe have beshredded my best nightcap, Marley was not dead but rather sitting on some sun-soaked, offshore beach squandering all the hard-earned money that he had so fraudulently embezzled from my firm over the years!
“You know nothing Mr Dickens! You are a fraud sir – an embezzler of the truth! A fake news-smith! A charlatan… Charlatan Dickens! Bah! …” And so it goes.
Actor Peter Macqueen of PMac Productions will perform The Scrooge Diaries – billed as a ‘fantastically festive and revelatory show’ – to three Dorset communities through Artsreach, the touring arts charity.
Performances are on Friday December 16 at Martinstown Village Hall, from 7.30pm (01305 889738), Saturday 17 at Hinton Martell Village Hall (01258 840066) and Sunday 18 from 4pm at Studland Village Hall (01929 450587).
For more details, video trailers and tickets visit www. artsreach.co.uk.
CHRISTMAS CAROL CONCERT
W E D N E S D A Y 2 1 D E C E M B E R 6 P M - 8 P M W I M B O R N E M I N S T E R
Enjoy an evening of festive entertainment in aid of Diverse Abilities
Kindly sponsored by
Book tickets today
www.diverseabilities.org.uk/carolconcert events@diverseabilities.org.uk
CHRISTMAS ON SWANAGE PIER
‘Lighting up Lives’ is back, bigger and brighter than ever!
Dedicate a light to someone special and visit Santa Claus this Christmas on Swanage Pier
purbeckgazette.co.uk Charming role for
TYGER Drew-Honey – who became a household name as a childhood actor in classic sitcom Outnumbered – is making his panto debut this month in Poole.
The 26-year-old, who played Jake in the BBC show, is playing Prince Charming in Cinderella at the Lighthouse this Christmas – and he can’t wait.
“It’s just never come my way before and if I’d been offered a role sooner there’s no reason that I wouldn’t have taken it,” he said. “Looking back on the shows I was in, there was always a Christmas special to be filmed that meant I would have been busy when panto was in rehearsal, but this is a fantastic opportunity and I’m really looking forward to being part of it.”
Acting has been Tyger’s job since he was just 10 years old. As well as Outnumbered, he’s fronted several BBC documentaries and appeared in shows including Citizen Khan, Death In Paradise and Midsomer Murders.
“It’s incredible really, I’m 26 now, where did the time go?” he says. “I’d say my childhood was slightly different, but I was lucky to fall into this business quite young – how many people are fortunate enough to fall into something they actually love?”
Tyger made his stage debut three years ago touring in Olivier Award-winning writer Laura Wade’s acclaimed comedy Posh, playing Alistair Ryle. He is keen to get back on stage in front of an audience and hone his skills as a live performer.
“I’ve seen lots of panto and have fond memories of throwing things on stage and shouting at the actors,” he added. “I know this is going to be an intense schedule being on
MAY 27th to JUNE 11th 2023 APPLICATIONS
To all visual artists who live or work in Purbeck
If you would like to take part in the Purbeck Art Weeks Festival 2023, why not join us? To find out more and how to apply, please go to our website or contact us at membership@purbeckartweeks.co.uk.
Closing date for applications is January 31st 2023.
BURSARIES
PAW bursaries are available to help and encourage artists, of any discipline, to take the next step in the development of their career. If you would like to find out more and how to apply please contact info@purbeckartweeks.co.uk.
www.purbeckartweeksfestival.co.uk
Arts & Entertainment
star of TV sitcom
stage and in that high adrenaline state, it’s no small feat. Knackering, but it will be fun.”
And he’s not worried about escaping the shadow of his TV past, far from it.
“I don’t really consider those long-running shows to be shadows,” he says. “My entire education in the screen side of this industry has come from those shows. It was like an extended period at film school in a sense. I’ll be using skills in the panto that I learned from Outnumbered.
“I think the TV work gave me a fantastic childhood and set me up in very good stead, but there is this period that every young actor has to go through where you go from a boy to a man. So, there is a mould to break but I think I’m in the process of breaking it.
“I feel like I’ve discovered something with acting that I can do – I don’t have 16 years’ experience in anything else – so although I think of myself as quite able and would probably be able to do okay at something else, this is what I want to do.
“I love the industry of it, the moments on stage, but it’s also about the things it allows me to do, the people it allows me to meet. I want to aim high. I want to do this thing and have a great life because of it.”
But what would success look like to him in, say, 10 years?
