Hot off the press, Artsreach’s new autumn programme is packed with professional performances to see audiences across rural Dorset through the autumnal evenings in style. Working in close partnership with a network of volunteer promoters, Artsreach brings a wide range of high quality performances direct to more than fifty rural communities the length and breadth of the county. This season is no exception, with a huge variety of music concerts, theatre productions, comedy and cabaret to look forward to throughout the autumn months. As ever there will be a mix of performers new to Artsreach audiences and more familiar faces.www.artsreach.co.uk/programme/index.php
MUSIC
The virtuoso flamenco-jazz-fusion guitarist Eduardo Niebla returns as part of a duo to kick off the programme from 5 – 7 October, at Powerstock, Morden and West Stafford village halls respectively, where he will perform an amazing repertoire from his latest albums. Music throughout the rest of the season comes from New Scorpion Band, with their most successful show yet, ‘Bold Nelson’s Praise’; the ever popular cabaret act New Rope String Band – this time as a trio – combining clowning, comedy, slapstick and silliness with folk music from world traditions, at the end of October; the Budapest Café Orchestra, another hugely popular group on the Artsreach circuit, fronted by virtuoso violinist Chris Garrick, to present their new album songs; and 4-piece Coope Simpson Freya Fraser with their festive carolling show in mid-December. New-to-Artsreach music comes from the highly acclaimed Cornish quartet Dalla, considered as the leading lights of traditional Cornish music; multi-instrumental acoustic trio Three Cane Whale present evocative, cinematic music inspired by Dorset landscape; the outstanding guitarist Chris Newman (who has appeared here often with Irish harpist Maire Ni Chathasaigh) now brings his trio to present his musical autobiography spanning his 40-year career; Welsh trio Alaw take the audience on a msuical journey of World traditions as well as presenting their passion for the old tunes of Wales.
In two special community concerts, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra’s Resonate Strings quintet joins forces with Sammy Hurden’s 30-strong Chalk Legends Choir to present a range of original songs from Jurassic Journey and the wider English string repertoire. These combined performances at Durlston Castle and Powerstock Church guarantee an unforgettable evening.
THEATRE
Fresh from a summer run in Lyme Regis, Shanty Theatre take their latest family production ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’ on tour, taking in Toller Porcorum village hall (5 Oct) and Lytchett Minster school (10 Oct). Join them on an epic voyage with this entirely new re-imagining of Coleridge’s nautical classic, with storms, holy hermits, a ghostly galleon, silly sailors, original live music and an albatross with a passion for five-a-side football! Award-winning solo performer Caroline Horton brings her fond, comical and ultimately poignant portrait of one woman’s experience of a love affair during WW2, in ‘You’re Not Like The Other Girls Chrissy’. Children and adults alike will love Theatre Alibi’s production ‘Cabbage Heart’ about a little girl who loves to draw, and Angel Heart Theatre’s new show for half-term ‘Mazymeg and the Honeybees’. Rogue Theatre bring back their sumptuous production ‘The Dancer and the Devil’, which enjoyed great success here in March. Receiving rave reviews wherever they go, Kepow Theatre’s ‘Seven Ages of Man’ explores the idea that we go through seven stages in life, from infancy, through love and wisdom, to growing old disgracefully. This truly unique two-hander makes one re-assess one’s priorities in life, whilst simultaneously making you laugh, featuring Kevin Tomlinson from ‘Whose Line Is It Anyway?’. The master of solo performance, Pip Utton has previously taken on various characters including Hitler, Chaplin and Dickens, now presents his unmissable new characterisation of Churchill. A regular slot in the winter programme, Forest Forge presents an alternative to panto with their magical family production ‘Midnight is a Place’.
