Coast and Countryside Events - Marshwood Vale Magazine

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Your truly comprehensive list of local events

Wednesday, 30 October

Artsreach’s Fideri Fidera “Oskar’s Amazing Adventure” at Powerstock Hut. Half Term event for children 2-7 yrs. 11am Tickets: 01308 485730 or 07817 429907 or www.artsreach.co.uk. Adult £8, Under 18’s £6, Family £24.

Fairport Convention – 19:30. Fairport Convention have been entertaining music lovers for over half a century, with 2024 being their 57th anniversary. During that time the band that launched British folk-rock has seen many changes, but one thing has remained the same – Fairport’s passion for performance. This year’s Autumn Tour will present a mix of long-established Fairport favourites and some surprises from albums old and new. Bridport Electric Palace 35 South Street, DT6 3NY. Tickets £32 Book online -electricpalace.org.uk

Thursday 31, October

Halloween Night with Steam Train Yeovil Railway Centre, Yeovil Junction, Stoford BA22 9UU: (6pm-9pm). Recorded information on 01935 410420, visit the website www.yeovilrailway.freeservers.com, or find the Facebook page.

The Critic (15) – 14:00. The Critic is a deliciously dark and sharp-witted thriller set in 1930s London ‘theatreland’ featuring an all-star cast including Ian McKellen, Gemma Arterton, Mark Strong, Ben Barnes, Alfred Enoch, Romola Garai and Lesley Manville.When the most feared and vicious theatre critic in town Jimmy Erskine (McKellen), finds himself suddenly in the crosshairs of the Daily Chronicle’s new owner David Brooke (Strong), he strikes a sinister Faustian pact with struggling actress Nina Land (Arterton) who is desperate to win his favour.Bridport Electric Palace 35 South Street, DT6 3NY. Tickets £7 Book online -electricpalace.org.uk

Scarlet Oak Theatre are heading to Wootton Fitzpaine this half term with a playful and heart-warming adventure for young children and their families featuring puppetry, plants and lots of pots! In the intimate setting of a potting shed, we meet our Gardener. She loves the smell of the flowers, the feel of the earth and watching her plants bloom. But along came a magpie who turns her potting shed upside down! Making friends is lots of fun but can sometimes be tricky. Join our gardener and magpie on this playful, heart-warming adventure as they navigate the intricacies of friendship. Suitable for ages 2-6yrs – bring a cushion, this charming show is touring Dorset with Artsreach, the county’s rural arts charity. 10:30am. Wootton Fitzpaine Village Hall. 01297 560948. £8, £6 u18s, £24 fam or book on artsreach.co.uk

West Dorset Ramblers, 8 miles. Lambert’s Castle Circular. To book and for details please contact Heather G 07587 098079.

Clapton & Wayford Village Hall AGM; business followed by wine & nibbles, 7.30pm; all welcome. More details from Mary (01460 74849)

Dance Connection, Open Class, for fun, health & wellbeing, 7:15-8:45pm, Bridport St Mary’s CHH, DT6 3NN, 07787752201, https://www.joysofdance.co.uk/dance-connection-bridport

Film Screening at Litton Cheney Village Hall DT2 9AU. Wicked Little Letters. Doors open 7.00pm, film starts 7.30pm. Tickets £5 on the door to include a glass of wine.

Friday, 1 November

Craig Milverton with Simon Spillett – Inspired by the classic Brit-bop of the 1950s and 1960s, Simon’s style is powerfully passionate, with an emphasis on straight-ahead jazz. Simon is supported by Craig Milverton, one of Britain’s finest jazz pianists. 7:30pm at Ilminster Arts Centre, TA19 0AN. Tickets: £20 Students: £5 Children 12 and under: Free 01460 54973 www.ilminsterartscentre.com.

Seaton Comedy Club – headliner – ‘Hal Cruttenden’ – Gateway Theatre, Seaton, 7.30pm doors 6.30pm, tickets £17.50, £20 on door. Gelos Network is thrilled to announce the launch of Seaton Comedy Club at The Gateway.Join us for our inaugural show featuring headline act Hal Cruttenden, star of Live at the Apollo and Mock the Week. Tickets from 01297 625699, www.gatewaytheatre.co.uk, or in person Tue – Thur 10am – 1pm.

Friday, 1 – 3 November

Women’s Singing Workshop Weekend. North Eggardon, nr Bridport. Come and sing! Enjoy a weekend singing retreat in the beautiful countryside of West Dorset and share good times (singing, food, walks) with other women in the amazing space of North Eggardon Carthouse. Veronique Sodano, jazz singer, teacher and wonderful woman will be leading us through singing sessions with fun, warmth and inspiration. She’s also an amazing cook and together we will prepare delicious meals, with organic and local ingredients. more info at mycupofteacreativeworkshops.com.

Saturday, 2 November

It’s Only Me, Boys! at St Michael’s Church, Shute. In the lead up to Remembrance – David Balcombe brings his one-man play about First World War bravery to Shute. Exeter-born Theodore Bayley Hardy went to the First World War as a Chaplain in 1916 – at the age of 52. "It's only me, boys!" he would whisper in the dark as he reached the trenches at the front of the allied lines. He would bring supplies (most importantly, cigarettes) to these young men and he would sit with them, talk with them, read with them and sometimes pray with them. It’s Only Me, Boys! was first performed at TheatreFest in Barnstaple in June 2024, where it was warmly received by audiences who variously described it as “Poignant and moving. A marvellous one-man show”, “Superbly told. A must watch” and “A beautifully told story of loss”. Refreshments will be available, and the performance will be followed by a Q and Awith David, chaired by Rev Julie Lomas. At 7.30pmSt Michael’s Church, Shute Tickets (all £10.00) available in advance from www.ticketsource.co.uk/verity-productions or on the door (from 7.00pm on the night) In aid of St Michael’s Church Restoration Fund.

