10 minute read
Arts & Entertainments
New Stour & Avon, July 9, 2021 Arts & Entertainment Stage is set for a great summer of stage
Go straight to the top of the class with the Stagewise Performing Arts Summer School, which runs for five fun-filled days from July 2630 at Lighthouse in Poole. Set to the theme of School’s Out for Summer, Stagewise has created a week full of performing arts activities based on some of your favourite musicals including Matilda, High School Musical, Grease and School of Rock, as well as more recent smash hit shows such as Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Heathers and The Boy in the Dress. “Our week will be jampacked with acting, dancing, singing, improvisation, script work and lots of arts and crafts,” explains Stagewise principal Ally Cox. “There will even be an opportunity to perform at the end of the week!” The summer school offers two age groups for young performers aged four to eight and nine to 13 years and runs from 9.30am-4pm each day. “Because we believe in keeping the arts as affordable and inclusive as possible, we have kept our 2019 Summer School prices and will also be offering a sibling discount,” adds Ally. “At Stagewise we are passionate about the value of the arts to the wellbeing of young people. It is vital at the moment that we continue to provide an opportunity to experience and join in with the performing arts. Singing, dancing and acting inspire creativity and confidence, and are the perfect antidote to the challenging school term children have experienced recently.” Stagewise played an important role in maintaining positive mental health for its young students during the lockdown periods. Its regular Saturday morning workshops moved to the online platform Zoom, providing a place where children could feel connected and able to express themselves safely, creatively and openly. Stagewise workshops regularly feature an opportunity for children to discuss feelings and benefit from mindful or relaxing activities alongside traditional performing arts.. One mother recalls how her daughter had broken down as a result of the stressful lockdown period. “It was so hard to try and reassure her while also explaining how uncertain everything was. She finally settled when we explained she had the Stagewise Zoom call to look forward to. She came off the call with the biggest smile and looked like a weight has been lifted off her little shoulders.”
n The Stagewise Summer School costs £130 for five days. To book your child’s place call Ally Cox on 07702 309 486 or email info@stagewise.co
E TH T H EXCHANGE
Live a more eventful life
Friday 6th August Spectacular Tina Turner Tribute LET’S ROCK: Stagewise is running a summer school this month Tickets £19.50/£18.50
––––––––Mon/Tues 6th/7th Sept Beauty & the Beast 7:30pm Tickets £14 ––––––––Thursday 9th September Our fascination with murder throughout history 7:30pm Tickets £22 ––––––––Tuesday 14th September 2pm Tickets £13/£11/£9 ––––––––Saturday 18th September Entertaining, enthralling & electric, the King is back!! 7.30pm Tickets £22 Shoe-making elves go on tour Dorset-based theatre makers Treehouse are heading out on tour with Artsreach this summer for two special openair performances of their brand new family show The Elves and the Shoemakers. Set in a world without music, where humans have forgotten what dancing is for, the race is on to secretly save the Shoemakers shop from going out of business and to try and find a way to help humans remember music and the joy of dancing - all without being discovered. With themes of kindness and neighbourliness which feel so relevant this year, the Elves will need everyone’s help in this immersive and interactive show. Expect live music and the energy, humour and pathos of great storytelling as we rediscover the joy of live events. This brand-new show from Dorset’s own Treehouse Theatre will keep your feet tapping for the rest of the day! Tickets must be booked in advance and full details about the event is available when booking. Visit artsreach.co.uk n Wed August 4, 3pm. Nether Compton Recreation Ground. 01935 815033 n Saturday August 7, 11am. Alderholt Village Hall Field. 07709 933652
01258 475137 info@stur-exchange.co.uk Find us on Facebook www.stur-exchange.co.uk
Folky, beardy and a little bit weirdy: My fave event is ON!
By Miranda Robertson The roadmap will allow us all freedom on Monday –and the best thing you can possibly do with that freedom, in my opinion, is book yourself in to the Purbeck Valley Folk Festival (August 19-22). This adorably eclectic festival, set on farmland just outside Swanage, is a tonic for any age. With quirky contests such as the beardoff and a fancy dress competition, loads to do for children and fabulous stalls and food, alongside the wonderful, harmonious music from several stages around the site, this is my absolute favourite event of the summer. Camping is on surrounding farmland, with quiet areas, areas where you’ll find folkies strumming their guitars and areas just for tents – with the steam trains chuffing lazily behind. Between the stages are opportunities to try something new – laughter yoga, circus skills, pottery for example. Easily enough to keep you stimulated for the whole festival.
