Marshwood Vale Magazine

Your truly comprehensive list of local events

Friday, 29 March – 1 April

Forde Abbey Easter Trail. Bring the little ones and come along to Forde Abbey’s exciting Easter trail starting from the 29th  of March to 1st April from 10:30am to 4:00pm. The usual entry fees apply to all Adults and Children and an additional fee for children who would like to take part in the trail. Gift Shop, Coffee Shop and Specialist Nursery is also open for the Easter Weekend, www.fordeabbey.co.uk

Saturday, 30 March

‘Bob Marley – One Love’ (12A) Picnic Night screening – Gateway Theatre, Seaton  7.30pm, doors 6.30pm, tickets Adults £7.50, Under 16s £6.50. ‘Bob Marley – One Love’ celebrates the life and music of an icon who inspired generations through his message of love and unity. Tickets from 01297 625699, www.thegatewayseaton.co.uk or in person Tue – Thur 10am – 1pm.

Cattistock Point-to-Point at Chilfrome (signed off A356).  An afternoon of Pony races and Steeplechase races. Local food, Bar, Bookies, Stalls and Children’s entertainment. Further information: pointingwessex.co.uk or njatknson10@gmail.com.

An evening of Music and Words, The Bartholomew Quartet and other well-known local musicians and writers performing a varied programme, 7pm for 7.30pm, The Mariners` Hall, Fore Street Beer, EX12 3JB. Tickets 10 pounds per adult (accompanied under-16s free). Contact Martin Cox mcoxbeer@gmail.com

Sunday, 31 March

The Royal  Opera – Madama Butterfly (12A) screening – Gateway Theatre, Seaton, – 2pm doors 1.30pm, tickets Adults  £15.Under 16s £8. When the young geisha, Cio-Cio-San, marries American Naval Officer Pinkerton, she believes she is entering a real, binding marriage for life. Forsaking her religion and community, she learns all too late that for Pinkerton, their marriage is merely an illusion – with tragic consequences. Tickets from 01297 625699, www.thegatewayseaton.co.uk or in person Tue – Thur 10am – 1pm.

Easter Sunday Lunch at the Alexandra – enjoy a traditional Sunday Roast and celebrate with us the joys of spring! Alexandra Hotel, Lyme Regis 01297 442010

Divine Union Soundbath 2pm-4pm Oborne Village Hall, Oborne, nr. Sherborne, Dorset DT9 4LA Quieten the mind calm the emotions relax and detoxify the body. £15 Please book in advance 01935 389655  ahiahel@live.com.

Monday, April 1

As a special Easter treat, Hawkchurch Film Nights, in association with Moviola, proudly presents a family-friendly afternoon matinee screening of ‘Wonka’ (cert PG, 116 mins). From the people who brought you ‘Paddington’, this prequel to the Roald Dahl classic stars Timothee Chalamet as Willy Wonka, whose dreams of opening a shop in a city renowned for its chocolate rub up against a cartel of greedy chocolatiers. A delightful musical fantasy, some of it filmed locally, featuring a host of familiar faces such as Olivia Colman, Hugh Grant and Sally Hawkins. Doors open 2.30pm, film starts 3.00pm at Hawkchurch Village Hall, EX13 5XD. Adult ticket reservations £5.50 from csma95@gmail.com or leave a message on 01297 678176 (sorry, no socially-distanced seating is available for this performance); tickets also available for £5.50 from Hawkchurch Community Shop or £6.00 on the door (cash only). Under 16s tickets £4.00. Under 12s must be accompanied by an adult. Subtitles for the hard-of-hearing provided.  Home-made cake and other chocolate-y delights available.

Tuesday, 2 April

Scottish Country Dancing at Horton village hall TA19 9QR every Tuesday evening from 7.30 to 9.30 pm with tea / coffee break. £3.00 pay on the door. Every one is welcome whether you are new to dance , an experienced dancer or somewhere in between, you will be assured of a very warm welcome. For more information email Anita at anitaandjim22@gmail.com   phone 01460 929383 and check out our web site at www.ashillscd.wordpress.com.

Churchingford Folk Dance Group meet at the Village Hall ( TA3 7QY) every Tuesday evening from 1930 to 2100 hrs. The dancing is to recorded music and the caller introduces dances from a variety of different genres. There is a tea break with refreshments halfway through. The cost is £2.00 per evening and if so minded, you can walk to the local pub for a drink afterwards! Contact is Neil Arnold (01460 234693). Also 9, 16, 23, 30 April.

Wednesday, 3 April

Bridport Scottish Dancers will meet on at Church House, South Street, Bridport,  DT6 3NN. Time: 7.15 for a 7.30 start. Cost:  £3.00 which includes tea/coffee and soft drinks + biscuits.  Newcomers first evening is free.  All welcome, no partner required but please wear soft shoes. Instruction on footwork and formations given when necessary in the first half of the evening + simpler dances. After the break at 8.30 we attempt some more challenging dances for our regular members. Contact:  Malcolm on 07790 323343. Check out bridportscottishdancers for more information.

Thursday, 4 April

National Theatre Live – ‘The Motive and the Cue’ (15) screening – Gateway Theatre, Seaton – 7pm, doors, 6.30pm, tickets Adults  £15, Under 16s £8. Sam Mendes (The Lehman Trilogy) directs Mark Gatiss as John Gielgud and Johnny Flynn as Richard Burton in this fierce and funny new play. Tickets from 01297 625699, www.thegatewayseaton.co.uk or in person Tue – Thur 10am – 1pm.

Thursday, 4 April

Colyton Town History Walks 2pm at Colyton Dolphin Car Park – Guided walk approximately one hour. Cost £5, children under 16 free.  No booking required. All weathers. Group Bookings by arrangement – Contact 01297 552514, 01297 33406. Also Thursday 11 April  Thursday 18 April Thursday 25 April.

Les Gardiennes (The Guardians)(2017, France, 15, S/titles, 130 mins, Director: Xavier Beauvois). Frenchwomen maintain a farm while their husbands and sons fight in World War I. The film is set on a farm in the Limousin region of central France during, and just after, the First World War. With her two sons Georges and Constant, and son-in-law, Clovis, serving in the army, Hortense Sandrail employs Francine Riant, a young woman brought up in an orphanage to help on the farm. Her daughter Solange also lives on the farm, but she mainly works in the house. Doors 7:00 pm, 7:30 pm start. Clapton & Wayford Village Hall (TA18 8PS).). Membership £25,  guests £5 per film. For more details, contact mickpwilson53@btinternet.com or ring Mick Wilson on 01460 74849 or Di Crawley on 01460 30508.

Raclette Evening at the Alex We are collaborating with the lovely team from Dorset’s ‘Raclette Kitchen’ to bring you a fun evening of relaxed eating and enjoyment. If you love cheese this is for you! Think melted cheese, wonderful Somerset charcuterie and more! £29 per person Alexandra Hotel, Lyme Regis 01297 442010

Friday, 5 April

‘’Have You Had It Long Madam’’  My Life With The Antiques Roadshow, followed by a Q & A session with Paul Atterbury (Writer, Historian and star of the BBCs Antiques Roadshow). 7 – 9PM Tickets: £12 (Refreshments Included)

Booking Required – 07464 975195 (Zoe) or  awkchurchptfa@gmail.com.

Rosie Jones : Triple Threat – 20:00 (14+) Join Rosie as she ponders whether she is a national treasure, a little prick, or somewhere in between! This show is guaranteed to be full of unapologetic cheekiness, nonsensical fun and unadulterated JOY from the triple threat herself. Bridport Electric Palace , DT6 3NY. Tickets : £16.50. Book online -electricpalace.org.uk

Easter Bingo – South Perrott Village Hall. Doors open 6pm, Eyes down 6.30pm. Fabulous prizes and raffle. Contact Ann 01935 891224.