Dean Carter live: Wheel of the Year launch tour: 2PM The Beat & Track, 4 The Shambles, South St, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3LN In support of Dean’s 4th album in two years, Wheel of the Year, the instrumental suite themed around just that very idea and concept, there will be a performance of the album live somewhere in the region on each of the stations of the Wheel throughout the year. For the live the event marking Samhain/Hallowe’en-the associated track is ‘Carnival of Souls’. Entry: pass the hat.

Hotrock presents ‘Villains Unleashed’ Halloween Party – Gateway Theatre, Seaton, 2pm doors 1.30pm, All tickets £12. This devilishly fun show brings together all your favourite Villains for the ultimate Halloween party. Losing their magic powers as the screams of Halloween fade away, the Villains plan the perfect Halloween party. Tickets from 01297 625699, www.gatewaytheatre.co.uk or in person Tue – Thur 10am – 1pm.

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

The Friends of Weymouth Library (F.O.W.L.) talk at 10-30a.m. will be welcoming Paul Atterbury who will take us behind the scenes on an “Antiques Road Show” TV programme. Paul has, for many years, been a regular expert on the programme. Tickets are available from the Library (01305762410) at £2 for members and £3 for non-members. For any other information please phone 01305832613. Refreshments will be available; everyone welcome.

Princess Live is the ultimate hour long princess pop party, featuring your favourite fairytale royalty in this all singing all dancing hour long concert show. Free photo opportunity with the princesses post show! 13:00 also at 16.00. Bridport Electric Palace 35 South Street, DT6 3NY. Tickets £13.50 Book online -electricpalace.org.uk

Saturday, 2 – 3 November

Ecor Sculpture Workshops All day or weekend sculpture workshop to create nature-inspired sculptural work using found and recycled materials. Explore and experiment with creative ideas, processes and media, including wirework and paper making. Sat/Sun 2-3 Nov, or 9-10 Nov, 10.30am-3.30pm each day The Durbeyfield Guesthouse & Studios, West Bay, Bridport, Dorset DT6 4EL Cost: £100 (1 day); or £200 both days Book via eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/eco-sculpture-workshop-tickets-1001222281797?aff=oddtdtcreator&utm_campaign=post_publish&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eventbrite&utm_content=shortLinkNewEmail And email: janalisonedwards@gmail.com to specify chosen date Further information Email : janalisonedwards@gmail.com

Sunday, 3 November

‘Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall’(PG) Screening – Gateway Theatre, Seaton, 2pm doors 1.30pm, tickets Adults £16, Under 16s £10. ‘Phantom Of The Opera At The Albert Hall’ stars Ramin Karimloo as ‘The Phantom’ and Sierra Boggess as ‘Christine’. They are joined by a supporting cast and orchestra of over 200, plus some very special guest appearances. Tickets from 01297 625699, www.gatewaytheatre.co.uk or in person Tue – Thur 10am – 1pm.

Monday, 4 November

Scottish Dancing in Chardstock Evening of Scottish dancing in Chardstock Village Hall EX13 7BH 7.30 – 10.00 p.m. Tea and coffee provided but please bring your own mug and wear soft soled shoes. No partner required. Cost £2.00 Contact David on 01460 65981 www.chardscottishdancingclub.co.uk.

Winsham Art Club, 2pm at Jubilee Hall TA20 4HU. The theme this practical session is Seascapes in Watercolour. It is a 2.5 hr. session led by a visiting tutor. Small friendly group of mixed abilities. Members £5, non-members £7. Annual membership £15. All welcome. Contact: Email : suzyna48@gmail.com for further details.

Sunshine for November: Artists in Provence, looking at the towns of the south of France and who painted there. Van Gogh, Monet, Mary Cassatt, Berthe Morisot, Raoul Dufy, Matisse, Picasso, Bonnard, Leger. 6 lectures. Venue: United Hall, East Street, Bridport. Fee: £65. ‘Drop in lectures’ £13. *This course runs also on Fridays 2pm on line, from 8th Nov, fee £60. ***To book or enquire about the course please email: chris.pamsimpson@btinternet.com Tutor is Pam Simpson MA, Art & Design Historian, who is Associate Lecturer at University of the Arts in London and who has had a 37 yr career in London art colleges.

Hawkchurch Film Nights, in association with Moviola.org, proudly presents ‘Wilding’ ( 75 mins, Cert. PG – occasional strong language). In this fascinating and heartwarming dramatised documentary, a pair of English farmers take radical steps to reinvigorate the dying landscape around their Sussex estate, with astonishing results but also local criticism. A hopeful ode to the English countryside. 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 hearing-impaired patrons provided. Home-made cake, popcorn, teas, coffees, wine and other tasty refreshments available.

Tuesday, 5 November

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. Everyone welcome, so why not come along and give it a whirl. For more information please email Anita at anitaandjim22@gmail.com and visit our web site at www.ashillscd.wordpress.com.

