See “The Arts Diary – December 2024 on” to see what’s scheduled for the next few months and more.
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Updated Wednesday 20th November, 6.14pm
Thursday 21 November
BATH, Theatre Royal, Ghost the Musical, to Sat, 7.30, Thur/Sat mats 2.30.
Forum, Bellowhead.
R0ndo, Fun! with Barbara Nice, comedy, 7.30.
Chapel Arts, Project Smok, progressive traditional Scottish music. 8pm.
BOURNEMOUTH, Pavilion, The Royal Marines Christmas Spectacular: Ballroom, Tom Stade, Risky Business, comedy, 8.
BRIDGWATER, McMillan Theatre, Talon – The Best of the Eagles, 7.30.
BRISTOL, Hippodrome, Mary Poppins, to 30 Nov.
Old Vic, Never Let Me Go, based on Ishiguro novel, to Sat 7.30, various mats 2.30.
Arnos Vale Cemetary Chapel, Red Rope Theatre in The Fall of the House of Usher, Tues – Sat to 6 Dec, 7.30.
Tobacco Factory, Awkward Theatre in Gwyneth Goes Skiing, to Sat, 7.30, Sat mat 2.30.
Beacon, BSO, cond Mark Wigglesworth, Nicholas McCarthy piano, Wagner, Ravel, Walton.
St George’s, Jaren Ziegler, violin, Hindemith, Vierne, Tabakova, Bruch and de Falla, 1pm: Arve Henriksen, trumpet, and Harmen Fraanje, piano, contemporary jazz, 8pm.
O2 Academy, Lightning Seeds.
CHRISTCHURCH, Regent Centre, Girl from the North Country, filmed on Broadway, 1pm: Ocean Film Festival, 7.30: Paddington in Peru, film, various times.
CORSHAM, Pound Arts, Paul Foot, Disolve, comedy, 7.30: That They May Face the Rising Sun, Irish film, 11am.
DRIMPTON, Village Hall, Hannah Maxwell in Nan, Me and Barbara Pravi, 7.30pm. AR
FROME, Merlin, Frome Drama in The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists, to Sat, 7.30.
HARDINGTON MANDEVILLE, Village Hall, Wilding. MOVIOLA
HONITON, Beehive, Christine Collister, folk, songs from Children of the Sea project, 7.30.
LYME REGIS, Marine Theatre, Ed Byrne, Tragedy Plus Time, comedy, 7.30.
NEW MILTON, Forest Arts, Milton Musical Society in Once Upon a Time, juke box musical, to Sat, 7.30, Sat mat 2.30.
POOLE, Lighthouse, Pride and Prejudice (sort of), to Sat, 7.45, Thurs/Sat mats 2.30: Simon Brodkin, Screwed Up, comedy, and Sat, 8pm: Dorsetborn in Fort, new play by Tabitha Hayward, 8pm: Shooting from the Hip 48 hour film contest, screening, 7pm: Cinema, The Juror #2, 1.30 and Fri 7.30: Blitz, and Fri and 27 Nov.
SALISBURY, Arts Centre, Sounds of the 60s with The Zoots, 7.30.
SOUTHAMPTON, Mayflower, Chicago, to Sat, 7.30, Thurs/Sat mats 2pm.
MAST, SJP Theatre in The Hound of the Baskervilles, to Sat, 7.15
SWANAGE, Mowlem Theatre, Firebrand, film, 7.30.
TAUNTON, Brewhouse, The Searchers Experience and The Tremoloes, 7.30.
WELLS, Cedars Hall, The Colin Currie Quartet, percussion, minimalism and jazz, 7pm.
WIMBORNE, Tivoli, T-Rextasy.
YEOVIL, Swan Theatre, The Haunting of Hill House, to Sat, 7.45.
Friday 22 November
BATH, Forum, The Magic of Motown.
Rondo, Paul Foot in Dissolve, comedy, and Sat, 8pm.
Chapel Arts, Small Fakers band, Tribute to the Small Faces, 8pm.
