From vintage cycle rides to Shakespeare at Maumbury Rings, Helen Stiles rounds up her pick of events happening around the county this month

EXHIBITIONS

Purbeck Art Weeks - 27 May–11 June

Start at Rollington Barn, near Corfe Castle, for PAW’s collective exhibition of 100+ artists featuring painting, photography, sculpture, ceramics, glass, mosaics, digital art, textiles and more. Browse the Fine Foundation Gallery’s exhibition on this year’s theme

‘A Moment in Time’ and visit the numerous Open Studios including Venue 14 (Learning Centre, Durlston Castle) where Dorset Magazine Landscape Artist of the Year finalist Heather Gibbons’ exhibition ‘On the Edge’ is inspired by the Jurassic coastline and field-shapes on the Isle of Purbeck. Alongside the visual art, PAW offers concerts, dance, films and talks. These include Monteverdi’s opera Orfeo performed by I Fagiolini, the Atéa Wind Quintet with a programme ranging from Bizet to Gershwin, the Gabrieli Consort singing English part songs and Moving in Time showcasing local dancers and dance films.

purbeckartweeks.co.uk

Artists in Action in Christchurch - 5-10 June

Christchurch Priory Church hosts this exhibition by members of CADArts alongside demonstrations of quilting, lace making, woodcrafts, pottery and jewellery. Also 9 - 29 June: Totally Textile at the Hayloft Gallery featuring textiles from CADArts.

Creative Coverage Mixed Show - 24-25 June

Upwey Village Hall hosts this weekend exhibition featuring paintings and sculpture by prominent south coast artists.

PERFORMANCE

Juan Martín - 1 June

Music, song and dance direct from Spain featuring at Corn Exchange, Dorchester 01305 266926.

Alasdair Beatson - 2 June

The gifted young Scottish pianist performs Beethoven, Debussy & Dohnanyi at this 11am Coffee Concert at Bridport Arts Centre. Box Office 01308 424204

Elijah - 3 June

Over a 100 voices from Weymouth Choral Society and Barclays House Choir perform Mendelssohn’s oratorio at Wimborne Minster with St Peter’s Orchestra. weymouthchoralsociety.org.uk.

Waiting For God - 5-10 June

Jeffrey Holland (Hi-de-Hi!) and Nichola McAuliffe (Surgical Spirit, Victoria) star in this stage production of the BAFTA nominated comedy. Lighthouse Poole 01202 280000.

Somewhere In Time - 6 June

BBC Strictly’s Ian Waite & Natalie Lowe, dance the night away at the Regent in Christchurch. Box office 01983 499199.

Tom Green - 7 June

The Canadian comic makes a rare UK appearance. Bournemouth O2 Academy 01202 399922.

Alice in Wonderland - 9 June

Join Alice on a magical adventure as she tumbles into Wonderland with Ballet Theatre UK. Weymouth Pavilion 01305 783225.

An Evening Rory Bremner - 10 June

Milton Abbey School hosts this special fundraising performance for their new equestrian arena. Box office 01258 881872.

All or Nothing: The Mod Musical - 15-17 June

A trans-generational musical celebrating the unique sound of iconic Mod band The Small Faces. Lighthouse Poole 01202 280000.

Il Matrimonio Segreto - 16 & 28 June

Pop-Up Opera perform one of the 18th century’s most successful comic operas. 16 June: Durweston VH 01258 488883; 28 June: Beaminster Festival 01308 862943,

12 Million Volts - 21-22 June

The story of Nikola Tesla comes to life in this dynamic performance by Outbound Project. Marine Theatre, Lyme Regis 01297 442138.

Dorset County Orchestra - 24 June

Grieg, Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich at 7.30pm, St Mary’s Church, Swanage.

Under Milk Wood - 24 & 25 June

Bristol Old Vic Theatre School peek into the lives of the feisty folk of the fictitious fishing village of Llareggub. Starts 7.30pm. 24 June Frampton VH 01300 320347; 25 June The Exchange, Sturminster Newton 01258 475137.

Twelfth Night - 25 June

Join Rain or Shine Theatre Company for this outdoor evening performance of Shakespeare at Maumbury Rings. Bring a chair! Box office 01305 266926.

FESTIVALS

Wessex Folk Festival - 2-4 June

Weymouth harbourside hosts this free event showcasing a range of traditional and modern folk acts. wessexfolkfestival.com.

Upton House Music Festival - 8–10 June

Evening picnic concerts: Classical Night with Sir Bryn Terfel; 80s Extravaganza with Billy Ocean, Kim Wilde and Toyah, and Superstar Saturday with Michael Bolton. uptonhousemusicfestival.co.uk.

Wimborne Minster Folk Festival - 9–11 June

Concerts, ceilidhs, workshops and dance displays, as well as a Friday comedy night. wimbornefolk.co.uk.

Jazz by the Sea Festival - 11-17 June

World class jazz music comes to Poole and Bournemouth including a World Jazz Jamboree at Lighthouse Poole featuring Brazilian bossa nova singer Monica Vasconcelos and Afrobeat and reggae-influenced jazz grooves from The Soothsayers. jazzbytheseafestival.co.uk.

Hanford Literary Festival - 19-24 June

Reading is a central part of life at Hanford with time set aside during the day especially for girls to settle down with a good, scary, exciting or even practical book. So it only seems natural that we should celebrate our love of books and words with a literary festival. www.hanfordschool.co.uk.

Ashmore Filly Loo - 23 June

A solstice celebration at Dorset’s highest village culminating with the torch lit procession and the Abbots Bromley Horn Dance.

The Wimborne Vintage Cycle Ride - 24 June

Run in conjunction with VDub at the Pub and Dorset Goes Vintage (23-25 June), enjoy a leisurely cycle wearing your best vintage regalia (prizes for best dressed). Registration from 10am, starts 2pm. dorsetgoesvintage.com.

Dorset Midsummer Music - 24 June

Small, family-friendly music and food festival in a natural amphitheatre on the slopes of Bulbarrow Hill. This year’s line-up includes the legendary Ben Waters. midsummermusic.co.uk.

Tankfest - 24- 25 June

The best displays of historic moving armour in the world at Bovington’s Tank Museum. tankmuseum.org.