West Dorset Ramblers Group – 7 miles walk around Melbury Park . To book and for further details please contact Laraine 07889921435.

Wednesday, 6 November

Meeting Voices Community Choir, Chard. 19.30 to 21.15. Sing for fun. Learn songs in harmony by ear. Everyone welcome. Chard Guildhall. Fore St, Chard TA20 1PP. Phone 07534 116502 or email mvsecretary@outlook.com.

Dr John Cooper Clarke (16+) – 19:30 Literary phenomenon John Cooper Clarke is a British cult hero. Known as the ‘Godfather of Punk Poetry” and the original people’s poet, John’s cultural influence spans literature, music and fashion. Watching John Cooper Clarke perform is an opportunity to see a living legend at the top of his game. Bridport Electric Palace 35 South Street , DT6 3NY. Tickets £31.50 (standard seating) £35.50 (premium seating) Book online -electricpalace.org.uk

Thursday, 7 November

Autumn Lunch in aid of cancer research at Highlands End park Restaurant 12.30 for 1.00pm. £25 Contact: Karen Barnard – karen@conoor.co.uk.

Folk dancing at Combe St Nicholas village hall (TA20 3LT) at 1930 hrs. Ian & Margaret will be providing the music and the caller is Simon Maplesden. 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.

Dance Connection, Block of 6, for fun, health & wellbeing, 7:10-8:45pm, Bridport St Mary’s CHH, DT6 3NN, 07787752201, https://www.joysofdance.co.uk/dance-connection-bridport

Friends of Lyme Regis Philpot Museum Lyme Regis Museum Friends offer an illustrated talk, ‘Making Art in Museums-the Feel Good Factor’ by Christine Allison at 2.30 pm in the Woodmead Hall, Hill Road, Lyme Regis DT7 3PG. Christine is a prominent local artist and will discuss art projects she has led in museums. She will share photographs and stories about creatively engaging all ages with exhibits in the Natural History Museum, Bristol Museum and our very own ‘museum by the sea’ in Lyme Regis. Members £3 visitors £5. Enquiries to David Cox, 01297 443156.

The Quiet Girl (2022, Ireland, 12, 91 mins, S/titles, Director: Colm Bairéad) Set in 1981, the film follows a withdrawn nine-year-old girl raised by neglectful parents among many other siblings, who experiences a loving home for the first time when she spends the summer on a farm in Rinn Gaeltacht, County Waterford, alone with a married couple who are distant relatives. It is mostly in the Irish language, although it also contains parts in English. 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 Kathy Everard on 01460 30646. Extra film showing on the afternoon of Sunday 17th November, Oppenheimer. With intermission and cakes. Contact mickpwilson53@btinternet.com or ring Mick Wilson on 01460 74849 for more details.

West Dorset Ramblers Group – 8 miles walk around Uplyme to the Cobb via the Viaduct. To book and for further details please contact Heather T 07798 732252.

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.

Friday, 8 November

Ile Valley Flower Club. Coral Gardiner Demonstrates ‘Treemendous Christmas’ Open afternoon starts at 2 pm Broadway Village Hall close to Ilminster. Tickets £15. Available from : Cheryl 01460 75025 – 07597313979. Jackie 01460 671449 – 07972078919.

Budapest Café Orchestra – Budapest Café Orchestra delivers a blistering barrage of traditional folk and gypsy-flavoured music. 7:30pm at Ilminster Arts Centre, TA19 0AN. Tickets: £22 Students: £5 Children 12 and under: Free 01460 54973 www.ilminsterartscentre.com

Axminster Flower Club Christmas Demonstration Christmas floral demonstration by Caitlin Anning-Pile of Olive and Bloom The Florist, Wellington. The Minster Church, Axminster EX13 5AH. Time: 2.30pm. Tickets: £8.00. Contact: 07742964895.

‘Electric Lady Studios: A Jimi Hendrix Vision’(12A) Screening – Gateway Theatre, Seaton, 7.30pm doors 7pm, Tickets, Early Bird Adults £7.50, Under 16s £6.50. £16 from 1/11. The documentary chronicles the creation of the studio, rising from the rubble of a bankrupt Manhattan nightclub to state-of-the-art recording facility inspired by Hendrix’s desire for a permanent studio. Tickets from 01297 625699, www.gatewaytheatre.co.uk or in person Tue – Thur 10am – 1pm.

Saturday, 9 November

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

‘I AmDram’ Live theatre – Gateway Theatre, Seaton – 7.30pm, doors 7pm, tickets Adults £14, Under 16s £10. In this unique piece of storytelling performance, Hannah Maxwell hops a train back to her hometown (of Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire), taking a whistle-stop tour of 90 years of musical theatre heritage in the process. Tickets from 01297 625699, www.gatewaytheatre.co.uk or in person Tue – Thur 10am – 1pm.

Saturday, 9 – 10 November

Dorset Food & Drink Winter Food Fair at Athelhampton. The countdown is on for the Dorset Food & Drink Winter Food Fair at Athelhampton House & Gardens from 10am – 3pm. A curated selection of over 60 stallholders, locally made food, drink including many award-winning Dorset brands! Artisanal gifts, live music and tasty seasonal treats. Take advantage of ‘early bird tickets’. £5 per person. Under 12’s free. Pre book online and get a 1/3 off on the gate price. (£7.50). Book via the Athelhampton Website

Sunday, 10 November

Lyme Bay Chorale’s Remembrance Day Concert with Musical Director Alex Davies Organ accompaniment Peter Irving 4.pm St Michael’s Parish Church, Church Street, Lyme Regis. unreserved seats, admission free with a retiring collection in aid of the British Royal Legion; the choir are singing the beautiful and ever popular Requiem by John Rutter and For the Fallen by Peter Irving. www.lymebaychorale.co.uk.