BRADFORD ON AVON, Wiltshire Music Centre, Big Jazz Weekend, to Sun, various times.
BRIDGWATER, McMillan Theatre, The Lorna and Laister Christmas Show, 2pm.
BRIDPORT, Electric Palace, Girl from the North Country, the Broadway performance, 7pm.
BRISTOL, Beacon, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Americana: Lantern, Julian Lage, blues and folk.
St George’s, Hannah Williams and The Affirmations, The Jazz Defenders, 8pm.
Alma Tavern, Laura Lexx, Slinky, comedy, 7.30.
CHRISTCHURCH, Regent Centre, The Zoots, The Sound of the 70s, 7.30.
CORSHAM, Pound Arts, Amy Gledhill, Make Me Look Fit in the Poster, comedy, 8pm.
CREWKERNE, Crooked Swan, Luke Wright in Joy, performance poetry, 8pm. TA
DORCHESTER, Corn Exchange, Dorchester Drama in Noel Coward’s Blithe Spirit, and Sat, 7.30, Sat mat 2pm.
EXETER, Barnfield Theatre, The Crick Crack Club, The Three Snake Leaves, fairytales for grownups from the Grimm Forest, 7.45.
FROME, Cheese and Grain, Roni Size.
HONITON, Beehive, The Upbeat Beatles, 7.30.
LYME REGIS, Marine Theatre, LR Comedy Club with Mark Watson, Dani Johns, Matt Price and Tom Glover, 8pm.
POOLE, Lighthouse, Cinema, Paddington in Peru, and Sat, and 26 to 30 Nov, 4 and 31 Dec.
RADSTOCK, Trinity Methodist Church, Poppy Plowman in Turk(ish), contemporary circus, tightwire workhop, 4pm, performance 7.30. TA
SIXPENNY HANDLEY, Village Hall, Hannah Maxwell in Nan, Me and Barbara Pravi, 7.30pm. AR
SOUTHAMPTON, MAST, DeNada Dance Theatre in Mariposa, Caribbean reworking of Madam Butterfly, and Sat, 7.45.
STURMINSTER NEWTON, The Exchange, 80s Disco with DJ Toby Greenfield, fundraiser for The Exchange, 7.30.
SWANAGE, Mowlem Theatre, The Outrun, film, and Sat, Mon-Thurs, 7.30, Mon mat 2.30.
TAUNTON, Tacchi-Morris Art Centre, Ballet Theatre UK in The Nutcracker, 7.30.
THEALE, Village Hall, Mr Punch’s Folk Club, open session, 8pm.
WELLS, Cathedral, O Cecilia! Light the Fire in My Heart, new works by Jenny Bliss, and Ben Comaeu, William Kraemer with works by Biber and Purcell, 7.30.
WEYMOUTH, Pavilion, Fastlove, George Michael tribute.
WIMBORNE, Tivoli, UK Pink Floyd Experiece.
WINTERSLOW, Village Hall, Swede Caroline. MOVIOLA
YEOVIL, Westlands, Simon Brodkin, Screwed Up, comedy, 7.30.
Saturday 23 November
BATH, Forum, Get it On, the Glam Rock Show.
Chapel Arts, Benjamin Francis Leftwich, 8pm.
BRIDGWATER, Arts Centre, history day, from 10am.
McMillan Theatre, There’s a Monster in your Show, childrens adventure with puppets, 1 and 4 pm, and Sun 11am and 1pm.
BRIDPORT, Arts Centre, Solo Yo, Salud Botella, flamenco dance and theatre, 7.30pm.
Electric Palace, Andy Zaltzman in The Zaltgeist, comedy, 8pm.
BRISTOL, REBeacon, Massive Mozart!, community classical event from 9am: Lantern, Clark, dance and electronica.
St George’s, Bristol Symphony Orchestra, cond Robert Weaver, Bruckner, Wagner, Sibelius, 7.30.
Alma Tavern, Eshaan Akbar, In the Flesh, comedy (work in pr0gress), 7.30.
CHRISTCHURCH, Regent Centre, The Bon Jovi Experience, 30th anniversary tour, 7.30.
