Big State Theatre present ‘The Fire Starter’ at Dorchester’s Corn Exchange on Friday 7th November.

A gloriously irreverent romp through the extraordinary life of the nineteenth century Welsh Arch Druid and Doctor, William Price.  A Pagan, he lived in sin, had children out of wedlock, played his flute naked and shocked the Victorians by cremating his dead relatives.

This hilarious comedy features over 25 characters including a sheep, a parrot, a spectacularly incompetent vicar, rampant twins and the lovesick Smelly Gwennie, all performed by three stunningly versatile actors.

Corn Exchange • 8pm • £9 / £7 members and concessions / £5 under 18s (age 14 plus)

Thespis present ‘Chetwode, Sandy & Co’, a hilarious comedy written by David Conville, as part of ArtsReach at Studland Village Hall on Sunday 16th November.

A trio of ex-ENSA entertainers escape from the realities of modern life into their own world where in a series of playlets they act out their fantasies as heroes, politicians, murderers, gamblers and clowns.

Studland Village Hall: Sun 16 Nov 7.30pm: Box Office: 01929 450514

Fans of Shakespeare can indulge themselves in The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) at Poole’s Lighthouse on Tuesday 8 April.

Described as an hilarious roller-coaster ride, all 37 of Shakespeare’s plays are performed in a frenetic 97 minutes!

Lighthouse: Tue 8 & Wed 9 April 7.30pm: £16

Tickets go on sale on Monday (17 March) for Steve Coogan at the BIC on 28th November.

The show, titled ‘Steve Coogan Is Alan Partridge and Other Less Successful Characters’ is the comedian’s first live tour for a decade.

BIC: Fri 28 November: £32

Fans of Never Mind The Buzzcock’s Simon Amstell can catch his new stand-up comedy show when it comes to Bournemouth in May.

Amstell first came to recognition on Channel 4’s POPWORLD and is a regular on the stand-up circuit.

Pavilion Theatre: Fri 2 May: £20  

Howard Marks, the former international drugs smuggler turned best selling author of ‘Mr Nice’ performs at Bournemouth’s The Landmarc venue at the end of October.

Marks’  show expands on his drug smuggling days that started at Oxford whilst studying philosophy and led to connections with the MI6, CIA, the IRA the and Mafia. 

The American Drug Enforcement Agency finally caught up with him in 1998 and he served 7 years of a 25 year prison sentence.

The Landmarc  30 October 9pm, £10

As part of the Dorchester Festival,  prepare yourself for an evening of the very best in stand-up comedy as Lucy Porter  (diminutive star of the moment), Norman Lovett (Red Dwarf’s ‘Holly’ ) and Robin Ince (Mock the Week, Never Mind the Buzzcocks etc) play the Big White Tent at Maumbury Rings.

Dorchester Festival:  Box Office: 01305 266926:  Tickets £14/ £12

Jimmy Carr, free from presenting the seemingly never-ending ‘top 100′ list-type programmes for Channel 4, performs his stand-up ‘Gag Reflex’ show at the Lighthouse in July.

Catch the award-winning show before it comes to an end as the hard-working comic starts touring a new show “Repeat Offender” in the autumn.

Lighthouse:  £18.50

Ricky Gervais brings his new stand-up show to Bournemouth in June. Get your tickets now to listen to Ricky’s musings on ‘Fame’ as they are likely to be snapped up pretty sharpish.

BIC:  Tickets £25