Friday, 5 – 7 April

Sherborne Travel Writing Festival Curated by Rory MacLean Venture from Bodmin to Beijing, the Amazon to the Arctic and across the ages from Caesar’s Gaul to today’s shipping forecast with the UK’s leading travel writers and photographers Join Benedict Allen, Hilary Bradt, Katie Carr, Nick Danziger, Tim Hannigan, Brian Jackman, Don

McCullin, Caroline Mills, Bijam Omrani, Tom Parfitt, Davina Quinlivan, Monisha Rajesh, Kassia St Clair, Noo Saro-Wiwa and Rory MacLean to be transported across the world. Weekend Festival Tickets (5 th – 7th April) £80 Sherborne Literary Society members, £100 non-members includes tickets to 12 talks,Tea with the Authors, Free Parking all weekend Individual Tickets £12 – £20 non-members, £10 – £25 SLS member sherbornetravelwritingfestival.com

Saturday, 6 April

The Friends of Weymouth Library (F.O.W.L.) talk will be by author Neil McLocklin. He has written a book entitled “A

Nation in Ruins”, which is about Corfe Castle in the Civil War, and its owners Sir John and Lady Mary Bankes, staunch supporters of King Charles 1st. Lady Bankes defended her home against overwhelming odds with the loyal backing of the villagers. Learn more about this at the Library on Saturday April 6th. at 10-30a.m. Tickets are available from the Library, priced £2 for F.O.W.L. members and £3 for non-members. All are welcome; refreshments provided.

Martha Tilston & Nathan Ball :  20:00 (14+) With a pure silken voice and lyrics that inspire and captivate, Martha Tilston has developed a successful musical career with a large and loyal following.  Bridport Electric Palace , DT6 3NY. Tickets £18.50. Book online -electricpalace.org.uk

A Gardening Special ARC 10.00- 1.00. At Theu buioldhall, Axminster. Bring your tools to be sharpened, handles for spades and forks repaired ( handles can be purchased from DIY store or Mole Avon). And a Seed and plant swap, why not split your herbaceous plants, wrap them up and bring them along. We will be carrying out our normal repairs as well.

Axminster Repair Cafe, Garden Special,  sharpening tools, seed and plant swop, 10-1.00, Axminster Guildhall, Facebook

The Beehive’s Open Day and Café Launch. Free entry, All welcome. We’re opening our doors to the public to showcase what the Beehive has to offer. Discover our diverse range of events and activities. Learn about becoming a volunteer and find out about our venue and room hire. Our café will be open to enjoy cake samples & live music throughout the day. 10am – 2pm. The Beehive Honiton www.beehivehoniton.co.uk 01404 384050.

‘The Color Purple’ (12A) Picnic Night Screening- Gateway Theatre, Seaton – 7.30pm, doors 6.30pm, tickets adults £7.50, Under 16s £6.50. The extraordinary sisterhood of three women who share one unbreakable bond. This bold new take on the beloved classic is directed by Blitz Bazawule  and produced by Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, Scott Sanders and Quincy Jones. Tickets from 01297 625699, www.thegatewayseaton.co.uk or in person Tue – Thur 10am – 1pm.

Scottish Dancing Party in Chardstock An evening of Scottish Dancing at Chardstock Village Hall 7.30 – 10.30 p.m.  No partner required.  Please bring your own mug and a plate of food to share.  Tea and coffee provided. Cost £5.00.  Contact David on 01460 65981

Monday, 8 April

Townswomen’s Guild  2 p.m.  After a short business meeting, Sarah Brooker, a trainee Flower Arranging Demonstrator will be  giving a demonstration at Dorchester Community Church, Liscombe Street, Poundbury, DT1 3DF  Visitors welcome (£2)  Enquiries  01305 832857.

Hawkchurch Film Nights, in association with Moviola, proudly presents ‘One Life’ (cert.12 – moderate threat, 105mins). This poignant and emotional biographical drama follows the life of humanitarian Nicholas Winton, who helped hundreds of children escape German-occupied Czechoslovakia on the eve of World War II. Starring Anthony Hopkins, Johnny Flynn and Helena Bonham Carter. Doors open 6.30pm, film starts 7.00pm at Hawkchurch Village Hall, EX13 5XD. Ticket reservations £5.50 from csma95@gmail.com or leave a message on 01297 678176 (socially-distanced seating available if reserved in advance); tickets also available for £5.50 from Hawkchurch Community Shop or £6.00 on the door (cash only). Subtitles for the hard-of-hearing provided.  Home-made cake and other tasty refreshments available.

‘Scottish Artists’ From the Scottish Enlightenment to present day artists. Gavin Hamilton, to David Wilkie the great story teller, who also painted everyday life, who rose to becoming court painter to William iV and Queen Victoria. The landscape of Horatio McCulluch, who celebrated the landscape as described by Walter Scott the writer. Thomas Stuart Smith who became a painter and a patron of Scottish art. Mary Cameron who painted Spain. The Glasgow Boys & Girls and Colourists will get a mention. William McCance gives a modern view post WW1, likewise William Gear. Elizabeth Blackadder’s beautiful interiors and still life paintings and Alison Watt’s contemporary portraits and still life paintings, plus many more artists. There is one Monday bank holiday where the course will take a weeks break on that Monday. Fee £65 Venue is United Church Hall, East Street, Bridport, ‘Drop in’ lectures’, £13 per lecture. Tutor is Pam Simpson MA, Art Historian. This course runs on Fridays 2pm on line, fee £60 To Book or enquire email  chris.pamsimpson@btinternet.com

Dance Connection, for fun, health & wellbeing, 10:30am, Othona, Burton Bradstock, 07787752201

An evening of Scottish Dancing at Chardstock Village Hall 7.30 – 10.00 p.m.  Tea and coffee provided but  please bring your own mug.  No partner required.  Cost £2.00.  For more information contact David on 01460 65981.

Tuesday, 9 April

Scottish Country Dancing at Horton village hall TA19 9QR every Tuesday evening from 7.30 to 9.30 pm with tea / coffee break. £3.00 pay on the door. Every one is welcome whether you are new to dance , an experienced dancer or somewhere in between, you will be assured of a very warm welcome. For more information email Anita at anitaandjim22@gmail.com   phone 01460 929383 and check out our web site at www.ashillscd.wordpress.com

Wednesday, 10 April

Bridport Scottish Dancers will meet at Church House, South Street, Bridport,  DT6 3NN. Time:  7.15 for a 7.30 start. Cost:  £3.00   which includes tea/coffee and soft drinks + biscuits. Newcomers first evening is free. All welcome, no partner required but please wear soft shoes. Instruction on footwork and formations given when necessary in the first half of the evening + simpler dances. After the break at 8.30 we attempt some more challenging dances for our regular members.Contact:  Malcolm on 07790 323343. Check out bridportscottishdancers for more information.

Artist’s talk: Louise Balaam in conversation on at 7pm (Doors 6pm hot supper available from the bar). Sladers Yard Gallery, West Bay, Bridport, Dorset DT6 4EL. Tickets: £12. Please call 01308 459511.

Film One Life (12) tells the true story of Sir Nicholas Winton, dubbed the “British Schindler”, who rescued 669 children from the Nazis. Doors and bar open 6.45 film start 7.15 at Kilmington Village Hall EX13 7RF. Tickets @ £5, or £5.50 on the door, can be ordered by contacting: John at wattsjohn307@gmail.com or Tel: 01297 639758.

Thursday, 11 April

The Dorchester Art Club starts their Summer programme today. It is a very friendly club, whose members meet to paint and draw in a relaxed way with like-minded people.  We meet from 2 – 4 pm on most Thursdays in the year in St. George’s church hall, Fordington, Dorchester, where there is free parking, and have a break with tea/coffee and biscuits half way through. The sessions are not classes, there is no teacher, but there is a suggested programme each week, which members can follow, or they can bring their own work to do if they prefer. There are some experienced people who are always willing to help if necessary.  We have occasional demonstrations, in-house workshops and competitions. We welcome absolute beginners to those who are more experienced. The first visit is free. As with any club, there is a membership subscription if you would like to join, and there is a small charge each week you attend towards the refreshments and the hall hire. The hall is large, light and warm. You don’t need to book in, just turn up a little before 2 pm with some materials that you can use, and see if you like how it runs We would be very pleased to see you!