CORSHAM, Pound Arts, Christine Collister, folk, 7.30.
EXETER, Northcott Theatre, Moonstone Theatre in The Case of the Murdered Manager, show with dinner, 8pm.
Cathedral, Devon Philharmonic Autumn Concert.
FROME, Memorial Theatre, Trextasy – the Greatest Hits.
Cheese and Grain, Frome 80s Festival, with Martin Kemp, from 3pm.
Tree House, Sham 69.
HONITON, Beehive, Tosca with Lise Davidsen, Freddie de Tommaso and Quinn Kelsey, from the Metropolitan Opera, 6pm.
LANGPORT, Town Hall, Luke Wright in Joy, performance poetry, 7.30pm. TA
PLYMOUTH, Theatre Royal, That’ll Be the Day, So This is Christmas, 7pm.
POOLE, Lighthouse, Mark Simmons, Quip off the Mark, comedy, 8pm: Cinema, Point Break (1991 film) and Tues 7.30.
PORTESHAM, Village Hall, Christine Tassan et les Imposteurs, On the Road, jazz and gypsy jazz, 7.30. AR
RINGWOOD, Greyfriars, Vindication Swim, 2.30 and 7.30pm. MOVIOLA
SALISBURY, Cathedral, Salisbury Musical Society, Mendelssohn’s Elijah.
Arts Centre, Russell Hicks, Happy to Be Here, comedy, 7.30.
SOUTHAMPTON, Turner Sims, The Rheingans Sisters, folk, 8pm.
SOUTH PETHERTON, David Hall, Phil Beer Trio, 8pm.
STREET, Strode Theatre, Lise Davidsen as Tosca live from the Metropolitan Opera, 5pm.s
STURMINSTER NEWTON, The Exchange, Henry Blofeld, Sharing My Love of Cricket, 7.30.
TAUNTON, Tacchi-Morris Art Centre, Qween UK, tribute, 7.30.
WELLS, Cedars Hall, Kris Nock Big Band, The Music of Video Games, 7.30.
WEYMOUTH, Pavilion, A Night to Remember – the Motown show.
WIMBORNE, Tivoli, Good Evening, Mr Bouble, tribute.
Sunday 24 November
BOURNEMOUTH, University, Kimmeridge House, Bournemouth Chamber Music Society 80th anniversary year,Piatti String Quartet, Moeran, Fanny Mendelssohn, Schubert, 3pm.
Pavilion, The Western Association of Ballet Schools, The Art of Dance, showcase 250 dancers from seven schools.
02 Academy, The Wailers, 40th anniversary of Legend.
BRUTON, St Mary’s Church, Tales and Legends, Clare Sydenham, piano, David Hindley, narrator, mystical programme, music by Ravel, Satie, Debussy and Grieg and readings, 3pm.
CHARD, Guildhall, Luke Wright in Joy, performance poetry, 7.30pm. TA
CHRISTCHURCH, Regent Centre, Nathan Carter, Irish entertainer, 7.30.
DORCHESTER, Corn Exchange, Karen Wimhurst with Jump, live music and field recordings and film of insects and amphibians, 2pm.
EXETER, University Great Hall, The Down for the Count Orchestra, Swing into Christmas, 5pm.
Barnfield Theatre, Ali Woods, At the Moment, comedy, 7.45.
LYME REGIS, Marine Theatre, Jazz by the Sea, Back to the Shack, blues and Americana, 8pm.
SALISBURY, Cathedral, Cantata Evensong.
STUDLAND, Village Hall, Village Hall, Christine Tassan et les Imposteurs, On the Road, jazz and gypsy jazz, 7.30. AR
WELLS, Cedars Hall, Visconti’s Death in Venice, 1971 film, free, 2pm.
WEYMOUTH, Pavilion, The Simon and Garfunkel Story.
Monday 25 November
BATH, Theatre Royal, Birdsong, to Sat, 7.30, Wed/Sat mats 2.30.
BRISTOL, Tobacco Factory, Living Spit’s A Christmas Carol, to 7 Dec, and from 9 Dec to 5 Jan 2025, various times.