Monday, 11 November

Dorchester Townswomen’s Guild after a short business meeting, 2 p.m. James Porter will be giving a talk entitled Jersey in Wartime to Dorchester Townswomen’s Guild in Dorchester Community Church, Liscombe Street, Poundbury, DT1 3DF. Visitors welcome (£3), Tea and coffee available. Enquiries 01305 832857.

Dance Connection, for fun, health & wellbeing, 10:25am-12, Unitarian Chapel, Bridport, DT6 3JX, 07787752201, https://www.joysofdance.co.uk/danceclass.

Tuesday, 12 November

Io Capitano. Bridport Film Society. Films are screened fortnightly on Tuesday evenings at 7.45pm at Bridport Arts Centre, South Street, Bridport, exclusively for members and guests. Doors and the bar open at 7pm. Membership cards must be presented at the door. For membership and information email bridportfilm@gmail.com. Website: www.bridportfilmsociety.co.uk.

The Lyme Regis Society presents a talk Hogchester & Roman Villa at Holcombe by Audrey Standhaft 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.

Divine Union Soundbath 9 PM Digby Memorial Hall, (Griffiths Room), Digby Rd, Sherborne DT9 3LN Lie down, relax, and allow the Pure Sounds of a crystal and Tibetan bowl soundbath plus sacred vocal overtoning give you a sonic deep-tissue massage, taking you into the deeper brainwave states of ‘the relaxation response’, while charging and balancing the aura and chakras of the subtle body, and detoxing the physical. Booking: 01935 389655 ahiahel@live.com.

West Dorset Ramblers Group – 8 miles walk round East Burton & Bovington Camp and Moreton. To book and for further details please contact Ian 07826150114.

Wednesday, 13 November

Loders Local History Group AGM followed by Talk. Loders Village Hall, DT6 3SA. The Legendary Cider Secrets of Loders. As a cider enthusiast I was intrigued by the suggestion that Dorset was the first place that cider was made in England. Was this possible? The French connections, from the early Celtic traders from the far east via the Atlantic Arc, to the cider making monks of Loders priory pre-conquest and, with the help of a little apple DNA science, it seems that Loders was where it all began. By Liz Copas. 7.30 pm. All welcome, refreshments will be served. Entrance £3.

Thursday, 14 November

Talk on Birds of Costa Rica by Mike Morse at 2.30pm in Bridport WI Hall, North St, Bridport, DT6 3JQ. Entrance £4 for Friends members and £5 non-members. Raising funds for Bridport Millennium Green (contact FriendsofBMG@hotmail.com for more details).

Chard History Group Tales of the West Dorset Coast – Michael Spencer 7pm for 7.30 Chard Guildhall upstairs (lift available) Members £2.50 visitors most welcome £3.50. For further details Tessa on 07984481634.

Illustrated talk – popular speaker and local author Anne Mosscrop will give a lively and humorous account of her adventurous trip ‘trekking in Peru’. £6 includes cheese & wine; please book and pay in advance. Proceeds to be shared between Village Hall and Christian Aid. 7.30pm, at Clapton & Wayford Village Hall. Further information from Mary (01460 74849) or Julia (01460 72769).

Chard History Group Tales from the West Dorset Coast by Mike Spencer. 7 for 7.30 start Chard Guildhall upstairs (lift available). Members £2.50 visitors most welcome at £3.50. For more info. Tessa Leeds 07984481634

Friday, 15 November

Tincleton favourites John Law and David Gordon play a mixture of solos and duos on the gallery’s two beautiful grand pianos. Expect jazz and Latin music, classically themed improvisation and original compositions from these two award-winning musicians.Tincleton Gallery, The Old School House, Tincleton, nr Dorchester, DT2 8QR. Doors open 19:30; concert starts 20:00. Admission fee: £15. 01305 848 909. http://www.tincletongallery.com.

‘The Critic’ (15) Picnic Night screening – Gateway Theatre, Seaton – 7.30pm, doors 6.30pm, tickets Adults £7.50, Under 16s £6.50. At a garden party on a sunny afternoon, Alice is surprised to see her parents’ friend Lewis Carroll transform into a white rabbit. When she follows him down a rabbit hole, events become curiouser and curiouser… Tickets from 01297 625699, www.gatewaytheatre.co.uk or in person Tue – Thur 10am – 1pm.

One Life at 7.30pm Based on the book If It’s Not Impossible…: The Life of Sir Nicholas Winton by Barbara Winton, ONE LIFE tells the incredible, emotional true story of Nicholas ‘Nicky’ Winton (Johnny Flynn), a young London broker who visits Prague in December 1938. In a race against time, Winton convinces Trevor Chadwick (Alex Sharp) and Doreen Warriner (Romola Garai) of the British Committee for Refugees in Czechoslovakia to rescue hundreds of predominantly Jewish children before Nazi occupation closes the borders. Fifty years later, Nicky (Anthony Hopkins) is haunted by the fate of the children he wasn’t able to bring to safety in England. It’s not until the BBC show “That’s Life!” re-introduces him to some of those he helped rescue that he finally begins to come to terms with the guilt and grief he carried — all the while skyrocketing from anonymity to a national hero. Village Hall, The Causeway, Milborne St Andrew DT11 0JX. Doors and bar open 7.00pm Tickets cost £6, which includes a drink or an ice-cream.