n Tickets for the whole five days are just £137. Book and get more info at purbeckvalleyfolkfestival.co.uk
Arts centre in £38k fight for survival
By Faith Eckersall
newsdesk@stourandavon.net Christchurch arts centre The Hayloft has launched an emergency crowdfunding appeal to raise £38,000 before the end of August to save its building from closure. The not-for-profit gallery in Wick Lane used to be a stable and is attached to another building. It is managed by the 40-year-old Christchurch and District Arts charity, and has been reluctantly put up for sale by its owner, although a covenant on the building means it can only be used for arts purposes. The charity is made up of hundreds of local arts groups and individual artists and has been described as ‘one of Christchurch’s precious jewels’. “For two decades, the Hayloft has welcomed artists of all backgrounds and means to display their artwork and express their creativity,” said a spokesman. “It has survived many changes in the area, but now we have a live-ordie challenge that the building is to be sold immediately. This means the gallery would be lost and given over to another purpose. ‘We are calling on everyone who has used or exhibited in the Hayloft over the decades to come to our rescue, dig deep, and contribute so that we can crowdsource enough funding for CADArts to purchase the building. “Likewise, we are calling on anyone who wants to see Christchurch thrive as a vibrant and multi-faceted place, to support this not-forprofit art gallery.” The charity believes that if it can succeed in its goal, it will be able to ‘reboot our offering’ to the arts scene in Christchurch and the surrounding area. In a statement, it said: “We will also have a shining venue for the next generation of artists to bring soulfulness and creativity to the town. “We will strive to show artists young and old, of every background, and those who would not otherwise have the means to hire a gallery space or put on a show.” So far, the appeal has raised nearly £8,000 from 45 backers. However, as chairman Linda Patterson said: “That is just a proportion of what we need; we had to put up a figure that we hoped to reach, otherwise the pledges can’t be taken.” She said the charity was applying for grants to help cover the rest of the amount but needed more. “We’ve been there 20 years and the landlord has always been very generous to us but now he is selling and we need to save the centre as it will be a major blow to the town to lose it.” She said the centre was ‘somewhere we can be seen’ and CADArts put on a wide breadth of events and workshops to engage many sections of society. Despite the crisis, the gallery has planned exhibitions into the autumn and plans to take part in Mudeford Arts Festival. It is also the subject of a fund-raising auction to take place on August 18 by Bournemouth’s Little Crafts Shack. n To pledge money or support go to kickstarter. com/projects/stevedocherty/ save-the-hayloft
CROWDFUNDING: The Hayloft in Wick Lane, Christchurch
Art of the matter
Purbeck Art Weeks (PAW) Festival is delighted to be back! This year PAW will take place in two parts, with five concerts starting on August 6, followed in September by a fortnight of Open Studios, exhibitions and talks. n August 7-21: Festival Concerts n September 11-26: Open Studios, talks and exhibitions We have a fabulous programme of live music on offer featuring world class musicians. This includes I Fagiolini performing renaissance and 20th century vocal music on the theme of The Seasons; distinguished clarinettist Michael Collins with London Winds playing wind quintets by Mozart, Bartok and Dvorak; and the celebrated Baroque violinist Rachel Podger and colleagues play Bach with Mark Chambers (counter tenor) and Sestina. We welcome back the award winning vocal group Fieri Consort with the Chelys Consort of Viols. Newcomers include two amazing trombone quartets drawn from some of the top orchestras in the UK playing brass music from Mozart to Hoagy Carmichael. To find out more and book tickets go to purbeckartweeks festival.co.uk/events. Artists will open their studios for a fortnight from September 11, with PAW’s collective exhibition at historic Rollington Barn near Corfe Castle. Here you will also be able to pick up a handy Open Studios map. A printable brochure showing all that’s on offer will be available from early August at purbeckartweeks festival.co.uk. To keep up to date with all the Festival’s news please follow Purbeck Art Weeks Festival on Facebook.
PLEASE NOTE MASKS MUST BE WORN PURBECK ART WEEKS .
7–12 August Festival Concerts
11–26 September Open Studios and Exhibitions
PAW FESTIVAL CONCERTS
2021
PLEASE KEEP CHECKING OUR WEBSITE
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)
Saturday 7th August | 6.30pm Lady St Mary, Wareham Dorset Blues HANNAH ROBINSON I FAGIOLINI, THE CHANGING SEASONS Tuesday 10th August | 6.30pm St James’, Kingston FIERI CONSORT/CHELYS CONSORT OF VIOLS Fri 23rd July 7.30pm Part songs and fantasias Tickets Wednesday 11th August | 6.30pm £12 Lady St Mary, Wareham (Box Office bookings incur £1 fee per transaction) MICHAEL COLLINS (CLARINET) & LONDON WINDS BARRY STEELE & FRIENDSWind Quintets MATT BLACK Thursday 12th August | 6.30pm Lady St Mary, Wareham RACHEL PODGER (violin) & SESTINA (vocal group) Music by Bach, Tallis, Byrd and others Saturday 21st August | 6.30pm | St Mary’s, Swanage TROMBONE QUARTETS