St George’s, Symphony of the World, celebrating musical diversity with schoolchildren, poets, orchestras etc, 5pm.
Alma Tavern, Lost Mary, A Bristolian Christmas, 6.30, and Tues 8pm.
CHRISTCHURCH, Regent Centre, Firebrand, film, 10.30am.
CIRENCESTER, Barn Theatre, The Three Musketeers, to 4 Jan.
SHERBORNE, Abbey, Organ Recital, 1.30pm.
Tuesday 26 November
BATH, Forum, Monty Don, 7.30.
Chapel Arts, Nell Bryden, New York songwriter, with Goldfinch.
BRISTOL, St George’s, The High Sheriff’s Charity Concert, with Preludes Music, Rising Voices Recovery Choir, Changing Tunes and Dovetail Refugee Orchestra, 7.30.
02 Academy, Kokoroko, Afrobeat.
CORSHAM, Pound Arts, Wicked Little Letters, film, 7.30.
PLYMOUTH, Theatre Royal, Drum Studio, War Horse, NT production, to 6 Dec(not Sun) 7.30, Thurs/Sat mats 2.30, 7th Dec, 1 and 6pm.
POOLE, Lighthouse, Rebus: A Game Called Malice, to Sat, 7.45, Wed/Thurs/Sat mats 2.30.
WIMBORNE, Tivoli, Paul Jones and Dave Kelly, blues.
YEOVIL, Westlands, Crown Ballet in The Nutcracker, 7.30.
Wednesday 27 November
BATH, Rondo, Rondo Theatre in A Streetcar Named Desire, to Sat, 7.30.
BRADFORD ON AVON, Wiltshire Music Centre, Manran, Scottish folk, 7.30.
BRIDPORT, Arts Centre,Vita Nova Theatre in Heath, dance theatre inspired by King Lear, 7.30.
BRISTOL, St George’s, James Lisney, piano, Chopin, 7.30.
Alma Tavern, Frederic Gheung in Chtinois, comedy in French, 7.30.
CHRISTCHURCH, Regent Centre, Josh Pugh, comedy, 7.30.
DORCHESTER, Corn Exchange, Mark Thomas, Gaffa Tapes, comedy, 7.30.
EAST KNOYLE, Village Hall, Rudy. MOVIOLA
EXETER, Cathedral, Queen by Candlelight.
LYME REGIS, Marine Theatre, Declan Duffy in Call Yourself an Irishman?, 7.30pm.
POOLE, Lighthouse, BSO, cond Chloe van Soeterstede, Alena Baeva violin, Schumann, Mendelssohn, Brahms, 7.30: Calan, A Mythical Musical Odyssey, folk, 7.30: Cinema, Small Things Like These, 1.30 and Sat 4.30.
WIMBORNE, Tivoli, The Searchers Experience, with Spencer James.
Thursday 28 November
BATH, Forum, Don’t Stop Believin’ – The End of the Night Anthems show.
Chapel Arts, The Lost Trades, folk Americana, 8pm.
BRIDPORT, Arts Centre, Comedy Night with Ben Treloar, Roger Monkhouse and Suzy Bennett, 8pm.
BRISTOL, St George’s, The Paddington Trio, Haydn, Henze, Brahms, 1pm: The Clare Teal Seven, jazz, 8pm.
Tobacco Factory, Hansel and Gretel, to 19 Jan, various times.
Exchange, Freya Beer, art rock.
Alma Tavern, Quentin Crisp: Naked Hope, and Fri, 8pm.
CHRISTCHURCH, Regent Centre, ELO Again, 7.30.
CORSHAM, Pound Arts, Wilding, documentary film, 7.30.
DORCHESTER, Corn Exchange, Carbon Theatre in Bright Places, three woman show about multiple sclerosis, 7.30.
EXETER, Northcott Theatre, Northcott and Le Navet Bete, Cinderella, to 5 Jan, various days and times.
Cathedral, G4 Christmas show.