COMEDY / CABARET
audiences eager to try something different can take part in ‘A Curious Evening of Trance and Rap with the Ogden Sisters’ in early October at Gillingham School (11th), Buckland Newton village hall (12th) and Thorncombe village hall (13th), from the company that delighted Dorset with its ‘Charity Shop Cabaret’. Trifle Gathering’s original piece of work is an intimate theatrical experience looking into the fascinating world of mediums and the origins of the spiritualist movement, but beware – the performers in this show have absolutely no real psychic ability! Time Travelling Magicians Morgan & West proved a huge hit last winter with their trademark mixture of Victoriana magic, wit and whimsy, and this autumn will tour to six more Artsreach venues.
ORAL HISTORY
Artsreach’s cover stars Tom & John Frankland present a true story created by three generations of the same family about parents, children and falling in love. When theatre-maker Tom Frankland’s aunt died in 2006, he and his father inherited suitcases containing letters written by his grandparents across 25 years. They reveal the astonishing life and love of a couple living through two world wars and a recession. Tom suggested they create a performance inspired by the letters, and in doing so, father and son uncovered more than they bargained for! Not to be missed, catch them from 8-11 November at four Artsreach venues. Also in this vein, as part of a trio, in ‘Standing In Line’ internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter Lester Simpson tells the story of his Great Uncle’s war, using songs, readings and images.
Full details including individual box office numbers are on www.artsreach.co.uk Outlets where you can pick up a copy of the programme include libraries, arts centres and tourist information centres across Dorset. You can also find Artsreach on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date with the latest news.
VISUAL ARTS
ExLab / Zachary Eastwood-Bloom : DIGITAL EARTH
ExLab is a ground-breaking arts programme along the Jurassic Coast, where earth scientists and artists have collaborated to reveal hidden landscapes through the lenses of art, geology and technology. ExLab is a programme delivered by Big Picture, a collaboration of seven visual arts organisations in Dorset, including Artsreach, working closely with Dorset County Council, The National Trust and Creative Coast.
Zachary Eastwood-Bloom is a multi-media artist who gained an MA in Ceramics and Glass from the Royal College of Art in 2010. Co-commissioned by Artsreach, Walford Mill Crafts and Fine Family Foundation, Zachary’s craft-based commission ‘Digital Earth’ links with the Jurassic Coast and the landscape of Durlston Country Park – a fabulous 280-acre countryside paradise, consisting of sea-cliffs, coastal limestone downland, haymeadows, hedgerows and woodland. Zachary has used new visualisation and model-making techniques and technologies to interpret the coastline. Access to landscape scanning processes used in geology have opened up new ways of working for Zachary and has resulted in both 2D and 3D renderings and models, accompanied by an audio work which transgress the boundary of the digital and physical.
What’s on when at Durlston Country Park…
THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER
Zachary has an installation at Durlston Castle throughout the summer, in addition to the exhibition which will be shown at The Fine Foundation Gallery, Durlston Castle – see below.
THURS 13 – SUN 30 SEPT, 11am-4pm
‘Digital Earth’ exhibition open, free entry.
SAT 15 SEPT, 6pm
Meet the artist: Join Zachary alongside digital mapping expert Andy Ford to find out how the ExLab project has explored Durlston’s coast and countryside through sculpture, sound and printing. Includes a guided tour of the exhibition and talk by the artists and scientist, plus a short guided walk around Durlston’s landscapes and a live performance inspired by a ‘sound sculpture’ of Durlston.
Booking essential: £5 from 01929 424443 / info@durlston.co.uk
SUN 16 SEPT, 11-3pm
Family workshop for ages 5+
Spend a day with artists Zachary Eastwood-Bloom and Caroline Parrott (from Walford Mill Craft Centre), as well as a countryside ranger from Durlston Country Park, to explore the landscape and geology of the coast through a clay workshop, a print & paint workshop and outdoor activities.
Booking essential: £15 (no charge for parents) from 01929 424443 / info@durlston.co.uk. Please bring a packed lunch and dress for outdoors/mess.
www.zacharyeastwood-bloom.co.uk
www.exlab.org.uk
www.bigpic.org.uk
