Reviews

Dorsetborn Theatre   Lighthouse, PooleAndrea Pellegrini 15 April 2026 Having never seen a one-hander before on the stage I really didn’t know what to expect.  Would I get bored?  Would it drag on?  Would one actress be able to keep the audience engaged for 75 mins?  The answers are NO, NO and YES! Cam is a secondary school teacher leading a double life as an Only Fans model for extra money, but what happens when she moves to countryside to start a new life and meets the man of her dreams… Barbara Smith was excellent as Cam/Crystal and every other character

Chesil Theatre   Chesil Theatre, WinchesterMark Ponsford 12 April 2026 Despite having thoroughly enjoyed Charles Dance’s 2004 film Ladies In Lavender, I confess to not having realised – until now – that the original short story by William J Locke was written in 1908, while the film was, in fact, set somewhat later, in 1937. The excellent and informative programme note accompanying the current stage production points out that the play, like the film, is set in that same year, when memories of the First World War were still painful, and the prospect of a Second World War was looming ever more

New Forest Players  Ballard School, New MiltonCaroline Burr 09 April 2026 A Bunch of Amateurs, co- written by Ian Hislop (Have I Got News for You) and Nick Newman relates to the arrival of Jefferson Steele, a washed-up Hollywood star, who comes to Stratford to play the lead in King Lear. The problem is that it is Stratford, Sussex and it’s an amateur company! For their part, casting someone who would hopefully make their show a hit, is a ruse by the group to save the venue being closed by the Council. This play provides some tricky challenges – there

SMS Studios  The Rose Theatre, EastleighJon Cockeram 09 April 2026 Stepping Out is a 1984 play by Richard Harris, known both for his screenwriting credits for shows such as The Avengers and The Sweeney as well as his career of writing comedic plays. The show revolves around a weekly tap dance class full of enthusiastic (and rather quirky) amateur ladies (and one lonely gentleman!) who are brought together by their teacher, accompanied by an irascible pianist, to take part in a public performance. The play showcases their journeys, both in terms of skill and personal issues, whilst complicated routines are

Ringwood Musical and Dramatic Society  The Barn, Ringwood SchoolSusanna Greenwood 08 April 2026 Calendar Girls The Musical follows the story of a group of women from a small Yorkshire Women’s Institute. We are invited into the lives of this seemingly ordinary group as they navigate everyday challenges, managing relationships, errant children, golf club etiquette, and the gentle monotony of WI slide shows. Interwoven with these moments is the deeply personal story of Annie and her husband John. As John undergoes treatment for cancer, we witness Annie’s quiet endurance, her internal questioning and the looming uncertainty of life without him. Seeking

P&P Productions   Barrington Theatre, FerndownKD Johnson 25 March 2026 P&P Productions is one of Dorset’s strongest and longest established amateur theatrical companies and has three main divisions.  This production is by the P&P Players, the focus of which group is on the straight dramas, rather than the musical theatre for which the company is best known.  There is always a cross-over of talent between the various divisions and this is both evident and fortunate for the performance of this 1992 play by English dramatist Jim Cartwright. Tonight’s set at the Barrington Theatre (credit to Amy Smith for set design) consists principally