“Ultimately, if I was to be happy in 10 years’ time, both my parents would still be alive, I’d be with my current girlfriend Fluke and have earned enough money over those years to have afforded a good quality of life.
“I’m hoping to be living in Spain in two or three years’ time and if I could be doing enough work to say I was an actor and to have supported myself and my family doing only that, that would be good.”
Christmas cracker
ENJOY a festive night like no other as popular folk band The Churchfitters head to Dorset!
With a double bass made out of scrap metal, heart-wrenching vocals accompanied by a musical saw, and foot-stomping fiddle mixed with infectious funk-rock rhythms, The Churchfitters are a folk group like no other, and this December they play three festive concerts with touring arts charity Artsreach.
The three virtuoso musicians from England and France strut their stuff on a stage overflowing with instruments – adding flute, banjo, dulcimer, tin whistle, guitar, ukulele, stand up dustbin bass and a sackful of percussion to their ensemble.
Packed with a selection of favourites from their regular repertoire, interlaced with traditional and original festive songs and Christmas carols, The Churchfitters invite you to see in Christmas with a bang and a paper hat-full of surprises, novelties and jokes in this festive feast of a ‘Christmas Cracker’.
Yvonne Gallimore, Artsreach assistant director said “These concerts are a fantastically festive and uplifting way to bring the season to a close.”
The Churchfitters visit Cranborne (07770 227095) at 8pm on Thursday December 15, Winfrith (01305 853783) at 7.30pm on Friday 16 (where tickets also include a festive supper) and Broadwindsor (07796 454203) on Saturday 17.
For full details and tickets visit www.artsreach.co.uk.
THE MOWLEM
Theatre, Cinema & Function Rooms Book your tickets: www.themowlem.com
LIVE SHOWS & MUSIC:
• Snow Angel - Artsreach present a shamelessly festive cabaret show celebrating all that is Christmassy! Subversive, anarchic, and darkly hilarious, Snow Angel is a Christmas show that threatens to blow the cover off Elsa and Anna, The Snowman and a poor little drummer boy. Friday 9th December at 7.30pm • Santa Saves Christmas - Join Jack, Dasher the Reindeer and Pompom the Penguin for this festive, musical, interactive adventure as they meet Father Christmas at his home at the North Pole and help Santa Save Christmas! Friday 23rd December at 2.00pm
EVENTS IN THE SHOWBAR
(upstairs at The Mowlem):
No events are planned for December, but our opening hours have changed.
• Monday to Thursday: 6 pm to 9 pm • Friday and Saturday: 6 pm to 10 pm • Sundays: Closed
MOWLEM VISUAL ARTS EXHIBITIONS
• ‘On Stage’. Pantomimes, plays, ballet and concerts; local groups and professional companies – Tony Kerins has been drawing at live performances in The Mowlem Theatre since 1986. Our third visual arts exhibition will showcase Tony’s work and be open to the public from Friday, 2nd December, through Tuesday, 17th January 2023.
MOVIES:
• The Banshees of Inisherin (15)
Saturday, 3rd through to Thursday, 8th December at 7.30 pm (excluding Sunday), Monday Matinée on 5th December at 2.30pm. • Living (12A) Saturday, 10th through to Thursday, 15th December at 7.30 pm (excluding Sunday), Monday Matinée on 12th December at 2.30pm.
• The Bishop’s Wife (U)
Friday, 16th December at 2.30pm, Wednesday 21st through to Friday 23rd December at 7.30pm.
• Matilda The Musical (PG)
Saturday, 17th, Sunday 18th and Monday 19th December at 11.30am, Tuesday, 20th December at 2.30pm, Wednesday, 21st, Thursday 22nd and Saturday 24th December at 11.30am, Tuesday, 29th through to Friday 30th, December at 2.30pm, Saturday, 31st December at 11.30am. • The Menu (15) Movie is subject to change - please check listings on www. themowlem.com. Saturday 17th through to Tuesday 20th December at 7.30pm (including Sunday).
CLUBS & SOCIETIES:
• The Making Memories Dementia Friendly cafe is 6th & 20th of November at 10.00am in The Showbar. On Tuesday 6th December there is a showing of ‘Holiday Inn’, the 1942 musical film starring Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire. • The Flower Club will meet on Thursday 1st December at 9am in the Community Room. • Health Qigong Fitness with Penny meets every Wednesday at 2pm & 3.30pm in the Community Room. • Baharah Dance Classes at 6.30pm on Thursday 1st, 8th and 15th November in the Community Room. www.themowlem.com
