EVENTS Diary

Broadstone Pantomime Productions; RELAXED PERFORMANCE; All Tickets: £5 (accompanying carers - no charge); Available via phone (01202 693388), in person at Hillier Wilson Estate Agents, 188 The Broadway, Broadstone, BH18 8DP, or online.

Swanage Drama Company; Tickets: Adults £14, Concessions £13, Children £9, Family (2 adults + 2 children) £40; Available via Box Office (0333 666 3366 - for tickets, fees apply) or online.

Broadstone Pantomime Productions; Performances: Friday & Saturday @ 7:30pm, Saturday & Sunday @ 2:30pm; Tickets: Adults £8, Concessions & Child £5; Available via phone (01202 693388), in person at Hillier Wilson Estate Agents, 188 The Broadway, Broadstone, BH18 8DP, or online.

SOS Presents

Made In Dagenham

Book by Richard Bean

Music by David Arnold

Lyrics by Richard Thomas

Made In Dagenham is a sensational musical that will have you laughing, crying and cheering – all in one unforgettable night! Based on the true story of the 1968 Ford sewing machinists’ strike, Made In Dagenham is an emotional roller-coaster of a show that celebrates courage, unity and justice.

SOS Presents has performed at the Guildhall, the Mayflower and the Nuffield theatres over the last 100 years, in keeping with its longstanding mission to produce excellent entertainment in the heart of Southampton. The Society adopted MAST Mayflower Studios as its new theatrical home in 2022 and has been winning awards ever since, with NODA Accolades of Excellence for Legally Blonde (2022) and Seussical the Musical (2023) and a sell-out run of Spamalot in January 2024. Made In Dagenham is exactly the kind of show that SOS Presents excels at, with its character driven plot, exciting score (from catchy anthems to heartfelt ballads) and big ensemble pieces requiring an energetic blend of harmony and choreography.

This amateur production is presented by arrangement with Music Theatre International. Based on the Woolley/Karlsen/Number 9 Motion Picture. All authorised performance materials are also supplied by MTI.

Tickets: £12.50 - £24.50; Available from Box Office (023 8071 1811) or online.

All Saints Dramatic Society; Performances: Thursday & Friday @ 7:30pm, Saturday @ 11:00am & 4:00pm; Tickets: Adult £15, Concessions £12, Child £8; Available from Box Office (07548 100770) or online.

Swanage Drama Company; Tickets: Adults £14, Concessions £13, Children £9, Family (2 adults + 2 children) £40; Available via Box Office (0333 666 3366 - for tickets, fees apply) or online.

Broadstone Pantomime Productions; Tickets: Adults £8, Concessions & Child £5; Available via phone (01202 693388), in person at Hillier Wilson Estate Agents, 188 The Broadway, Broadstone, BH18 8DP, or online.

Chesil Theatre 

Life X 3

Written by Yasmina Reza; Translated by Christopher Hampton

Directed by Flavia Bateson

One evening. Two couples. Three perspectives on a single situation in an intriguing comedy. Henri and Sonia are putting their son to bed when the doorbell rings. Hubert and Inès have arrived for dinner – a day earlier than expected. The socially disastrous evening degenerates with hilarious yet poignant results. Discussions on parenting mix with the world of astrophysics. And how might it all end? Could there be three conclusions?

Running time 90 mins, no interval.

Tickets: Adults £18.00, Student / Under 18s £12.00, Group £16.20 (booking fees apply); Available online.

Spot On Productions; Tickets: £14 - £18.50; Available from Box Office (023 8065 2333) or online (online booking fee applies).

Bishopstoke Players; Tickets: Full £12, Under 18s £8; Available via phone (07871 006551), email or online (no booking fee online).

Highcliffe Charity Players Presents

Goldilocks And The Three Bears

By Tom Whalley

Who's been eating my porridge?

Set within the bustling chaos of a lively circus, complete with a wicked ringmaster, dancing animals, and a fortune-telling gypsy with secrets to unveil, Goldilocks And The Three Bears has captivated audiences for generations, and the whimsical new production by Highcliffe Charity Players offers much more than just the Bear necessities.

Roll up, roll up, as the circus comes to Christchurch. Dame Gertie's circus is the craziest in town, but the wicked Ringmaster Heinkel, with his silly sidekick 'Snot', plans to shut down Dame Gertie's circus and take over the world with his 'Circus of Horrors'. Goldilocks, with the help of Silly Billy and her furry friends, must save the Dame Gertie's circus and rid the wretched Heinkel!

Prepare for another laughter-packed adventure – a dazzling, brilliantly costumed, musical and dance extravaganza brought to you by the award-winning Players.

Join in the fun and boo, hiss and cheer! Secure your tickets early, as 'Goldilocks' is destined to be a sell-out treat!

Tickets: Standard £17, Concessions £16; Available from Box Office (01202 499199) and online.