Bridport History Society hosts a talk titled ‘The Eighteenth-Century Speculative House Builder — a Familiar Figure’. The speaker, Austen Hamilton MA says: ‘The housing problem has a long history, as has the role of the speculative builder in its solution.  The development process has changed little over the centuries and a look at some of the players and controversies of eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century housing development can provide an interesting sidelight on our own times.’ Bridport History Society meets on the second Thursday of each month (except July and August) at the United Church Hall, 2.15 for 2.30pm. Visitors welcome £5pp.  Membership is £10 individual / £15 couple.  For more information visit: www.bridporthistorysociety.org.uk.

Seaton Garden Club. Plant Sale and Cream Tea. at 2.30 p.m. Seaton Masonic Hall Members free none members £2.00.

Film One Life (12) matinee, doors open 1.45pm film starts 2pm, advance booking required for this matinee, cream-teas served during the interval but must be pre-booked with your seats @ £3.50.  see www.kilmingtonvillage.com/other-organisations.html for more information.

Folk dancing at Combe St Nicholas village hall (TA20 3LT) at 1930 hrs. Chris Toyne will be providing the music and the caller is yet to be confirmed. It’s £4.00 per person which includes a cuppa and cake, all welcome and it is a lot of fun! Further details from Elaine on 01460 65909.

Chard History Group The Rape (administrative District) of Hastings a Potted History, 1066, huge hoaxes and world changing inventions by Tessa Leeds 7.20 for 7.45 New Venue Upstairs Chard Guildhall Members £2.50 visitors £3.50 All Welcome For further information Tessa 07984481634

The Royal Ballet: Macmillan Celebrated. Adults £17, Students £11. The Royal Ballet celebrates the breadth of Principal Choreographer Kenneth MacMillan’s one-act ballets, Danses Concertantes, Different Drummer and Requiem. 7pm. The Beehive Honiton www.beehivehoniton.co.uk 01404 384050.

Friday, 12 April

Open Mic, 7:30pm, Every 2nd Friday of the month is our popular Open Mic night at Waffle… anyone and everyone welcome! Performers: turn up before 19:30 to guarantee yourself a slot and email live@waffle.org.uk if you have any performance related questions. Punters: email bookings@waffle.org.uk to book a table. The Community Waffle House, Trinity Square, EX13 5AP.

Zoe Schwarz Blue Commotion – Vibrant, contemporary, original, melodic, funky rocking blues featuring Hammond-organ, drums, guitar and vocals. Refreshing the blues genre with eclectic arrangements, virtuosic playing and vocal prowess. With an exciting live set based around rootsy original songs, strong catchy riffs and exciting grooves; they mix old school tradition with contemporary flare and sophistication. 7.30pm at Ilminster Arts Centre, TA19 0AN. Tickets: £20 Students: £5 Children 12 and under: Free. To book: 01460 54973 or www.ilminsterartscentre.com

Wicked Little Letters (15)  19:30 1920s English seaside town bears witness to a dark and absurd scandal in this riotous mystery comedy. Based on a stranger than fiction true story.  Bridport Electric Palace , DT6 3NY. Tickets : £8. Book online -electricpalace.org.uk

Hedgehogs in need of your help a talk by Stephen Powles in Winsham’s Jubilee Hall. Born in Nairobi, in the early 60’s, Stephen became fascinated with the natural world from a young age. Now living in Tiverton, and formerly a vet, Stephen changed his career to pursue his lifelong passion for wildlife, wildlife photography/filming & conservation, and his material has made a number of TV appearances.

Hedgehogs are struggling, with their numbers having declined dramatically over the last 30 years. In his talk Stephen explains how to make your garden “hedgehog friendly”- he’ll then go on to show how one village came together to create a hedgehog “superhighway” of interconnected gardens. It should be a talk for animal lovers and gardeners alike Tickets are £4 for members & £5.50 for non & doors open at 7pm for a 7.30pm start. For further details please call Liz on 01460 30371.

Singing Bowl Soundbath 8 pm Digby Memorial Hall, Sherborne DT9 3LN Still the mind calm the emotions relax and detoxify the body Please book in advance  01935 389655 ahiahel@live.com £16

Saturday, 13 April

Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance Fundraiser Clapton & Wayford Village Hall TA18 8PS 2.30-5pm Please join us for Coffee & Cake and fundraising activities to acknowledge and highlight the lifesaving work of our local Air Ambulance. Contact Gale Taylor 07971172246.

Afternoon Tea with Jon Cuthill. The BBC’s  South Today TV Newscaster and  Reporter will be speaking about his work followed by a cream tea. 4.00 pm in St Mary’s Church Charminster DT2 9RD Tickets at £10.00 each MUST be pre-booked. To book tel. 07795 347408, 07818 508011 or 01305 213403.  Sorry, no “on the door” admissions”

The Minster Church Axminster at 7.00 –  ‘The trumpet shall sound’. Axminster Choral Society presents a fascinating and lively recital tracing the history of the trumpet through performances of well known music. The concert will be given by Alistair Mackie, former Principal Trumpeter of the Philharmonia Orchestra, accompanied by the choir’s President Andrew Millington. You can expect a very entertaining evening. Tickets £10 from www.axminsterchoral.co.uk, from Archway Bookshop, Trinity Square, Axminster, from members of the choir or on the door.

Bridport & West Dorset Rambling Club 8.5 mile walk from Lamberts Castle. For further information please ring 01308 898484 or 01308 863340. New members/visitors welcome.

‘The Jungle Bunch World Tour’ (U) – Gateway Theatre, Seaton, Family Matinee Screening – 3pm doors 2.30pm, tickets Adults £7.50, Under 16s £6.50. When a mysterious super-villain blankets the jungle with a peculiar pink foam that explodes on contact with water, it stirs The Jungle Bunch into action. Family animation. Tickets from 01297 625699, www.thegatewayseaton.co.uk or in person Tue – Thur 10am – 1pm.

Saturday, 13 April – 6 May

The Cenre Giant Festival was born out of the vibrant May Day tradition, when the Morris Dancers and villagers gather at dawn on the Trendle, the original site of the village Maypole at the top of the Cerne Giant. Here we salute the sunrise and celebrate the start of summer with a barrel of Beltane Beer. There are a variety of events so everyone can explore their own connection with the landscape of Dorset and what it means to them. Any profits from the Festival will go towards maintaining the fabric and work of the churches in the participating villages. For full information visit www.CerneGiantFestival.org.

Sunday, 14 April

The Royal Ballet ‘MacMillan Celebrated ’ (12A) – Screening – Gateway Theatre, Seaton, 2pm doors 1.30pm, tickets Adults £15, Under 16s £8. Danses Concertantes, followed by Different Drummer, MacMillan’s complex and haunting balletic interpretation of Woyzeck, and concludes with Requiem, his 1976 work for Stuttgart Ballet. Tickets from 01297 625699, www.thegatewayseaton.co.uk or in person Tue – Thur 10am – 1pm.

Royal Ballet Screening – Macmillan Celebrated : 14:00 Danses concertantes , Different drummer and Requiem. Bridport Electric Palace , DT6 3NY. Tickets : £16 adv £17 door.  Book online -electricpalace.org.uk

Dance Connection, Day workshop, 11-4, Bridport St Mary’s CHH, 07787752201, danceconnectionwessex@gmail.com

Monday, 15 April

An evening of Scottish Dancing at Chardstock Village Hall 7.30 – 10.00 p.m.  Tea and coffee provided but  please bring your own mug.  No partner required.  Cost £2.00.  For more information contact David on 01460 65981.

Flash Fiction Story Slam 7:00pm Flash Fiction is the art of the very, very short story where exciting things happen in a mere 250 words. It’s one of the categories in the Bridport Prize international creative writing competition, based here at BAC. Come for a fun evening and be thrilled by talented writers telling tiny tales or register to take part by emailing Moira Lees at at  Moira@bridport-arts.com. MC’d by Declan Duffy with an esteemed panel of local judges. Bridport Arts Centre, 9 South St, Bridport, DT6 3NR.