The Berkley Ensemble – Formed by friends in a spirit of adventure, the Berkley Ensemble brings together musicians from diverse corners of musical life to make music in new ways. Promoted by Concerts in the West. 7:30pm at Ilminster Arts Centre, TA19 0AN. Tickets: £18 Students: £5 Children 12 and under: Free 01460 54973 www.ilminsterartscentre.com

Saturday, 16 November

David Gordon introduces the outstanding multi-instrumentalist Jenny Bliss Bennett. Resident in Somerset, Jenny specialises in violin, viola da gamba and is a brilliant improviser across many styles. Together David and Jenny will play a wide range of music from William Byrd to Mozart, folk tunes ancient and modern and more – with the focus on joyous improvisation. Tincleton Gallery, The Old School House, Tincleton, nr Dorchester, DT2 8QR. Doors open 19:30; concert starts 20:00. Admission fee: £15. 01305 848 909. http://www.tincletongallery.com.

Bridport Big Band – 19:30 After a hugely successful concert last year, the Bridport Big Band return to the Palace! The band play an assortment of styles from toe-tapping classic tunes to fresh modern arrangements plus smooth melodic vocal numbers. As well as pieces by the late greats such as Glenn Miller, Count Basie and Duke Ellington the band also feature Stevie Wonder, Sammy Nestico, George Gershwin, The Police and a spot of Oasis. Expect the unexpected, BBB have a brilliant repertoire to choose from including swing, trad jazz, latin, modern classics and pop. Bridport Electric Palace 35 South Street , DT6 3NY. Tickets £11.50 Book online -electricpalace.org.uk

Riviera Dogs – Live Music – Gateway Theatre, Seaton, 8pm doors 7.30pm, tickets £20, £23 on door. Riviera Dogs are a 5 piece 80s party band hailing from Torbay ‘The English Riviera’ …no lycra, wigs or make up just faithful, respectful renditions of songs from the best decade in music! Tickets from 01297 625699, www.gatewaytheatre.co.uk or in person Tue – Thur 10am – 1pm.

Marvellous Mozart – Axminster and District Choral Society perform his wonderful Requiem and Solemn Vespers, with professional soloists and orchestra. 7.30 pm at the Minster Church, Axminster. Tickets £14 and £16 from axminsterchoral.co.uk or 01404 43805.

Bridport & West Dorset Rambling Club 7.5 mile walk from Mosterton. For further information please ring 01308 898484 or 01308 863340. New members/visitors welcome.

Dalwood Jazz Club presents The Deane Big Band from Taunton at 3pm with the music of Glenn Miller, Count Basie, Benny Goodman and other big bands of the 30s & 40s and with two great vocalists featuring songs made popular by Frank Sinatra – and more recently Michael Buble. 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, 17 November

Dance Connection, Dance Day, 11am-4pm, Bridport St Mary’s CHH, DT6 3NN, 07787752201, https://www.joysofdance.co.uk/workshops

Monday, 18 November

Winsham Art Club, 2pm at Jubilee Hall TA20 4HU. The theme this practical session is Animals in Watercolour. It is a 2.5 hr. session led by a visiting tutor. Small friendly group of mixed abilities. Members £5, non-members £7. Annual membership £15. All welcome. Contact: Email : suzyna48@gmail.com for further details.

Tuesday, 19 November

Beaminster Museum Winter Talk Local historian and author Richard Sims will be exploring the history of West Bay as a port. Beaminster Museum, Whitcombe Road, Beaminster DT8 3NB. www.beaminstermuseum.co.uk 2.00pm, entry £5.

‘Bewitched’(PG) Nostalgic Cinema – Matinee screening – Gateway Theatre, Seaton – 1.30pm, doors 1pm, tickets £3.50. Anyone who loves nostalgic films is very welcome to join us for an afternoon of fond memories and friendship. Tickets from 01297 625699, www.gatewaytheatre.co.uk or in person Tue – Thur 10am – 1pm.

West Dorset Ramblers Group – 10 miles walk from Broadwindsor through Wayford Woods. To book and for further details please contact Heather G 07587 098079

Wednesday, 20 November

CANCELLED: The Shanty Sessions. Marine Theatre, Lyme Regis. 7.30pm. Join our local Shanty group, the original East Devon boy band! The Chantry Buoys from Colyton singing traditional sea shanties and other well known songs of the sea. Come and join in and sing, we like audience participation. Entry is free, all proceeds go to local charities. The licensed bar will be open, the Buoys start at 7.30pm. Doors open at 7pm.

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).

A range of local crafts and artisans will be at The Peek Chapel next door to The Alexandra Hotel in Lyme Regis. 10-6. Crafts @The Chapel The Peek Chapel next door to The Alexandra Hotel, Pound St, Lyme Regis. Also Sun Dec 1st 10-4. Sat Dec 14th 10-6. Sun Dec 15th 10-4 contact 07808 584624.