University Great Hall, BSO, cond Chloe van Soeterstede, Alena Baeva violin, Schumann, Mendelssohn, Brahms.
HONITON, Beehive, Ladies in Lavender, 2004 film, dementia friendly screening, 2pm.
LYME REGIS, Marine Theatre, The Sandy Denny Project, folk rock, 7.30.
MERE, Lecture Hall, MADS in Alice in Blunderland, to Sat, 7.30, Sat mat 2.30.
PLYMOUTH, Theatre Royal, Drum Studio, Raymond Briggs’ Father Christmas, to 28 Dec, various days and times.
POOLE, Lighthouse, Beth Hart, 7.30: Live and Unheard, local bands, 7.30: Cinema, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971), dementia friendly screenings, 2pm.
SOUTHAMPTON, Mayflower, English National Ballet in The Nutcracker, to Sat, 7.30, Sat mat 2pm.
Turner Sims, Erland Cooper, electronic and classical fusions, 8pm.
WARMINSTER, Athenaeum, Limelight Players in A Nice Family Christmas, comedy by Phil Olson, to Sat, 7.30, Sat mat 2pm.
WEYMOUTH, Pavilion, Rhythm of the Dance, Christmas special.
WIMBORNE, Tivoli, Moving Pictures, a tribute to Rush.
WOOTTON FITZPAINE, Village Hall, Alvorada, Brazillian jazz, 7.30. AR
YEOVIL, Westlands, Talon – The Best of the Eagles, 7.30.
Friday 29 November
BATH, Theatre Royal, The Egg, Robin Hood, to 11 Jan: Snow Mouse, for 6 months to 4 years, to 5 Jan.
Forum, The Magic of the BeeGees.
Chapel Arts, Superskas, 8pm.
BISHOPSTONE, nr Salisbury, Village Hall, Vindication Swim. MOVIOLA
BRIDGWATER, McMillan Theatre, Jason Byrne in No Show, comedy, 7.30.
BRIDPORT, Electric Palace, Mark Thomas, Gaffa Tapes, comedy, 8pm.
BRISTOL, Beacon, Erland Cooper, Scottish composer and multi-instrumentalist.
St George’s, Matt Carmichael, saxophone, Jay Verma, piano, jazz. 1pm: Vishwa Mohan Bhatt’s Desert Slide Ensemble, 7.30.
CHRISTCHURCH, Regent Centre, Hard Target, 1993 film, 8pm.
CODFORD, Woolstore Theatre, Rudolph and the Jingle Tree, and Sat and 5th to 7th December, 7.30, 30th Nov, 1st and 7th December, 2.30.
EAST STOUR, Village Hall, Swede Caroline. MOVIOLA
EXETER, Cathedral, Jersey Boys by Candlelight.
Barnfield Theatre, The Comedy Store Exeter.
FROME, Merlin, Open Story Tellers in Through the Front Door, 7pm.
Memorial Theatre, Born to Swing – the Christmas Spectacular, with Andrew Bourn.
Cheese and Grain, Dreadzone.
ILMINSTER, Arts Centre, Babooshka – A Salute to Kate Bush, 7.30.
NEW MILTON, Forest Arts, Lucy Porter, No Regrets, comedy, 7.30.
NORTON ST PHILIP, Village Hall, The Teachers’ Lounge. MOVIOLA
POOLE, Lighthouse, The Drifters, 7.30: Xhosa Cole Trio, jazz, 7.45: Cinema, Lee, and Tues, 11am: Gladiator II, and Sat and 3-5 Dec and 28 Dec.
SALISBURY, Arts Centre, Barnstormers Comedy, 8pm.
SHAFTESBURY, Arts Centre, The Removed, film, (filmed locally), 7.30.
SOUTH PETHERTON, David Hall, Instant Wit, comedy improv, 8pm.
STREET, Strode Theatre, Hometown Glory, candlelit concert tribute to Adele by Natalie Black, 7.30.