Tuesday, 16 April

‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ (U) (2002) Home Instead Nostalgic Cinema Matinee screening – Gateway Theatre, Seaton, 1.30pm doors 1pm, tickets £3.50, Whilst promoted as a dementia friendly screening, anyone who loves nostalgic films is very welcome to join us for an afternoon of fond memories and friendship. Tickets from 01297 625699, www.thegatewayseaton.co.uk or in person Tue – Thur 10am – 1pm.

The Lyme Regis Society presents their AGM and a talk:

Electric Lyme by Martin Roundell-Greene 2pm at Woodmead Halls, Hill Road, Lyme Regis. DT7 3PG. All Welcome. Members Free. Visitors £3.00. Refreshments Included. Social distanced seating available if desired.

Please check website for further information: http//lymeregissociety.org.uk

Scottish Country Dancing at Horton village hall TA19 9QR every Tuesday evening from 7.30 to 9.30 pm with tea / coffee break. £3.00 pay on the door. Every one is welcome whether you are new to dance , an experienced dancer or somewhere in between, you will be assured of a very warm welcome. For more information email Anita at anitaandjim22@gmail.com   phone 01460 929383 and check out our web site at www.ashillscd.wordpress.com

Wednesday, 17 April

Introduction to Nordic Walking Course 10:00- 11:30, Bridport, £30.00 (includes hire of poles and first walk with the group). Please contact melanie@lymebaynordicwalking.com for more details.

What if the Swallows Didn’t Come Back? 7 for 7.30pm  St Mary’s Church, Abbey Street, Cerne Abbas DT2 7JQ

Reflecting on the Future for Britain’s Migratory birds.  Michael McCarthy is one of Britain’s leading writers on the environment and the natural world, having been Environment Correspondent of The Times and later the longstanding Environment Editor of The Independent. His books include Say Goodbye To The Cuckoo (2009), The Moth Snowstorm – Nature and Joy (2015) and The Consolation of Nature – Spring in the Time of Coronavirus (2020).£7 incl refreshments.

Colyton & District Garden Society ‘45 years a Seedsman’ Tom Sharples Horticulturalist and writer. Venue : Colyford Memorial Hall, EX24 6QJ , start 7.30 pm. Members free, guests £3.00. Information : Sue Price 01297 552362.

Bridport Scottish Dancers will meet at Church House, South Street, Bridport,  DT6 3NN.  Time:  7.15 for a 7.30 start.  Cost:  £3.00  which includes tea/coffee and soft drinks + biscuits. Newcomers first evening is free. All welcome, no partner required but please wear soft shoes. Instruction on footwork and formations given when necessary in the first half of the evening + simpler dances. After the break at 8.30 we attempt some more challenging dances for our regular members. Contact:  Malcolm on 07790 323343. Check out bridportscottishdancers for more information.

Coffee Morning, including cakes, scones & savouries, and bacon/egg rolls (made to order), 10.30am – noon; all welcome. Clapton & Wayford Village Hall.  More details from Julia (01460 72769)

Thursday, 18 April

Sarah Beth Briggs (piano) will play works by Beethoven, Mozart, Mendelssohn, Britten, Clara Schumann, Robert Schumann 7.30pm at The Gateway, Fore St, Seaton. EX12 2LD Tickets £18 (under-19s and full-time students free)

at the door (cash or card) or www.seatonmusic.org.

Lyme Voices Community Choir. 19.30 to 21.15. Sing for fun. Learn songs in harmony by ear. Everyone welcome. Baptist Church (Pine Hall round the back), Silver St., Lyme Regis, DT7 3NY. Phone 07534 116502 or email petelinnett2@hotmail.com.

South Somerset RSPB Local Group The Private Lives of Garden Birds An illustrated talk presented by Dr. Colin Ryall, a retired principal lecturer in environmental management.  The talk will delve into facets of birds’ behaviour, physiology and anatomy, thus exposing some of their little known secrets. 7.30pm The Millennium Hall, Seavington St. Mary, Ilminster, TA19 0QH. Entry: Group members £4, non-group members £5, under 25’s Free.  Tea/coffee & biscuits included – Wheelchair access. Further details from Denise Chamings on 01460240740 or www.rspb.org.uk/groups/southsomerset. Everyone welcome.

Bassie Gracie 7:30pm Bassie Gracie is a punk performance poet known for her musings as a musician, feel-good feminism and general silliness. Frequently found shoeless on the Monday of a music festival telling a 70-year-old geezer ‘punk was better in my day’. Her show combines, jokes anecdotes and rhyming couplets, intended to inspire, amuse and excite. Bridport Arts Centre, 9 South St, Bridport, DT6 3NR.

Tales of the History of Godmanstone 6.30pm  Godmanstone Church and Village Hall  DT2 7AQ Renowned local storyteller and organic farmer Will Best grew up roaming the fields of Manor Farm.  He soaked up anecdotes of life in this small rural village in the 19th and  20th C from farming neighbours.  Will and Pam Best were pioneers in the commercial production of organic milk. Parking is available at the Smith Arms carpark DT2 7AQ £8 each including wine or soft drink.

Happy-Go-Lucky  (2008, UK, 15, 113 mins, Director Mike Leigh). Teacher Poppy Cross (Sally Hawkins) is an eternal optimist who lives with her more cynical friend Zoe (Alexis Zegerman). Deciding she wants to learn to drive, she starts taking lessons from Scott (Eddie Marsan), a tense and downbeat instructor who believes Poppy’s levity reflects a lack of seriousness. Although they clash, Poppy is not deterred from her goal. Meanwhile, she starts dating Tim, a social worker who came to her school to help a child. Doors 7:00 pm, 7:30 pm start. Clapton & Wayford Village Hall (TA18 8PS).  For more details, contact mickpwilson53@btinternet.com or ring Mick Wilson on 01460 74849 or Di Crawley on 01460 30508.

Deane Big Band. The Beehive’s residency big band. Tickets: £14 Early Bird £11. Duke Ellington, his legacy, and Charlie Mingus. No vocals this time, giving plenty of space for our fabulous soloists. Whether it’s Take the A Train or Don’t Get Around Much Anymore the band will swing you through the glorious Duke Ellington songbook. 8pm. The Beehive Honiton www.beehivehoniton.co.uk 01404 384050.

Friday, 19 April

Jazz Jurassica Jazz Supper An Evening with Tom Seals – Gateway Theatre, Seaton, Doors 6.15pm, Food 7pm, Show 8pm, Tickets £39 (Includes 2 course supper) Tom Seals, one of the UK’s finest boogie-woogie pianists, launches the first supper club of 2024. Tickets from 01297 625699, www.thegatewayseaton.co.uk or in person Tue – Thur 10am – 1pm.

Gildas Quartet – Welcoming the critically acclaimed Gildas Quartet, praised for their ‘energy, verve and refreshing approach’ to performance. Promoted by Concerts in the West. 7.30pm at Ilminster Arts Centre, TA19 0AN. Tickets: £18 Students: £5 Children 12 and under: Free. To book:

01460 54973 or www.ilminsterartscentre.com

Tom Brown’s Gang with Sam Brown, a fabulous ukulele band raising funds for Stickland’s Primary School in Evershot, 8pm (doors open at 7.30), Evershot Village Hall, The Common Evershot, DT2 0JY.  Tickets – £10  available via Eventbrite and on the door.

Clive Anderson – My Seven Wonders :  19:30 (16+)  The host of Whose Line Is It Anyway, Talks Back, and Loose Ends takes to the road as the live version of his hit podcast takes to the road for the first time!  Bridport Electric Palace , DT6 3NY. Tickets : £22. Book online -electricpalace.org.uk

The Colour Purple (2023) at 7.30pm. Village Hall, The Causeway, Milborne St Andrew DT11 0JX. For those that saw the original, the rough edges of Steven Spielberg’s 1985 adaptation of The Colour Purple have been softened by the evocative energy of this movie-musical’s three female leads. In 1909 Celie a black American girl is given away in marriage by her abusive father to a local farmer Albert who treats her cruelly. Celie is God fearing and deliverance comes in the form of jazz singer who takes her away to another city far away from her misery. She now gets her long due happiness.Building on the legacy of the previous film adaptation while incorporating elements of the stage musical, The Color Purple is a crowd-pleasing testament to resilience in the face of trauma. Much more than a remake, the musical film version of The Color Purple stands on its own as a vibrant, uplifting experience — and the singing and dancing are superb. Doors and bar open 7.00pm. Tickets cost £6, which includes a drink or an ice-cream.

