Vital Theatre present ‘The Man Who Was Hamlet’ at Dorchester Corn Exchange on Friday 30th January.

The True Tragical Comical Romantic History of Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford, courtier, duellist, adventurer and poet a.k.a. ‘William Shakespeare’.

In his 7th solo show, George Dillon explores the extraordinary life of the man now thought most likely to have written Shakespeare, revealing why Hamlet is an auto-biography and why everyone has had it so wrong.

Corn Exchange: Fri 30 Jan • 8pm • £9 / £7 / £5 under 18s

Dorchester Youth Theatre presents Dark Dorset at Dorchester Arts Centre on 16th and 17th January.

You will be taken on an enchanting journey into deepest darkest Dorset, to a hidden world full of mystery and mischief.

This devised performance, set in the round, brings to life local folklore based on Robert J. Newland’s and Mark J. North’s Dark Dorset Stories.

Performances are at 7pm on both days witha 2.30pm matinee on Saturday for junior performers.

Dorchester Arts Centre: Fri 16 & Sat 17  Jan 7pm • £3

The Milborne Players perform ‘Aladdin’ from February 5th-7th.

Written by John Cummings and Richard Grafton and directed by Jon Riddle, this is a traditional family pantomime which boasts a sound story of good triumphing over evil.

Widow Twankey has a full team of helpers in her laundry including a very washey Wishee Washee and two dizzy laundry maids who are always up to their elbows in something or other!

Panto has to have a baddie and Abanazar is one of the best baddies to hate and there has to be hero, which is of course, Aladdin himself. He just wants to follow his dreams, get rich quick and marry his true love, the Princess Baldroubadour. It’s an everyday tale of, well; thrills, spills and laundry!

Performances at 7.30 pm on Thursday 5th, Friday 6th and Saturday 7th February 2009 (with Sat. Matinee at 2.30 pm) Milborne St Andrew Village Hall.

Ticket Bookings:  Sid Coe (01258 837453)

Milborne Players: Thur 5-Sat 7 Feb • 7.30pm

Ian Dicken’s Productions presents ‘Murder with Love’ at Poole’s Lighthouse from Monday 19th to Saturday 24th January.

The intense and gripping thriller has an all-star cast including starring Leslie Grantham (Eastenders), Stephen Beckett (Coronation Street, The Bill), Neil Stacy (House of Windsor) and Marcus Hutton (Brookside).

Fast-paced, exciting and packed full of blind alleys and red herrings, this thriller from the master craftsman of the genre will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end.

Lighthouse: Mon 19-Sat 24 Jan 7.30pm • £15.50

The Mowlem Theatre in Swanage presents Aladdin from Wednesday 7th to Saturday 10th January.

Performances start at 7.30pm every day with an additional Saturday matinee at 2.30pm.

The Mowlem: £7 Adults, £5 Children • Box Office 01929 422239

If it’s pantomime fun you are looking for this Christmas then get along to see Dick Whittington & His Cat at Poole’s Lighthouse, which runs until 4th January.

Follow Dick through his many adventures to defeat the evil King Rat and become Mayor of London. Laughter, fun, music and mayhem are guaranteed.

Starring Jack Ryder as Dick Whittington, Adele Silva (Emmerdale) as Alice Fitzwarren, Ed ‘Stewpot’ Stewart as Alderman Fitzwarren and Martyn Read (Captain Birdseye!) as Captain Cuttle.

Lighthouse: 15 Dec-4 Jan • 0844 406 8666 Tickets

The Mojo Theatre Company present Harold Pinter’s “The Dumb Waiter” and other sketches at Swanage Mowlem Theatre from Thursday 4th to Sunday 6th December.

Starring Danny Seldon and Grant Jones and directed by Jolyon Coy, the Dumb Waiter has been described by The Times as “Tarantino meets Tony Hancock in this groundbreaking Modern Classic”.

Mowlem: 4th-6th Dec • 8pm • £8

Dorchester Drama present Hugh Whitemore’s ‘Pack of Lies’ at Dorchester Corn Exchange from Thursday 13th to Saturday 15th November.

Based on the 1960’s true story of a quiet respectable suburban couple suddenly caught up in a Cold War spy scandal.

Corn Exchange: Nov 13-15 • 7.30pm

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

ArtsReach, the Arts Development Agency for Rural Dorset, present two theatre treats for you and the kids during the the half-term holiday.

Hand to Mouth Theatre present an original and whimsical reinterpretation of George and the Dragon, told in a series of flashbacks by the ageing Dragon himself, and his troupe of glove puppets.

Children will love the knockabout nonsense and adults will appreciate the hidden layer about growing old together!

Angel Heart Theatre return for only the second time to ArtsReach with their beautiful show adapted from the famous Hans Christian Andersen fairytale ‘The Nightingale’. Beautifully crafted puppets, shadow theatre, captivating storytelling and original live music and dance bring this classic story to life. Another show that the whole family will enjoy!

The Dragons Tale
West Lulworth Tues 28 Oct, 10:30am 01929 400321

The Nightingale
Winfrith Wed 29 Oct, 10:30am 01305 852117
Bere Regis Thurs 30 Oct, 10:30am 01929 471342

Corfe Castle is the venue for two open-air theatre productions being held over the next week.

On Thursday 21 August, Heartbreak Productions present the family classic ‘Peter Pan’ whilst on Tuesday 26 August, Illyria perform ’Pinocchio’  in the castle grounds.

Any remaining tickets will be on sale at the property in the week of the performance. Please bring picnics, seats, rugs, torches etc and wrap up warmly!

Corfe Castle: Adult £14, Children £8 
 

Illyria theatre company present Shakespeare’s ‘The Merry Wives of Windsor’ at Corfe Castle on Thursday 5 August from 7.30pm.

One fat knight, two merry wives, three jolly japes and more laughs than you can shake a stick at. Shakespeare has arguably written not just the funniest but also the most PC play in the English language: he insults EVERYBODY equally, be they fatties, skinnies, poofs, chavs, krauts, frogs, taffs, toffs - or the English Suburban Middle Classes

Booking advisable on 0871 527 1885.

Corfe Castle: Tuesday 5 Aug 7.30pm: Adult £14 Child £8

Theatreworks present Thomas Hardy’s ‘Tess of the D’Urbervilles’ at Corfe Castle on Thursday 31 July.

Tess of the D’Urbervilles is rooted in Hardy’s atmospheric ‘Wessex’ and skilfully recreates the story of Tess - a maiden who falls victim to male lust and social hypocrisy.

Bring your picnic cheese and ale and let Theatreworks transport you back to Thomas Hardy’s Dorset!

Booking advisable 0871 527 1885 - any remaining tickets will also be on sale at the National Trust Shop in the week prior to the performance.

Corfe Castle: Thur 31 July 7.30pm: Adult £14, Child £8

Following recent perfomances (and rave reviews) at the Square & Compass in Worth Matravers and Maumbury Rings in Dorchester, the Miracle Theatre Company bring ‘Jason’ to Kimmeridge Bay on Sunday 10 August.

Jason’s quest for the Golden Fleece contains most of the ingredients you’d expect to find in a classic story: a perilous journey, bravery, jeopardy, revenge, plenty of comedy and a dose of the supernatural.

A BBQ and Bar will be available - please bring a cushion or rug to sit on, picnics and warm/weatherproof clothing as appropriate.

Tickets are available from 01305 269512, 01929 480701 and Clavell’s Village Café and Farm Shop in Kimmeridge.  

ArtsReach: Tickets: £8, £6 (under 18s), £24 (family of 4 - max 2 adults)