STURMINSTER NEWTON, The Exchange, Poppy Plowman in Turk(ish), contemporary circus, tightwire workhop, 4pm, performance 7.30. AR
SWANAGE, Mowlem Theatre, Alvorada, Brazillian jazz, 7.30. AR
TAUNTON, Tacchi-Morris Art Centre, The All Seasons Live, Franki Valli tribute, 7.30.
WESTBURY sub MENDIP, Village Hall, The Fall Guy. MOVIOLA
WEST CAMEL, Davis Hall, Vindication Swim. MOVIOLA
WEYMOUTH, Pavilion, Go Your Own Way, the Fleetwood Mac Legacy.
WIMBORNE, Tivoli, Talon, the Best of the Eagles.
Saturday 30 November
BATH, Forum, Cirque, The Greatest Show, 3 and 7pm.
Chapel Arts, Untamed Burlesque, 8pm.
BRADFORD ON AVON, Wiltshire Music Centre, The Sounds of Simon, with Ben Bowden and Adam Ellis, video clips, stories and memories of Simon and Garfunkel, 7.30.
BRIDGWATER, Arts Centre, The Unravelling Wilburys, 8pm.
McMillan Theatre, Christmas at the Musicals, 2 and 6.30pm.
BRIDPORT, Arts Centre, Tosca with Lise Davidsen, Freddie de Tommaso and Quinn Kelsey, from the Metropolitan Opera, 6pm.
Electric Palace, The Wurzels Christmas Show, 7.30.
BRISTOL, St George’s, The Renewal Choir, Gospel, 7pm.
Old Vic, Weston Studio, Tom VR, house, techno and experimental, 10pm to 2am.
Tobacco Factory, Pea Bien Theatre in Painting by Numbers, 7.30.
Alma Tavern, Theatre Nisha in Stable, 8pm.
CHILD OKEFORD, Village Hall, Enchanted Cinema, The Snowman, music and film, 3pm. AR
CHRISTCHURCH, Regent Centre, Tina Live, tribute to Tina Turner with Julie Nevada, 7.30.
CORSHAM, Pound Arts, Mark Simmons, Quip of the Mark, comedy, 7.30.
DORCHESTER, Corn Exchange, An Actor Convalescing in Devon, Paul Jesson solo show, 7.30.
FROME, Merlin, Kris Nock Big Band in Video Games in Concert, 7.30.
Memorial Theatre, One Night of Queen.
Cheese and Grain, The Brand New Heavies.
Tree House, Amy – A Tribute.
23 Bath Street, Frome Festival fundraiser with Alberta Cross, Something Moves and BroccoliBoy, 7pm.
HALSTOCK, Village Hall, Rudy. MOVIOLA
HONITON, Beehive, The Alta Eagles, 7.30.
LYME REGIS, Marine Theatre, Jason Byrne, No Show, comedy, 7.30.
MARTOCK, Parish Hall, The Holdovers. MOVIOLA
NETHERBURY, Village Hall, Vindication Swim. MOVIOLA
NETHER COMPTON, Village Hall, Alvorada, Brazillian jazz, 7.30. AR
POOLE, Lighthouse, The Overtones, Good Times tour, 7.30: FitkinWall, Harpland, folk, 8pm.
SALISBURY, Playhouse, Sleeping Beauty, to 12 Jan, various times.
Arts Centre, Women in Rock, 7.30.
SHERBORNE, Abbey, Sherborne Chamber Choir, Sherborne Baroque Players, cond Paul Ellis, JS Bach Christmas Oratorio, 7.30pm.
SIDMOUTH, Parish Church, Sidmouth Chamber Music, The Haldon Quartet, Schubert, Korngold, Caroline Shaw and traditional Scandinavian works, 3pm.
SOUTHAMPTON, MAST, Fort, ghost story set on North Dorset hillfort, 7pm.
SOUTH PETHERTON, David Hall, Moscow Drug Club, 8pm.
STURMINSTER NEWTON, The Exchange, Paul Young and Los Pacaminos, 8pm.
TAUNTON, Tacchi-Morris Art Centre, James Phelan, The Dreamer, magic show, 7.30.
WEYMOUTH, Pavilion, ELO Again, tribute.