Friday, 19 – 21 April

Crafts @ The Chapel Spring Fair Professional Handmade Crafts including: Traditionally Upholstered Reloved Furniture, Ceramics, Skin Care, Jewellery and more. 10-5 Friday and Saturday, 10-4 on Sunday. The Peek Chapel, next door to The Alexandra Hotel, Pound Street, Lyme Regis,  DT7 3HZ More information at www.ddbinteriors.com/blog.

Saturday, 20 April

Fleetwood Mac & Tom Petty Legacy – Live Music – Gateway Theatre, Seaton -. 8.30pm, doors 7.30pm, tickets £20, £22.50 on door Europe’s only tribute to Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Nicks and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Two great live bands that are so closely tied together by the great Stevie Nicks. Hear and see all both bands classic songs along with The Traveling Wilburys and Stevie Nicks collaborations plus many more. Tickets from 01297 625699, www.thegatewayseaton.co.uk or in person Tue – Thur 10am – 1pm.

The Giant in a Sacred Landscape? 7 for 7.30pm  St Mary’s Church, Abbey Street, Cerne Abbas DT2 7JQ

Dr Helen Gittos grew up in the area and has childhood memories of the Giant.  She is now based at the University of Oxford.  Her first book, Liturgy, Architecture and Sacred Places in Anglo-Saxon England (2013), revealed, for example, how important outdoor processions were in peoples’ religious lives and how visible the liturgy was in the landscape.  So when the National Trust’s soil tests revealed that the Cerne Giant was about the same age as our AngloSaxon monastery it caught her attention!  The University of Sheffield’s archaeological excavations are part of a multidisciplinary collaboration to try to understand the relationship between the Giant and Cerne Abbey.  Her initial research has been published as a large article in the American journal Speculum. £8.50  with wine or soft drink and canapes.

Sing, Spring, Sprung! 7:30pm Spring is the season of new life and old friends. From the spring-tide of bright flowers to the growing crescendo of birdsong, the wild world is awash with sights and sounds to be sensed and savoured. To celebrate this most sweetly anticipated season, Martin Maudsley and Lucy Roberts weave together an enchanting evening of spellbinding storytelling and magical music that’s full of the joys of spring. The performance draws on the March/April/May chapters of Martin’s recently published book Telling the Seasons, bringing to life the folklore, folksongs and traditions of spring. Bridport Arts Centre, 9 South St, Bridport, DT6 3NR.

A fundraising concert organised by The Friends of St Mary’s Church, Beaminster Sunset Cafe Stompers A Jazz Concert entitled ’Something Borrowed, Something Blue’ At 7.30pm in St Mary’s Church, Beaminster Tickets £12.50 available from Yarn Barton or Church door Cash or card

Bridport & West Dorset Rambling Club 7 mile walk from Evershot. For further information please ring 01308 898484 or 01308 863340. New members/visitors welcome.

Dalwood Jazz Club  3pm presents The Nick White Quintet with Nick White (Chris Barber JB) – clarinet & sax, Trevor Whiting – clarinet & sax, Jim Newton – drums,  Gus Dolding – banjo & guitar and Jo Trudgeon – bass. Dalwood Village Hall, EX13 7EG (near Axminster) Bar for beer/wine/soft drinks and teas/coffees/cake etc.   Parking at the Village Hall £12.50p    If possible, please book in advance and pay (cash or card) at the door. t.mackenney111@btinternet.com

Sunday, 21 April

‘An American in Paris’(PG) – Matinee screening – Gateway Theatre, Seaton – 2pm, doors 1.30pm, tickets Adults £15, Under 16s £8. This breathtakingly beautiful Tony Award-winning Broadway musical inspired by the Oscar winning MGM film, tells the impassioned story of discovering love in the ‘City of Light’. Tickets from 01297 625699, www.thegatewayseaton.co.uk or in person Tue – Thur 10am – 1pm.

Garden Open for the NGS, at Broomhill, Rampisham, DT2 0PT. 2-5pm. Come and enjoy an afternoon in a spring garden, where blossom and bulbs should be at their best. Entry £5.00. Children free. Homemade teas, plants for sale. Ample parking. Tel 07775 806 875

Yeovil Railway Centre, Yeovil Junction Station, Stoford BA22 9UU: Steam Train Day plus Character – but who? 01935 410420 for recorded information, visit the website www.yeovilrailway.freeservers.com, or find us on Facebook.

French + Breton Folk Dance,  Bal Crewkerne  with live house band, in the Speedwell Hall, Abbey Street, Crewkerne, TA18 7HY.  Dance workshop for beginners 6-7pm followed by main dance 7-9.30pm. Admission £4 at the door. Tea and coffee available or bring your own drinks.  Free parking in the town centre car parks. More information on our website: https://balcrew.wixsite.com/balcrewkerne

Monday, 22 April

An evening of Scottish Dancing at Chardstock Village Hall 7.30 – 10.00 p.m.  Tea and coffee provided but please bring your own mug.  No partner required.  Cost £2.00.  For more information contact David on 01460 65981.

Secrets of the Parish Church 7 for 7.30pm St Mary’s Church, Abbey Street  DT2 7TQ. Church Recorders are volunteers who promote the recognition and preservation of our rich artistic heritage by recording the contents of our national churches. Items are described in detail and their history researched.  This is then compiled into a book illustrated with photographs and drawings which is presented to the church and copies are sent to national institutions. The Sherborne Recorders are currently working in Minterne Church.  They will speak about their work, and tell us about some of the interesting items they have found in some local churches. £7 incl refreshments.

Tuesday, 23 April

Scottish Country Dancing at Horton village hall TA19 9QR every Tuesday evening from 7.30 to 9.30 pm with tea / coffee break. £3.00 pay on the door. Every one is welcome whether you are new to dance , an experienced dancer or somewhere in between, you will be assured of a very warm welcome. For more information email Anita at anitaandjim22@gmail.com   phone 01460 929383 and check out our web site at www.ashillscd.wordpress.com.

The Minster Church Axminster at 7.30. Axminster Choral Society starts rehearsals for its summer concert of favourite anthems and choruses, chosen by members of the choir. All are welcome to join us as we rehearse and perform these splendid pieces. The fee for the term is just £20 (including music). Further details from the Membership Secretary at www.axminsterchoral.co.uk.

National Theatre Live – NYE (12a) :  19:00 Broadcast live from London. Michael Sheen plays Nye Bevan in a surreal and spectacular journey through the life and legacy of the man who transformed Britain’s welfare state and created the NHS.  Bridport Electric Palace , DT6 3NY. Tickets : £16 adv £17 door. Book online -electricpalace.org.uk

Wednesday, 24 April

Bridport Scottish Dancers will meet at Church House, South Street, Bridport,  DT6 3NN.  Time:  7.15 for a 7.30 start.    Cost:  £3.00  which includes tea/coffee and soft drinks + biscuits.   Newcomers first evening is free. All welcome, no partner required but please wear soft shoes. Instruction on footwork and formations given when necessary in the first half of the evening + simpler dances.   After the break at 8.30 we attempt some more challenging dances for our regular members. Contact:  Malcolm on 07790 323343. Check out bridportscottishdancers for more information.

Nature on your doorstep – how to create wildlife friendly spaces. 7 for 7.30pm St Mary’s Church, Abbey Street, Cerne Abbas DT2 7JQ. Mitch Perkins, an Assistant Wilder Communities Officer from the DWT, will describe and explain which of our wildlife neighbours we can help and how.  Mitch will introduce you to some you may not have met!  Find out about the creatures that can keep your garden healthy – from pollinators to predators, and how small actions can make a big difference.  If we can create more spaces for wildlife, we can connect areas and so facilitate their movement through the landscape. The DWT also wish to use this event to get feedback from the public to answer these questions:  ‘Are there wildlife friendly spaces in your community? Would you like more?  What ideas do you have?’ £7 each including refreshments.