Colyton & District Garden Society. ‘Getting Ready for Christmas’ by Angie Blackwell @ cottageflowersandmore.co.uk Venue : Colyford Memorial Hall, EX24 6QJ, start 7.30 pm. Parking in the hall car park. Members free, guests £3.00. Information : Sue Price 01297 552362.

Bridlit Book Club : Wayne Sleep – 14:30 Wayne Sleep is undoubtedly one of our nation’s treasures – a legendary dancer and entertainer. In his memoire: Just Different, Wayne looks back on the extraordinary times he has lived through. In spite of dancing with ballet legends Rudolf Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn, partying with Freddie Mercury and dancing with Princess Diana, who became a close friend, Wayne Sleep has always felt like an outsider. Behind the glitz and glamour, he reveals the difficulties for a working-class, gay man in handling the prejudices of his generation and living through the Aids epidemic. Bridport Electric Palace 35 South Street , DT6 3NY. Tickets £15 Book online -electricpalace.org.uk.

Thursday, 21 November

Folk dancing at Combe St Nicholas village hall (TA20 3LT) at 1930 hrs. Jane Thomas is the caller and the band are A Pair Of Shears. 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.

The New Arts Group. The Queen of Sheba: Empress or Enigma? Speaker: Chris Bradley. Cost: £10.00. Time: 2.00pm (tea/coffee from 1.30pm). Bridport Town Hall.

Anne Swithinbank will be the Speaker at Bridport and District Gardening Club. Anne was fascinated by plants and nature from a very young age. She trained at Kew and worked as Glasshouse Supervisor at RHS Wisley and has been a freelance horticulturist since1986. As well as working alongside Geoff Hamilton on Gardeners’ World Anne has been a regular panellist on BBC Radio 4’s Gardeners’ Question Time for 27 years and began writing for Amateur Gardening at the same time as moving from Surrey to East Devon.The Bridport and District Gardening Club will be hosting the talk at its meeting at the Women’s Institute Hall in North Street Bridport at 7-30 pm . Entrance to the talk is free for members and £2 for non-members. For more information, visit www.bridportgardeningclub.co.uk/

South Somerset RSPB Local Group The Lower Otter Restoration Project. Rick Lockwood, the Otter Estuary Ranger, will present an illustrated talk on the creation of this new reserve of 55 hectares of intertidal habitat that will provide some significant benefits for people and wildlife at 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.

West Dorset Ramblers Group – 8 miles walk around Beaminster on the Wessex Ridgeway & Monarch’s Way. To book and for further details please contact Bridget 07952 517764.

Seaton Music 7.30pm Elena Fischer-Dieskau (piano) Mel Bonis – Clara Schumann – Robert Schumann at The Gateway Theatre, Seaton Tickets at the door or at seatonmusic.org

Friday, 22 November

Wayford Woods Talk Winsham Horticultural Society AGM will be held, as usual in the club house of the Community Club in BakersField TA20 4JN. After the usual AGM business, which should take around thirty minutes, we are very pleased to have Steven Acreman as our guest speaker. Steven has been Chairman of the Wayford Woods Charitable Organisation for the past seven and a half years. The 29 acre woodland, originally part of Wayford Manor gardens which was designed by Harols Petois, is run by a group of trustees & volunteers who maintain and preserve them. Steven will tell us a bit about the history, planting, and wildlife as well as the works that are undertaken by the organisation, their aim being for the woods to educate & provide a relaxing leisure environment and for them to be made as accessible as possible for all ages and abilities. The event is free, including the after speech buffet, plus there will be a raffle and the bar will be open. Everyone is welcome, members & non-members, gardeners & non-gardeners alike so hopefully we’ll see you there. For more details Tel Debbie 07808 505357.

A concert not to be missed by Duncan Honeybourne. St Nicholas Church Abbotsbury 7pm. A Virginal Recital, the program includes pieces by Bach, William Byrd and Gordon Jacobs Suite for the Virginal. Tickets may be purchased in advance https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/t-rpopgyx or by cash or card at the door.

Friday, 22 – 23 November

LandAlive Sustainable Food & Farming Conference is at the Bath & West Showground, Somerset and includes expert talks on climate-friendly farming from leading practitioners, advisors, soil specialists, policy makers, wildlife organisations and representatives from across the food supply chain. It is an opportunity for farmers to get up-to-speed on the huge changes going on in farming. Paying attention to soil quality, rebuilding biodiversity and reducing dependence on chemical inputs which is very much in the mainstream now. The conference is a collaboration between Sustainable Food Somerset and The Royal Bath and West of England Society, supported by DEFRA’S ‘Farming in Protected Landscapes’ (FIPL) fund through Mendip, Quantocks and Exmoor National Landscapes, with support from Somerset Council. Tickets are available at www.landalive.co.uk.

Saturday, 23 November

Christmas Eco Fair Plastic Free Axminster. Axminster Guildhall, West Street, Axminster. 10 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. Free cuppa, come and have a browse! Sweet and savoury treats, cleverly hand-crafted gifts (macrame, decoupage, glass, driftwood, jewellery), pre-loved toys, Christmas cakes, cards and much more.

