Reviews

Poole and Parkstone Productions   Lighthouse, PooleMichelle Barter 20 May 2026 We Will Rock You originally opened at The Dominion Theatre in 2002 and has indeed been rocking theatres ever since.  The original tune being a hit from 1977, written by Brian May, and features the iconic three beat procession that you absolutely have to join in with if you hear it.  The musical, however, isn’t a Queen biopic with Freddie’s story being told across their success, but rather a futuristic and dystopian version of Earth called iPlanet run by Globalsoft (where do they get these names from?).  Live music is

Sturminster Newton Amateur Dramatic Society The Exchange, Sturminster NewtonChaz Davenport 16 May 2026 The first thing that jumped out at me when asked to review this was the tag line – “A Fractured Mirror Still Reflects”.   This had me thinking that this is theatre right up my street.  And, I wasn’t wrong.  This is experimental, leftfield, thought provoking and snappy theatre which explores the effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) either when recognised and treated, or when untreated. The story explores the inner goings on of the mind of “Thomas”, who, we find out, witnessed the love of his life

Redlynch Players  Redlynch Village Hall, RedlynchJon Cockeram 13 May 2026 If I was to say “1970s” to you, you’d probably be thinking psychedelic patterns, bellbottom trousers and platform shoes, David Bowie as Ziggy Stardust and more disco than you can shake a stick at. Redlynch Players have brought us an evening of one act plays all set in this decade with their production A Touch of 70s Nostalgia. First up was Bus Stop by Rae Shirley, and you won’t win any prizes for guessing where this one is set. Five minutes before the play was due to start, Ali Silver came

Wimborne Drama Productions  Tivoli Theatre, WimborneKD Johnson 14 May 2026 To read the synopsis in advance of watching the performance or not?  That is the question.  Some people are well acquainted with this story by the erstwhile “Queen of Crime”, Agatha Christie, but I am not.  I have decided against knowing what is going to happen and so I start the evening mostly in the dark.  I know that I am in the safe hands of the usually excellent Wimborne Drama Productions and let them bring it on. As the curtains open there is scarcely a spare seat to be

AUB Productions  Palace Court Theatre, BournemouthVictoria Liechti 14 May 2026 Moonfleet is an 1898 historical novel by J Meade Falkner, the plot an adventure tale of smuggling, treasure, shipwreck, friendship and love, set mostly in Dorset.  This production has been adapted from Angel Exit Theatre’s 2009 touring production in which director Tamsin Fessey appeared.  In this adapted AUB offering, we have an ensemble cast of 10 talented individuals on stage, fully supported with costume designers & makers, hair & make-up artists, technical and stage management provided by BA Hons university students, and the results are visually stunning. Set in 1757, the

Lymington Players  The Malt Theatre, LymingtonJohn Sivewright 14 May 2026 Lymington Players are celebrating their 100th anniversary (a highly commendable achievement) in some style with a memorable offering of Nell Gwynn at the Malt Theatre.  Jessica Swale’s Olivier Award-winning script is highly amusing, bawdy (some of the innuendo and physical humour wouldn’t have been out of place in an adult pantomime) and contains some delightful musical numbers – the piece is clearly a celebration of the theatre and a homage to their reopening under Charles II, when fun and frivolity were the order of the day, following the puritanical laws of Oliver