Stalker, (PG), 10:30am, Bridport Arts Centre, 01308 424204, www.bridport-arts.com. The Stalker (Alexander Kaidanovsky) leads two disillusioned intellectuals – the Writer (Anatoly Solonitsyn) and the Professor (Nikolai Grinko) – into the forbidden Zone, a sooty, oily post-apocalyptic landscape that eerily presages Chernobyl, on a quest to have their deepest wishes realised within a mystical destination known as “the Room”. 10:30am, Bridport Arts Centre, DT6 3RN. Tickets: £6/£5. Booking www.bridport-arts.com/fpts or Bridport TIC.

Disobedience, (15), 2pm, Bridport Arts Centre, 01308 424204, www.bridport-arts.com. A compelling adaptation of Naomi Alderman’s novel, winner of the 2006 Orange prize for New Writing. Ronit (Rachel Weisz), a capricious New York-based photographer, returns to London following the death of her estranged father, the revered rabbi of an Orthodox Jewish community. She is startled to find that Esti (Rachel McAdams), sweetheart of the teen romance that led to her exile, is now married to devout new rabbi Dovid (Alessandro Nivola).  2pm, Bridport Arts Centre, DT6 3RN. Tickets: £6/£5. Booking www.bridport-arts.com/fpts or Bridport TIC.

Blackbird Blackbird Blackberry, South West Preview, (15 TBC) 5pm, Bridport Arts Centre, 01308 424204, www.bridport-arts.com Etero (Eka Chavleishvili), a woman living in a small village in Georgia, never wanted a husband. She cherishes her freedom as much as her cakes. But her choice to live alone is the cause of much gossip among her fellow villagers. Unexpectedly, she finds herself passionately falling for a local delivery man and is suddenly faced with the decision to pursue a relationship or continue a life of independence. 5pm, Bridport Arts Centre, DT6 3RN. Tickets: £8/£6. Booking www.bridport-arts.com/fpts or Bridport TIC.

The Beast, Gala Preview Event, CERT TBC, 7:30pm, Bridport Arts Centre, 01308 424204, www.bridport-arts.com Léa Seydoux (No Time to Die) excels as the three Gabrielles at the heart of this dark and ambitious time-switching love story, innovatively adapted from a Henry James novella.

It’s 2044 and AI has taken over – Gabrielle must submit to DNA purification to purge herself of past trauma. Whether in Belle Epoque Paris where she’s a successful pianist, or 2014 as an aspiring model/actress house-sitting in LA, she and Louis (George MacKay) keep meeting and parting like cuckoo clock figures fated to repeat the same doomed romance.  7:30pm, Bridport Arts Centre, DT6 3RN. Tickets: £12/£10. Booking www.bridport-arts.com/fpts or Bridport TIC.

Emerging into Spring. A day of Finding our Creativity through Nature and Mindfulness. 10a.m.- 4 p.m. at the Studio, Othona (Burton Bradstock)  £50. Reservations: bookings@othonawesrdorset.org.uk. 01308 897130.

Uplyme and Lyme Regis Horticultural Society talk by Peter Savage of Bowdens Nursery, ‘Hostas’. Plants for sale. Spring flowering bulbs competition. Uplyme Village Hall 7.30pm. Doors open at 7pm for refreshments. Members free; non-members £3. More information www.ulrhs.wordpress.com.

Thursday, 25 April

Folk dancing at Combe St Nicholas village hall (TA20 3LT) at 1930 hrs. Robert  Blackborow and his band will be providing the music and Mary Blackborow will calling the dances It’s £4.00 per person which includes a cuppa and cake, all welcome and it is a lot of fun! Further details from Elaine on 01460 65909.

Lyme Voices Community Choir. 19.30 to 21.15. Sing for fun. Learn songs in harmony by ear. Everyone welcome. Baptist Church (Pine Hall round the back), Silver St., Lyme Regis, DT7 3NY. Phone 07534 116502 or email petelinnett2@hotmail.com.

Emerald Jazz All Saints Church, MARTOCK; TA12 6JN

Performance time: 7:30 pm Admission fee: Tickets: £10.00 at Guardianstickets@gmail.com /07547 213992/Martock Gallery/ Martock Newsagent (CASH ONLY); £12.00 at door. Website:www.martockonline.co.uk/events https://www.facebook.com/emeraldjazz/ Emerald Jazz perform American Songbook standards made famous by Ella Fitzgerald, and Billie Holiday, to more modern classics by Crystal Gayle and Nina Simone.

John Singer Sargent: Exhibition On Screen. Tickets £13. John Singer Sargent is known as the greatest portrait artist of his era. What made his ‘swagger’ portraits so remarkable? The exhibition will examine how Sargent’s unique practice has influenced modern art, culture and fashion.  7pm. The Beehive Honiton www.beehivehoniton.co.uk 01404 384050.

Barbarella, (15), 11am, Bridport Arts Centre, 01308 424204, www.bridport-arts.com Jane Fonda created a genuine icon when she leapt out of her spaceship as intergalactic government agent Barbarella, a wide-eyed innocent on the trail of rogue scientist Durand Durand (Milo O’Shea).  It’s 40,000AD on kitsch planet Sorgo, and a host of characters featuring David Hemmings, Anita Pallenberg and mime legend Marcel Marceau help and hinder our heroine in her ‘investigation’. 11am, Bridport Arts Centre, DT6 3RN. Tickets: £6/£5. Booking www.bridport-arts.com/fpts or Bridport TIC.

Kes with guest speaker Christopher Eccleston, (PG), 2pm, Bridport Arts Centre, 01308 424204, www.bridport-arts.com. Ken Loach’s much-loved story of a boy (David Bradley) who manages to transcend his difficult life and discover his own private means of fulfilment when he adopts a fledgling kestrel and proceeds to train it in the art of falconry. We will be join by actor Christopher Eccleston who recently read Barry Hine’s novel Kes for BBC4.  2pm, Bridport Arts Centre, DT6 3RN. Tickets: £8/£6. Booking www.bridport-arts.com/fpts or Bridport TIC.

Mustang, (15), 5am, Bridport Arts Centre, 01308 424204, www.bridport-arts.com A teenage sisters’ story, set in northern Turkey, celebrating the last day of term, larking about in the sea with some boys on the way home. With blissfully freewheeling camerawork and naturalistic, charismatic performances, Mustang draws us into a world where irrepressible teenage spirits confront patriarchal rigidity in an uplifting debut film brimming with warmth and humour.  5pm, Bridport Arts Centre, DT6 3RN. Tickets: £8/£6. Booking www.bridport-arts.com/fpts or Bridport TIC.

The Tragedy of Macbeth with guest speaker Francesca Annis, (15), 7:30pm, Bridport Arts Centre, 01308 424204, www.bridport-arts.com. A controversial retelling of the Shakespeare classic; when it was first released, partly because of the casting of two young actors, Jon Finch and Francesca Annis as Lord and Lady Macbeth and partly because of the level of violence and nudity. Post screening Q&A with Actress Francesca Annis in conversation with Rebecca Lenkiewicz. 7:30pm, Bridport Arts Centre, DT6 3RN. Tickets: £12/£10. Booking www.bridport-arts.com/fpts or Bridport TIC.

Friday, 26 April

A conversation with Author, Jenny Godfrey, “Profoundly original and dazzlingly written” – join us for a conversation with Jennie Godfrey’s about her acclaimed debut novel; ‘The List of Suspicious Things’ , 7pm. The Community Waffle House, Trinity Square, EX13 5AP. Tickets £5 or £14.99 including a signed book. Purchase in Archway Bookshop or call 01297 33744.

Ceilidh in the Church 7-10pm Cerne St Mary’s Church, Abbey Street, Cerne Abbas  DT2 7JQ

The thrilling band Tatterdemalion will provide the music and the renowned Angela Laycock will call at this popular event. Soft drinks, wine, Cerne Abbas ale, and nibbles will be on sale. Tickets £8 adults and £4 children.