Andy Zaltzman :The Zaltgeist (14+) – 20:00. With the 3rd millennium almost 2.5% complete, Andy Zaltzman, one of the UK’s leading satirical comedians, assesses the state of Planet Earth and its most famous and controversial species – the human race.In the biggest stand-up tour of his career, Andy will attempt to concoct vaguely plausible answers to perennial questions such as What?, Who?, Where?, and above all Why? Bridport Electric Palace 35 South Street , DT6 3NY. Tickets £19 Book online -electricpalace.org.uk

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

Beginners Sewing Workshop 10 until 2pm. At the United Reformed Church , Chard St , Axminster ( a car park is opposite). Come and learn how to use your sewing machine. Make some gifts using half a metre of fabric, or make a fabric present bag. Please bring half a metre of fabric. Suitable for beginners and those with some sewing experience. Cost £18 includes tea and coffee. To book a place contact : gina.youens@btinternet.com

‘The Wild Robot’(U) – Family Picnic Night Screening – Gateway Theatre, Seaton – 7pm, doors 6pm, tickets Adults £7.50, Under 16s £6.50. From DreamWorks Animation comes a new adaptation of a literary sensation, Peter Brown’s beloved, award-winning, #1 New York Times bestseller, The Wild Robot. Tickets from 01297 625699, www.gatewaytheatre.co.uk or in person Tue – Thur 10am – 1pm.

Loders Village Hall Fundraiser autumn dance in aid of Community Organisations. Silver Lining, rock n roll standards and 60s classics. Tickets £10 cash only, under 12 free. Bring your own refreshments, pre-booking advisable. 7.30pm-10.00pm. Contacts: bogle.2@outlook.com, bowbel@btinternet.com. Pam 01308 424556.

Saturday, 23 – 24 November

Contemporary Ceramics and Studio Pottery Christmas Sale Combe St Nicholas 10.00- 4.00. Lucas Corner Studio, 2 Lucas Corner, TA20 3HQ. Parking in Frog Lane 100m south of entrance – limited spaces.

Saturday, 23 November – 5 Dec

Pop-up Vintage, popping up again in The Malthouse, Town Mill, Lyme Regis DT7 3PU. Open from 10am-4pm every day. All the usual lovely things. Sourced, renovated, repaired or upcycled by us so that you don’t have to. Shop at Pop-up Vintage for a truly sustainable Christmas.

Sunday, 24 November

Candles on St Catherine’s Hill. A Community Event organised by The Friends of St Nicholas. Once again the village of Abbotsbury will be creating an illuminated Wheel on the hill below St Catherine’s Chapel. The Wheel is formed by hundreds of decorated and illuminated (battery LED lights) candle bags commemorating the Saint’s name day. This year’s event takes on special significance being the 1000 th year since Christianity was officially bestowed in the village by King Cnut via his representative Orc and his wife Tola, rounding off a year of celebrations. With the support of our sponsors we supply our local schools with bags free of charge and their artistic expression is much admired and appreciated. Decoration of the candle bags is entirely individual and everyone can take part by buying a bag from Abbotsbury Shops and from the Bridport Tourist Information shop the cost per bag is £2 . Once purchased please decorate and bring on the day or come to our Village Hall which will be an art workshop between 12 and 3pm. There you will receive a warm welcome and art materials will be available for you to use. The decorated bags will then go to the hill where our marvellous volunteers will place the battery LED lights inside and assist you to place your bag. At 3pm in St Catherine’s chapel there will be music by an A Capella group, so atmospheric in this iconic structure. That will be followed at 3.45pm by a short service of thanksgiving conducted by the Vicar of St Nicholas Church, and a cash collection will be made in support of the historic village church.

‘Girl From The North Country’ (12A) Screening – Gateway Theatre, Seaton, 2pm doors 1.30pm, tickets Adults £16, Under 16s £10. Written and directed by celebrated playwright Conor McPherson and featuring Tony Award-winning orchestrations by Simon Hale, Girl From The North Country reimagines 20 legendary songs of Bob Dylan as they’ve never been heard before, including “Forever Young,” “All Along The Watchtower,” “Hurricane,” and “Like A Rolling Stone.” Tickets from 01297 625699, www.gatewaytheatre.co.uk or in person Tue – Thur 10am – 1pm.

Divine Union Soundbath 2pm-4pm Oborne Village Hall, Oborne, nr. Sherborne, Dorset DT9 4LA. £16. Lie down, relax, and allow the Pure Sounds of a crystal and Tibetan bowl soundbath plus sacred vocal overtoning give you a sonic deep-tissue massage, taking you into the deeper brainwave states of ‘the relaxation response’, while charging and balancing the aura and chakras of the subtle body, and detoxing the physical. Please book in advance via 01935 389655 or email ahiahel@live.com

Advent Concert given by The Occasional Singers at 3.00pm St Mary’s Church, Edward Road, Dorchester DT1 2HL. St Mary’s Church in Dorchester will once again be filled with the glorious sounds of choral music, as the Occasional Singers perform a programme of Advent part songs. Taking us from 1607 through to the present day, the songs and carols will range from contemplative to joyful. Admission is free. There will be a retiring collection in aid of Dorchester Poverty Action. Everyone is most welcome.

Monday, 25 November

Dance Connection, for fun, health & wellbeing, 10:25am- 12, Unitarian Chapel, Bridport, DT6 3JX, 07787752201, https://www.joysofdance.co.uk/danceclass

Tuesday, 26 November

Paris Memories Bridport Film Society Films are screened fortnightly on Tuesday evenings at 7.45pm at Bridport Arts Centre, South Street, Bridport, exclusively for members and guests. Doors and the bar open at 7pm. Membership cards must be presented at the door. For membership and information email bridportfilm@gmail.com. Website: www.bridportfilmsociety.co.uk.