Burley Players; Performances: Saturday 25 & Sunday 26 January 2025 @ 2:00pm, Thursday 30 & Friday 31 January 2025 @ 7:30pm, Saturday 1 February 2025 @ 2:00pm & 7:30pm; Tickets: Adults £10 - £12, Child £8; Available via phone (07990 535910) or online.

Spot On Productions; Tickets: £14.50 - £20; Available from Box Office (023 8065 2333) or online (online booking fee applies).

SUSU Theatre Group; Sign up online to find when reservations are open and for further details.

Lyndhurst Drama & Music Society; Performances: Friday @ 7:30pm, Saturday @ 2:00pm & 6:00pm; Tickets: Adults £12, Under 16s £9, Family (2 adults, 2 children) £38; Available online.

Lymington Players; Tickets: Monday Night: LCA Members £10, Non Members £12; All other nights: LCA Members £12, Non Members £14 (booking fees may apply); Available in person from Reception at Lymington Community Centre or online.

Castle Players; Tickets: £12; Available via phone (01202 912351) or online.

Broadstone Players Theatre Company; Tickets: £10; Available via phone (01202 678449), email or in person from Broadstone News.

New Forest Players Presents

Talking Heads

Written by Alan Bennett

Three slices of life in his own inimitable style

New Forest Players bring three of Alan Bennett’s well-known Talking Heads monologues to the stage, each character portraying a slice of life in the author’s own inimitable style.

With humour and pathos, Bennett weaves his magic through ‘Irene Ruddock’ (A Lady of Letters), who writes one too many complaints, getting her into trouble with the Law.

Then there is ‘Doris’ (A Cream Cracker Under the Settee), who does not trust her home help, dreads being put into a home, and so tries to do some dusting herself, resulting in a fall with huge consequences.

Finally, ‘Lesley’ (Her Big Chance) is an aspiring, but obviously gullible, actress looking for her big break as the adventurous ‘Travis’ in a new film for the German market.

Overall, warm entertainment for cold February nights.

Tickets: £14; Available from the Forest Arts Centre Box Office (01425 612393) or online.

Centrestage Productions Youth Theatre [CPYT]; Thursday & Saturday matinees; Tickets: £17 - £20; Available from the Box Office (023 8065 2333) or online.

Poulner Players; Performances: 7:30 pm (Wednesday - Friday), 2:30 pm (Thursday & Saturday); Tickets: Adults £15, Children £12; Available online.

Wimborne Drama Productions

Worst Wedding Ever

A Comedy by Chris Chibnall (creator of ITV’s Broadchurch)

Directed by Tracey Nicholls

Worst Wedding Ever is a comedy drama written by Broadchurch creator Chris Chibnall and set in Dorset.

Rachel and Scott are getting married. They are also buying a house together – never the easiest of things to do at the same time. When the house price goes up, their plans for the dream wedding have to be downsized to the local registry office. Rachel’s mother, however, has other ideas. What if the family could join forces and make it a wedding to be proud of?

With a marquee in the back garden, a hand-me-down dress, the pub band and two fully functioning Portaloos, surely the day will pass without a hitch?

Directed by Tracey Nicholls, this amateur production of Worst Wedding Ever is presented by arrangement with Imaginary Friends Productions Ltd. and 42M&P Ltd.

Tickets: Thursday – Saturday Evenings £17.50, Saturday Matinee £15.50; Available via Box Office (01202 885566) or online *Booking fees may apply.

Maskers Theatre Company; Tickets: £15; Available via phone (0333 666 3366) or online.

Footlights Youth Theatre; Tickets: £16 - £18; Available from Box Office (023 8065 2333) or online.

Phoenix Musical Theatre; CONCERT; Adults £14, Concessions £12 (booking fees apply); Available online.

SUSU Theatre Group; Performances: Wednesday - Friday @ 7:30pm, Saturday @ 5:00pm; Visit website for details and how to reserve tickets.

Swanage Musical Theatre Company

Kinky Boots

Book by Harvey Fiernstein

Music & Lyrics by Cyndi Lauper

The exhilarating true story about a struggling shoe factory that will lift your spirits to high-heeled heights!

Winner of six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Kinky Boots features a joyous, Tony-winning score by Cyndi Lauper and a hilarious, uplifting book by four-time Tony winner Harvey Fierstein.

Charlie Price has reluctantly inherited his father's shoe factory, which is on the verge of bankruptcy. Trying to live up to his father's legacy and save his family business, Charlie finds inspiration in the form of Lola. A fabulous entertainer in need of some sturdy stilettos, Lola turns out to be the one person who can help Charlie become the man he's meant to be.

As they work to turn the factory around, this unlikely pair finds that they have more in common than they ever dreamed possible... and discovers that when you change your mind about someone, you can change your whole world.

Tickets: Adults £18, Concessions £16, Child £12 (booking fees apply); Available from Box Office (0333 666 3366) or online.

Maskers Theatre Company; Tickets: £15; