Helen Stiles rounds up her pick of events happening around the county this month
EDITOR’S CHOICE
2- 19 March - The South West Coast Path through the eyes of a Printmaker
Devon painter and printmaker Anita Reynolds spent almost 60 days walking the 630 mile South West Coast Path (SWCP) from Minehead to Poole; she produced a print for everyday of her walk, expressing her response to the landscape. This exhibition, at the Fine Foundation Gallery at Durlston Country Park, Swanage, features the final 30 prints, a selection of her mono prints, and collaborative work made by other South West artists inspired by the SWCP in Postcards From the Path, an Arts Council England funded project. In addition there are three hands on workshops: An aluminium jewellery and ornament printing workshop, a felt making workshop and a printmaking workshop.
The following three workshops are all at Durlston Country Park, 10am-4pm, cost £40pp and booking is essential, please call 01929 424443.
7 March - Aluminium Jewellery and Ornament Printing Workshop
Join contemporary artist Caroline Parrott for a workshop on hand print and dye adonised aluminium to create beautiful jewellery or hanging decorations. Perfect Mother’s Day gifts!
8 March - Feltmaking Workshop
Carol Timms uses fleece from rare breed sheep, naturally dyed to create beautiful felted artworks and individual, colourful and textured felt wall hangings.
14 March - Printmaking Workshop
Join painter and printmaker Anita Reynolds for a mono printing workshop inspired by a short walk in the Dorset landscape then learn how to design colourful postcard sized prints.
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EXHIBITIONS
28 February - 28 March - In Deep Water
Peter Archer’s haunting seascapes resonate with melancholy, loneliness, tenderness and mystery at the Art Stable in Child Okeford.
Until 8 March - Dangerous Women: From Kauffman to Emin
Last chance to see this superb exhibition featuring work by ground-breaking female artists from across the centuries.
Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum, Bournemouth.
Until 15 March - Jason Miller
From sculptures and luminous watercolours to large abstract paintings, this Dorset artist explores movement, balance and vulnerability in the Ground Floor Gallery at Lighthouse, Poole.
20 March – 6 April - Chiaroscuro
Poole and East Dorset Art Society take a fresh look at the use of light and dark at the Gallery Upstairs at Upton Country Park.
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MUSIC
6 March - La Traviata
The award-winning opera producer Ellen Kent brings Verdi’s tragic opera of doomed love to Bournemouth Pavilion.
Bookings 0844 576 3000
8 March - Great Patriots
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra takes you on a musical tour of Europe in the company of Sibelius, Mozart, Rossini and Beethoven.
Bournemouth Pavilion. 0844 576 3000
12 March - The Monteverdi Apprentices
Sir John Eliot Gardiner.conducts this choir of eight exceptional singers in a choral recital at St Andrew’s Church, Fontmell Magna. Booking through Springhead Trust 01747 811853.
14 March - Dorset County Orchestra
Elgar’s Cello Concert, Debussy’s L’apre-midi d’un faune and Dvorak’s Symphony No 6 are performed in the glorious setting of Wimborne Minster.
14 March - Morrissey
Big mouth strikes again at the Windsor Hall in Bournemouth as the former Smiths front man shows why he is one of the country’s greatest lyricists.
Bookings 0844 576 3000
14-15 March - Purbeck Strings Festival
St Mary’s Church, Swanage hosts the Stanford Quartet performing Mozart, Schubert, Tchaikovsky and Ravel, and the Festival Strings playing Elgar, Pillow and Mozart - purbeckstrings.com
19 March - Lest We Forget
This World War One Centenary Children’s Concert features music, poetry and local stories performed by a choir of 400 children accompanied by 200 young musicians drawn from across the county and supported by members of the BSO.
Windsor Hall, BIC 0844 576 3000
20 March - Jacqui Dankworth
With Dame Cleo Laine and Sir John Dankworth as her parents it’s no surprise that this lady is regarded as one of the UK’s finest jazz vocalists of her age.
Regent, Christchurch; 01202 499199
20 – 21 March - English Touring Opera
Puccini’s La Boheme (20 Mar) and Donizetti’s Siege of Calais (21 Mar) feature in these Italian language productions at Lighthouse, Poole.
Bookings; 0844 406 8666
20 & 21 March - The Skazki Trio
This captivating trio perform Dvo?ák, Haydn and Shostakovich at Bridport Arts Centre (20 Mar 11am) and The Hub Lyme Regis (21 Mar 7.30pm).
21 March - Gypsy Fire
This high energy gypsy jazz quartet breathes new life into jazz, Latin, rock, blues and beyond. Option of dinner before gig.
Sladers Yard, West Bay; Booking 01308 459511
27 March - The Manfreds
One of the coolest groups of the Swinging Sixties bring their Hits, Jazz & Blues Tour to the Regent, Christchurch.
Bookings 01202 499199
28 March - Wessex Youth Orchestra
Youthful musical talent from across the county performs Brahms, Mendelssohn and Holst in this gala concert at Poole Lighthouse.
Bookings 0844 406 8666
28 March - The Wurzels & Skimmity Hitchers
A cider-inspired evening of music at the Tithe Barn in Symondsbury.
Bookings 01308 424116
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PERFORMANCE
1 March - Jane Eyre & The Tenant of Wildfell Hall
A Brontë double bill performed by Live Wire with afternoon tea and cakes in the interval at Dorchester Arts Centre.
Bookings 01305 266926
5 March - Safe
Zoielogic Dance Theatre explores the camaraderie on the precarious building site of the iconic Empire State building in the 1930s.
Pavilion Dance South West, Bournemouth; 01202 203630
6 March - Because I’m Shappi
With her razor sharp wit stand up Shappi Khorsandi is one very funny lady.
Marine Theatre, Lyme Regis; 01297 442138
6 March - Secret Love
A heart-warming musical celebrating of Doris Day by West End star Claudia Morris.
Tivoli, Wimborne; 01202 885566
11 March - Richard Alston Dance Company
Programme showcasing Alston’s superbly skilled choreography featuring music from gypsy to Franz Liszt and beyond.
Lighthouse, Poole; 0844 406 8666
11 March - Andy Parsons
Andy’s comedic talent is live and unleashed but naturally cautious in his latest stand up show at the Corn Exchange, Dorchester
Bookings 01305 266926
11-14 March - Virgin on the Ridiculous
Living Spit serves up a truly unforgettable lesson in Tudor history.
11 Mar Halstock Village Hall (VH) 01935 891744; 12 Mar Portesham VH 01305 871925; 13 Mar Morden VH 01929 459431; 14 Mar West Lulworth VH 01929 400790
12 March - A Night To Remember
Strictly Come Dancing’s Brendan Cole dazzles with sizzling choreography from ballroom elegance to sultry Latin.
Lighthouse, Poole; 0844 406 8666
14 March - Puss in Boots
Cheeky puppets, a working windmill and an avalanche of fruit and nuts make this furry tale the cat’s whiskers!
Lighthouse, Poole; 0844 406 8666
18 March - The History of Comedy
The Reduced Shakespeare Company tackles comedy from across the centuries from high-brow to the low at the Regent, Christchurch
Bookings 01202 499199
20-21 March - When Magic & Science Collide
Oliver Meech meddles with forces we barely understand, in this comedy magic show for the QI generation. 20 Mar Wootton Fitzpaine VH 01297 560166; 21 Mar Winfrith VH 01305 852117
21, 22, 24, 26 & 29 March - The Thrill of Love
ImpAct Theatre Company tour five Dorset venues with this powerful play about Ruth Ellis who shot her lover dead, taking her from the night club scene of 50s London to the infamy of being the last woman to be hanged in Britain. 21 Mar The Hub, Verwood 01202 828740; 22 Mar The Tivoli, Wimborne 01202 885566; 24 Mar Regent Centre, Christchurch 01202 499199; 26 Mar The Mowlem, Swanage 01929 422239; 29 Mar The Exchange, Sturminster Newton. 01258 475137
21 March - Leaves on a Line
Hampshire and Dorset’s abandoned railway stations form the backdrop to this arresting new play from Forest Forge.
Sturminster Marshall Memorial Hall; 01258 857814
24- 28 March - Birdsong
Sebastian Faulks’ novel comes to the stage, taking us from the home front to the tunnels under the battlefields of the Somme.
Lighthouse Poole; 0844 406 8666
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BEST OF THE REST
6 March - Banff Mountain Film Festival
The adrenalin infused big screen adventure stops off at Weymouth Pavilion on its World Tour.
7- 8 March - Spring Lambing Weekend
Meet the newborn lambs at Kingston Maurward’s animal park near Dorchester.
7 March - Listen to the Landscape
Walk Eggardon Hill with sound artist Richard Povall and the Dorset Wildlife Trust rangers, listening to and recording the sounds of the landscape at dusk. Supper included. Kingcombe Centre, Toller Porcorum 3:30pm -7:30pm. Booking essential 01300 320684
22 March - Fay Weldon in Conversation
Fay Weldon talks about Mischief, her new collection of short stores and a career spanning half a century at Beatons Tearooms, Market Place, Blandford Forum.
Starts 4.30pm - 6pm.
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READ ON
• Eating out in Dorset - best restaurants - Whether you’re looking for fine dining, pub food, a romantic meal for 2 or a taste of something from further afield, eating out in Dorset really has something for everyone. Here’s our guide to the best local restaurants and pubs
• Things to do in Dorset this weekend - Great things to do in Dorset this weekend: art exhibitions, walks, concerts, theatre, places to visit and other events and ideas.