The Innocents, (12A), 11am, Bridport Arts Centre, 01308 424204, www.bridport-arts.com. Deborah Kerr is magnificent as the novice governess in this classic adaptation of Henry James’s chilling ghost story. Stylishly captured by legendary cinematographer Freddie Francis, it provides the backdrop to unnerving disturbances – shuffling curtains, disembodied whispers, snuffed candles – that convince her that she is in the presence of supernatural evil, from which she must protect her young charges. 11am, Bridport Arts Centre, DT6 3RN. Tickets: £6/£5. Booking www.bridport-arts.com/fpts or Bridport TIC.

Carrington with guest speakers Sir Christopher Hampton, (18), 2pm, Bridport Arts Centre, 01308 424204, www.bridport-arts.com. Focusing on the relationship between the mercurial, bisexual artist Dora Carrington (Emma Thompson) and the gay writer and acerbic wit Lytton Strachey (Jonathan Pryce). Join Carrington writer and director Christopher Hampton after the screening for a live Q&A. 2pm, Bridport Arts Centre, DT6 3RN. Tickets: £8/£6. Booking www.bridport-arts.com/fpts or Bridport TIC.

Typist Artist Pirate King, (12A), 5pm, Bridport Arts Centre, 01308 424204, www.bridport-arts.com. Monica Dolan delivers another standout performance as the chaotic, talented but forgotten artist Audrey Amiss. A Royal Academy graduate who spent her life in and out of mental institutions when not working as a civil service secretary, Amiss documented her life in sketchbooks and used cereal boxes whose vivid pages flash onto the screen, interwoven with an imagined cross-country journey. 5pm, Bridport Arts Centre, DT6 3RN. Tickets: £8/£6. Booking www.bridport-arts.com/fpts or Bridport TIC.

The Zone of Interest, (12A), 8pm, Bridport Electric Palace, https://www.electricpalace.org.uk/ Adapted from Martin Amis’s Novel, and based on the real-life commandant of Auschwitz, Rudolph Hoss. Set outside the camp in a seemingly idyllic house and garden the horrors taking place just over the walls are never seen but heard. After major success at this year’s award season we bring it to the big screen for this year’s festival. 8pm, Bridport Electric Palace, DT6 3NY. Tickets: £12/£10. Booking https://www.electricpalace.org.uk/ or Bridport TIC

Saturday, 27 April

Shipshape Festival – Blackbeard’s Blowout – Live Music – Gateway Theatre, Seaton – 7.30pm, doors 7pm  tickets Adults £15, 18+. Live music from Mischa And His Merry Men and The Reverent. Tickets from 01297 625699, www.thegatewayseaton.co.uk or in person Tue – Thur 10am – 1pm.

Hooke Park Open Day 10.30am – 3.30pm Hooke Park is the woodland campus of the Architectural Association School of Architecture and home to the AA’s postgraduate Design and Make programme, where full-scale building experiments and hands-on architectural education meet. The open day is a chance to explore our ever-changing woodland campus, learn more about its pioneering history, and visit the latest building additions resulting from our ongoing teaching and research in timber construction. Free entry with site tours at 11.30am and 1.30pm.  Book here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/862204385527?aff=oddtdtcreator  Refreshments available – cash only.  Location: Hooke Park, Hooke, Beaminster, DT8 3PH

Plant and Gardening Sale at Bridport Millennium Green, from 9.30am.  Pots, tools, etc, all at reasonable prices, in support of the Green, gardens and Coneygar Hill.  If you have items to donate please bring on the morning, or phone Sandra Brown on 01308 423078 to arrange collection.

Film Oppenheimer (12) the story of J. Robert Oppenheimer, “the father of the atomic bomb”. Doors and Bar open at 6pm with the performance starting at 6.30 showing at Kilmington Community Cinema (EX13 7RF).  Tickets @ £5 or £5.50 on the door, can be ordered : wattsjohn307@gmail.com or Tel: 01297 639758 see www.kilmingtonvillage.com/other-organisations.html for more information.

The Day the Earth Stood Still, (U) 11am, Bridport Arts Centre, 01308 424204, www.bridport-arts.com. Unless we Earthlings change course, we are headed for self-destruction! When benign alien Klaatu (Michael Rennie) and his robot sidekick emerge from a flying saucer with their message of peace, they trigger mass hysteria and military attack. Special price tickets for u25’s. 11am, Bridport Arts Centre, DT6 3RN. Tickets: £6/£3. Booking www.bridport-arts.com/fpts or Bridport TIC.

Creature (Dance) & Short Film Devon Gothic, (12A) 2pm, Bridport Arts Centre, 01308 424204, www.bridport-arts.com. Acclaimed choreographer Abram Khan collaborated with award-winning director Asif Kapadia (Senna, Amy) for this thrilling screen adaptation of the English National Ballet’s dystopian sci-fi Creature. A feral Frankenstein-inspired Creature, captive in an Arctic research facility, is subjected to the cruel experiments and whims of the Doctor. 2pm, Bridport Arts Centre, DT6 3RN. Tickets: £6/£5. Booking www.bridport-arts.com/fpts or Bridport TIC.

Tish with guest speaker Paul Sng, (15), 5pm, Bridport Arts Centre, 01308 424204, www.bridport-arts.com. Tish Murtha was a visionary photographer committed to documenting the struggle and inequality of the working-class communities that framed her upbringing. Despite early acclaim, she was unable to make a living from photography and was unable to escape the poverty she documented. She died aged 56, her work relatively unknown. Join Director Paul Sng for a Q&A after the screening. 5pm, Bridport Arts Centre, DT6 3RN. Tickets: £8/£6. Booking www.bridport-arts.com/fpts or Bridport TIC.

Poly Styrene: I am a Cliche with guest speaker Paul Sng, (12), 8pm, Bridport Arts Centre, 01308 424204, www.bridport-arts.com. Poly Styrene was the first woman of colour in the UK to front a successful rock band and introduced the world to a new sound of rebellion, using her unconventional voice to sing about everything she saw unfolding in late 1970s Britain, with a rare prescience. Misogyny, racism and mental illness plagued Poly’s life, scarring daughter Celeste’s childhood and the pair’s relationship. Join Director Paul Sng for a Q&A after the screening. 8pm, Bridport Arts Centre, DT6 3RN. Tickets: £12/£10. Booking www.bridport-arts.com/fpts or Bridport TIC.

West Dorset Singers present Mozart’s Requiem, his choral masterpiece, in St Mary’s Church, Bridport. Commissioned to commemorate the tragically early death of an aristocrat’s wife, Mozart was still composing on his death-bed in 1791 aged only 35. The music reflects the desperation of a young man about to meet his own Maker, but with the hope of eternity in Heaven. Such music ensures that, at least, Mozart’s reputation remains everlastingly secure. They will also sing Miserere by Czech composer Jan Zelenka who preceded Mozart by half a century. The words, Miserere mei Deus (Lord, have mercy on me), from Psalm 51, ask for God’s forgiveness of sins but with confidence that forgiveness will be granted. It’s therefore splendidly joyful. The third work is much more recent. Dona nobis pacem (Give us peace), written in 1996 by Latvian composer Pēteris Vasks, explores the music of these three simple words in a gloriously Baltic manner. The choir is accompanied by professional orchestra and a quartet of soloists, all recent choral scholars from The Choir of Royal Holloway, London. The concert starts at 7pm. Tickets (£15, u18s free) are available from Goadsby Estate Agents in Bridport and on-line at https://westdorsetsingers.org/

Bridport & West Dorset Rambling Club 7 mile walk from Cerne Abbas. For further information please ring 01308 898484 or 01308 863340. New members/visitors welcome.

Sunday, 28 April

Dorchester Artisan Market A new monthly artisan market. Following on from their hugely popular markets in Sherborne and Shaftesbury, Dorset Artisan Markets are bringing a fabulous collection of over 200 artisan traders to the streets of Dorchester on the fourth Sunday of each month from April through to November. The market will be held from 10am until 3pm. Starting in Borough Gardens where there will be food, drink and musical entertainment throughout the day, or bring a picnic and just enjoy the vibe. From Borough Gardens the market runs along West Walks, Bowling Alley Walk, South Street, South Walks and then into Brewery Square with stalls from the Atrium Health Centre into Eldridge Street, Drayhorse Yard and along Pope Street.

