Arts and entertainment

Jeffrey Holland as Stan Laurel

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Arts & Entertainment

One-man show celebrates two comedy giants

JEFFREY Holland (Hi-de-Hi, You Rang M’Lord) returns to Lighthouse Poole on Saturday November 26 in And This Is My Friend Mr Laurel, his sell-out one-man show about friendship, memories and a couple of remarkable lives.

Set in the bedroom of a sick Oliver Hardy, the show takes place during Stan Laurel’s visit to the dying man. Reflecting on their success as the comedy double act Laurel and Hardy, this is a funny and touching look at one of the great cinematic partnerships.

Jeffrey Holland has become a well-known face in some of the UK’s most iconic television shows including Dixon of Dock Green, Are You Being Served, Crossroads, Dad’s Army and It Ain’t Half Hot Mum.

His breakthrough role was as Spike Dixon, the camp comic at the Maplin’s Holiday Camp in Hi-de-Hi!, in which he appeared with Paul Shane and Su Pollard. He was also a regular performer in Russ Abbot’s Madhouse before going on to appear again with Paul Shane and Su Pollard in You Rang, M’Lord? and Oh, Doctor Beeching! – two hugely popular sitcoms also penned by David Croft and Jimmy Perry, the writers of Hi-de-Hi!

For tickets and further information about the show call 01202 280000 or visit lighthousepoole.co.uk.

Christmas Meals at Mortons Manor

Book now for our delicious 5 Course Festive Menu - £45pp 7th – 23rd December

Lunch 12.30 - 1.30pm and Dinner 7.00 - 8.00pm

Please call us to book on 01929 480988

Menu available to view on our website www.mortonsmanor.com

purbeckgazette.co.uk We’re going to rock around the clogs

By Lorraine Gibson

A CLOG-DANCING, step-dancing quintet is bringing a uniquely-exuberant style of traditional English music to a trio of rural Dorset communities.

Gadarene, described as a ‘hidden gem of the English folk scene’, will perform their high-energy blend of dance rhythms and old English tunes, combined with a virtuosic musicianship that is bound to dispel the winter gloom and get audiences tapping their trainers, if not their clogs.

Through Artsreach, the charity that brings cultural events to rural areas, the band will revitalise traditional numbers by adding their own ideas and modern dance grooves.

Drawing on genres like pop, rock and funk, the arrangements aim to fulfil their mission of taking obscure 18th- and 19th-century dance tunes and reworking them to get modern-day audiences up and dancing to them.

Weaving in clog and Dartmoor stepdancing, Gadarene’s sound comes courtesy of Matt Norman on mandolin, Laurel Swift on double bass and clogs, Jon Dyer on flute, Nick Wyke on fiddle and Si Paul on drums.

Gadarene in action

While touring Dorset, Matt is also offering the opportunity to join his Dartmoor Stepdance workshop.

The distinctive dance originates from north-east Dartmoor and is performed on a small board that emphasises the rhythms of the dancers’ feet.

The one-off workshop – for any level of dancer – is at 5pm-6pm ahead of Gadarene’s concert at Cerne Abbas Village Hall. Places cost £5 and advanced booking on the dedicated number below is essential.

GADARENE DATES:

n Morden, Thursday December 8. Call

01929 459217.

n Halstock, Friday December 9. Call

01935 891744.

n Cerne Abbas, Saturday December 10,

07823 778758.

CELEBRATE WITH US CHRISTMAS PARTIES

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WAREHAM GOLF CLUB

2 COURSES £19.95 3 COURSES £23.95

AVAILABLE TO BOOK NOW FOR UP TO 70 GUESTS

All meals are served at a friendly decorated table complete with crackers for all guest. This menu will be available to pre-order for lunch and evening sittings throughout December.

CALL US ON 01929 557993

All of our dishes are homemade by our head chef and locally sourced wherever possible.

FIFA WORLD CUP 2022

We will be showing all games on 7 big screens Please book a table for the England games to avoid disappointment. Purbecks Premium Family Sports Bar EVERYBODY WELCOME

Open from 8am 7 days a week Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner

Charlie Bicknell stars in Snow Angel

Festive fun with an unusual twist

A ‘SUBVERSIVE, anarchic, darkly hilarious and shamelessly festive’ show is heading to The Mowlem next month.

Diva, temptress, vocalist and acrobat Charlie Bicknell has teamed up with soprano Louise Innes and pianist David Harrod for a night of comic cabaret as part of the Snow Angel Christmas show.

“Expect the unexpected in this mad-capped, joyous and at times preposterous evening of festive frivolity with a tiny sparkle of magic that will delight the unhinged and charm the pants off everyone else,” said a spokesperson.

“From Michael Bublé and Tiny Tim to Frozen mashups and the return of the small and ever-popular Eskimo – Santa will never be the same!”

Charlie Bicknell became a household name playing Delilah in BBC2’s This Life and subsequently starred as Scout in Ben Elton’s West End hit Popcorn.

Continuing to work as an actress for the National Theatre and rep around the UK, Charlie then moved into cabaret and circus, performing all over the world.

Louise Innes is a versatile operatic mezzo soprano who has sung at venues including Covent Garden Opera House, Scottish Opera and Festival Hall to name but a few.

The production will come to The Mowlem in Swanage on Friday December 9, starting at 7.30pm. For more information, and to book tickets, log on to www.themowlem.com, or call 03336 663366.

THE MOWLEM

Theatre, Cinema & Function Rooms Book your tickets: www.themowlem.com

LIVE SHOWS & MUSIC:

• Karen G’s Christmas Show - Karen G and guests will take to the stage to sing all your favourite Christmas songs. There are a few surprises planned, so don’t miss out! Friday 2nd December at 7.30pm • 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