With the nation’s focus on the Games this season, Artsreach’s diverse summer programme of professional arts performances across rural Dorset will both complement and provide respite from sport!
Bowjangles
Giving a hilarious take on this years’ excitement, Bowjangles, the incredible all-singing, all-dancing string quartet, are back by huge demand, following a sell-out Artsreach tour in December. Their brand new show ‘Bowlympics’ sees these four pedigree musicians (Trinity College of Music, Purcell School of Music, Royal College of Music, Royal Northern College of Music) attempting fencing, rowing, gymnastics, boxing and more – all whilst playing, singing and dancing, in an action-packed performance which guarantees to delight and exhaust audiences from their seats! Bowjangles tour to six venues across Dorset from 10-15 July to mark the Olympic Torch relay route in the area.
Musically, there will be two very special exclusives for Artsreach audiences this summer. Described by Songlines magazine as “Britain’s best Klezmer and Balkan music band”, six-piece She’Koyokh descend on Dorset for one night only, at Durweston (28 June). Featuring clarinet, violin, guitar, double bass, percussion and vocals, expect soulful Gypsy, Yiddish, Turkish, Kurdish, Ladino and Russian songs and music, including wedding dances and virtuosic solos, all performed with huge energy and passion.
Virtuoso jazz musicians Alec Dankworth and Chris Garrick have said how much they enjoy coming to Dorset, appreciating in particular the warm welcome they receive at their intimate (and invariably sold out) Artsreach performances – quite a contrast to their Royal Albert Hall concerts! This summer they bring their new project ‘The iFoxes’ to Broadwindsor (22 June) and Smedmore House in Kimmeridge (24 June). When three leading UK jazz musicians, Andy Crowdy (guitar), Alec Dankworth (double bass) and Chris Garrick (fiddle), join the fantastic Mr Nigel Mckernaghan, maestro of the Uilleann pipes and the pennywhistle, to explore traditional music from Ireland and Shetland, you know sparks will fly! Chris, Andy & Alec will first perform as a trio visiting classic Broadway melodies and swinging jazz tunes before they enter full Celtic mode with the Fantastic Mr Fox himself joining them for the rest of this special summer set.
Some regular summer fixtures will tour the Artsreach circuit: the ever popular Bristol Old Vic Theatre School take on Stella Gibbons’ ‘Cold Comfort Farm’ as this summer’s ensemble production at Frampton (30 June) and Sturminster Newton (1 July). Oscar Wilde’s witty classic ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ receives Miracle Theatre’s hallmark treatment as their open-air production, touring to three beautiful rural sites in early August.
Family entertainment comes in the shape of Tutti Frutti and Squashbox Theatre. Leeds-based children’s theatre company Tutti Frutti gives a nod to the Games with ‘The Hare and the Tortoise’ – a beautiful adaptation for ages 3+ of Aesop’s well-loved fable about racing, opposites, time and friendship. See the show on Friday 8 June at Sturminster Newton Exchange (10.30am) and later at Cranborne Memorial Hall (4.15pm). Squashbox Theatre (the one-man company of Craig Johnson from Kneehigh) skillfully combines theatrical storytelling with puppetry and music to captivate the young and young at heart. ‘Stones and Bones’ is a marvellous mix of history and mystery! Find out all about archaeology and fossils, say hello to one of your stone-age ancestors, hear stories of giants and wizards, see a volcano erupting before your very eyes, and maybe even glimpse a dinosaur or two… There will be thrills and spills galore, but also lots of laughs, plenty of puppets, songs, slapstick, tall tales and crazy characters – all presented in Craig Johnson’s unique Squashbox style! Suitable for children aged 4+, ‘Stones and Bones’ will tour to four Artsreach venues from 17-19 August.
Artsreach’s artist-in-residence project with landscape photographer Ben Osborne, ‘Jurassic Journey’, wraps up this summer with a final chance to see the Deep Time exhibition of Ben’s photographs (also featuring Matt Harvey’s poems, Lal Hitchcock’s marine litter sculptures and Sammy Hurden’s music) at Lyme Regis during the Fossil Festival (4-7 May at The Malthouse) and then at the newly built Fine Foundation Gallery at Durlston Country Park from 23 June – 27 August. Ben will also tour his audio-visual presentation ‘Jurassic Journey’ at three coastal venues (Lyme Regis, Durlston, West Lulworth) throughout the summer, plus there will be various opportunities to get involved with photographic workshops led by Ben, and a singing workshop led by Sammy, all as part of the Jurassic Journey project. For more details please see www.jurassicjourney.co.uk or www.artsreach.co.uk
Copies of the Artsreach Summer Programme are available form tourist information centres and libraries across Dorset, or call the Artsreach office to get your copy: 01305 269512. The summer programme is also viewable online at www.artsreach.co.uk plus you can join Artsreach on Facebook and Twitter.