Riverflies Safari Vicarage Field, 4 Back Lane, Cerne Abbas, Dorchester  DT2 7JW  2-4pm. The River Cerne contains many interesting invertebrates. Volunteers from the “Riverfly” project, will teach us how to observe and monitor the health of our river by catching, identifying and counting the variety of invertebrates which live in the river bed. They will provide equipment as well as expertise.  Wellies are needed and warm/dry clothing if the weather is cold/wet.  Children must be accompanied, and the accompanying adults are responsible for the safety of their children. £5 per child / unaccompanied adult £8 if combined with flycasting

2-4pm  Learn how to Cast a Fly (open to all ages, junior and adult) Vicarage Field, 4 Back Lane, Cerne Abbas, Dorchester  DT2 7JW. Learn how to fish for the elusive trout in chalk stream or lake. This workshop will include fly casting lessons (no fish involved!) and an introduction into tackle, knots, and selecting the right artificial fly to imitate the real thing. Taken by Sir Jeremy Mackenzie, whose sixty years of fishing experience worldwide he is happy to share. All equipment provided – just turn up. Cost £5, £8 if combined with Riverflies Safari.  3pm  Dorchester String Quartet – A Celebration of Spring St Mary’s Church, Abbey Street, Cerne Abbas DT2 7JQ. David Price is part of this quartet, which will be performing works by Bach, Haydn, Tchaikovsky, and Puccini.  The concert will last about an hour and the ticket price includes tea and cake.  Tickets (£!0) are available at the door, and St Mary’s Church will be given a percentage of the proceeds.

Lyme Bay Chorale’s spring concert celebrates the centenary of composer Charles Villiers Stanford. The programme will include a selection of his songs plus other music and organ solos. Lyme Regis Parish Church, 4pm. For details and ticket prices, see the choir’s website: www.lymebaychorale.co.uk/events

The Royal Ballet – Swan Lake (12A) Matinee Screening – Gateway Theatre, Seaton – 2pm, doors 1.30pm, tickets Adults £15, Under 16s £8. Tchaikovsky’s sensational score combines with the evocative imagination of choreographer Liam Scarlett and designer John Macfarlane. Tickets from 01297 625699, www.thegatewayseaton.co.uk or in person Tue – Thur 10am – 1pm.

The Enigma of Kasper Hauser, (PG) 11am, Bridport Arts Centre, 01308 424204, www.bridport-arts.com. Based on the mysterious story of a youth who appeared out of nowhere in 1828, holding a letter but scarcely able to speak or walk. Bruno S, a busker with no acting experience, delivers an astonishing performance as the released captive who naively seeks acceptance within a hostile society. 11am, Bridport Arts Centre, DT6 3RN. Tickets: £6/£5. Booking www.bridport-arts.com/fpts or Bridport TIC.

Short, Sharp & Sweet: Short Film Event, 1:30pm, Bridport Arts Centre, 01308 424204, www.bridport-arts.com. Curator Rebecca Lenkiewicz and her guests – cinematographer Christopher Blauvelt and documentary maker Simon Chambers – screen a selection of handpicked short films. This will be a unique and fascinating screening event and carry on the conversation with Rebecca, Christopher and Simon after the screening and Q&A. Special price tickets for u25’s. 1:30pm, Bridport Arts Centre, DT6 3RN. Tickets: £6/£3. Booking www.bridport-arts.com/fpts or Bridport TIC.

Much Ado About Dying with guest speaker Simon Chambers, (15), 4pm, Bridport Arts Centre, 01308 424204, www.bridport-arts.com. Simon Chambers is in India shooting a film when his uncle David, an anarchic retired actor who is missing the limelight, summons him home to England: ‘I think I may be dying.’ Everything that could go wrong does go wrong as David fights with Simon, refusing to go into a care home, and insisting on dying in the squalor of his unheated tumble-down house. Simon and his uncle endure fire, cancer, delirium and the dreaded ‘care home’, to gift this award-winning final performance to the world. Join director Simon Chambers after the film for a Q&A. 4pm, Bridport Arts Centre, DT6 3RN. Tickets: £8/£6. Booking www.bridport-arts.com/fpts or Bridport TIC.

The Passion of Joan of Arc with live accompaniment, (PG), 7:30pm, Bridport Arts Centre, 01308 424204, www.bridport-arts.com. Dreyer’s colossus of silent film is an unmissable cinematic experience, dominated by Renée Falconetti’s raw and luminous performance as Saint Joan, heroine of French resistance. We are screening a digitally restored version with live musical accompaniment by Andrew Goldberg (piano) and Ricky Romain (sitar). 7:30pm, Bridport Arts Centre, DT6 3RN. Tickets: £12/£10. Booking www.bridport-arts.com/fpts or Bridport TIC.

Singing Bowl Soundbath 2pm Oborne Village Hall, DT9 4LA Still the mind calm the emotions relax and detoxify the body Please book in advance  01935 389655 ahiahel@live.com £16.

Royal Ballet Screening – Swan Lake :  14:00 Tchaikovsky’s sensational score combines with the evocative imagination of choreographer Liam Scarlett and designer John Macfarlane to heighten the dramatic pathos of Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov’s quintessential ballet classic.  Bridport Electric Palace , DT6 3NY. Tickets : £16 adv £17 door.  Book online -electricpalace.org.uk

Jazz by the Sea at the Marine Theatre, Lyme Regis presents Terry Quinney plays Dexter Gordon. American saxophonist Dexter Gordon was among the most influential musicians of the bebop era and beyond, with John Coltrane and Sonny Rollins following in his footsteps. Impressive Canadian saxophonist Terry Quinney has become quickly established in the UK jazz scene performing with the likes of Alan Barnes at venues such as the National Theatre. Measuring in at 6 feet 6 inches, Dexter Gordon’s height earned him the nicknames ‘Long Tall Dexter’ and ‘Sophisticated Giant.’ His acting role as a saxophonist in the 1986 film ‘Round Midnight’ won him an Oscar nomination. He was equally at home playing his own compositions like ‘The Panther’ and tunes from the jazz repertoire such as ‘Love for Sale.’ Saxophonist and composer Terry Quinney is co-leader of the ‘The Sound Of Blue Note’ band. He has performed with UK jazz icons such as Nigel Price, Ian Shaw, Alan Barnes and Gilad Atzmon. Terry will be accompanied by Philip Clouts at the piano and Adrian Smith on double bass. 8pm Marine Theatre, Lyme Regis. £14 advance £16 on the door. Tickets available at https://www.marinetheatre.com/jazz-by-the-sea-terry-quinney-plays-dexter-gordon/

Monday, 29 April

An evening of Scottish Dancing at Chardstock Village Hall 7.30 – 10.00 p.m.  Tea and coffee provided but  please bring your own mug.  No partner required.  Cost £2.00.  For more information contact David on 01460 65981.

Dance Connection, for fun, health & wellbeing, 10:30 am, Othona, Burton Bradstock, 07787752201, danceconnectionwessex@gmail.com.

Tuesday, 30 April

Scottish Country Dancing at Horton village hall TA19 9QR every Tuesday evening from 7.30 to 9.30 pm with tea / coffee break. £3.00 pay on the door. Every one is welcome whether you are new to dance , an experienced dancer or somewhere in between, you will be assured of a very warm welcome. For more information email Anita at anitaandjim22@gmail.com   phone 01460 929383 and check out our web site at www.ashillscd.wordpress.com

Thursday, 2 May

Champagne Taittinger Dinner So excited and a real treat to have the Taittinger UK Director host a very special four course dinner with us in our beautiful Orangery. He will talk us through the specially selected choices for each course and give an insight into this, still family owned, wonderful Champagne house. £110 per person including Champagne reception and specialist pairing for each course Alexandra Hotel, Lyme Regis 01297 442010.