Bridport Museum Winter Talk Jon Milward from Bournemouth University will be speaking about Waddon Hill Roman Fort, focusing on recent archaeological research at the site. Beaminster Museum, Whitcombe Road, Beaminster DT8 3NB. www.beaminstermuseum.co.uk 2.00pm, entry £5.

West Dorset Ramblers Group – 9 miles walk from Abbotsbury to West Bexington and back. To book and for further details please contact Jill & Simon 07974 756107.

Wednesday, 27 November

Uplyme and Lyme Regis Horticultural Society. Demonstration ‘The Answer Lies in the Soil’ by David Usher. Uplyme Village Hall, doors open 7pm, talk starts 7.30pm. Members free, guests £3. More information www.ulrhs.wordpress.com.

Learn to Draw from Nature A workshop for beginners and intermediates. 10 until 12.30 at the United Reformed Church Hall, Chard Street, Axminster. ( a car park is opposite). Loose and Lively Sketching : birds, bees and trees etc. Come and try loose and lively sketching in pen and watercolour wash. Please bring paints if you have them, all other materials supplied. Cost £16. To book a place contact: gina.youens@btinternet.com.

Presentation by Alison Webber FRPS at Bridport Camera Club. The Cloak of Conformity and the Corset of Expectation. In aid of ASCape, a local charity supporting children and young adults with autism. Alison’s relationship between autism and photography and how she has used it to produce her exciting work. Bridport Town Hall DT6 3LF 7pm. Free entry but please consider a donation. Further info and tickets from www.bridportcameraclub.co.uk.

Thursday, 28 November

Alvorada – Faz Tempo, 7:30pm. Wootton Fitzpaine Village Hall. 01297 560948. £12.50, £6 u18s Also from www.artsreach.co.uk Based in London, award-winning quintet Alvorada are the UK’s leading performers of choro, a rich and uplifting style of instrumental music from Rio de Janeiro. Alvorada unites top musicians from London and Brazil whose diverse backgrounds in jazz, classical and Brazilian music lend the group a unique edge. Featuring Rachel Hayter (flutes), Andrew Woolf (clarinets / sax), Jeremy Shaverin (cavaquinho), Luiz Morais (7-string guitar) and Andres Ticino (percussion), their performances are filled with lively and expressive melodies, combining original compositions and classics of the genre, with infectious Brazilian grooves and playful interaction. The band’s debut album First Light was released in 2019 to much critical acclaim, leading to BBC Radio 3 and JazzFM appearances and extensive tours to venues and festivals across the UK and beyond, including recent appearances at the London Jazz Festival and the Paris International Choro Festival. Released in October 2024 their latest album, Faz Tempo, features intricate arrangements of original compositions and includes Brazilian rhythms such as choro, xote, samba, bossa nova and baião, with jazz and improvisation peppering their sound. Expect a vibrant, uplifting evening as this vibrant quintet return to Dorset! www.artsreach.co.uk.

Friday, 29 November

West Dorset Ramblers Group – 7 miles walk Bridport to Burton Bradstock Circular. To book and for further details please contact Janet 07947 881635.

Mark Thomas: Gaffa Tapes (16+) – Comedian and political satirist returns to Bridport. If you don’t know what he does ask your parents. In his time he has won awards (current total is now officially ‘fuckloads’), forced a politician to resign, changed laws on tax and protest, become Guinness Book of Records world record holder for number of protests in 24 hours, taken the police to court 3 times and won, walked the length of the Israeli Wall in the West Bank and generally mucked about trying to have fun and fuck the right people off. Bridport Electric Palace 35 South Street , DT6 3NY. Tickets £20.50 (standard) £14 (for those in receipt of disability benefits or JSA) Book online -electricpalace.org.uk

Babooshka – Salute to Kate Bush – The ultimate Kate Bush tribute show, guiding you through the career of one of the world’s most iconic artists of the 20th Century. 7:00pm at Ilminster Arts Centre, TA19 0AN. Tickets: £18 Students: £5 Children 12 and under: Free 01460 54973 www.ilminsterartscentre.com.

Saturday, 30 November

Stockland Christmas Market Local Crafts, Wreaths, Metal Forge-work. Refreshments, Free parking. Victory Hall. 10-12 noon. Bookings / Information. Monica on 01404 881 535.

Children’s Christmas Give and Take event Little Green Change’s free, annual, Children’s Christmas Give and Take event is taking place this year 10:30am-12:30pm, at Woodmead Halls in Lyme Regis, thanks to the support of Lyme Regis Town Council. Donations can be brought 1 hour before the start time, or they can be collected by Little Green Change prior to the event from the Lyme Regis, Axminster and Charmouth areas. Please email info@littlegreenchange.com or text 07803705100 to arrange a local collection. Items must be in good condition and must NOT be torn, stained, dirty, damaged or broken.

Christmas Fair – Gateway Theatre, Seaton – 10am – 3pm, free entry Join us for our annual festive fair. Lots of craft stalls providing ideas for Christmas presents. The café and bar will be open too.

30 November – 1 December

Eggardon Winter Sale Prints, Artist Blacksmith, Woodwork/Trees, Pots. Liz Somerville, Colleen du Pon, Dean Traquair, Sarah Gee and Katy Shields. 11-5 North Eggardon Farm, Powerstock DT6 3ST. insta: @mappercombemakers.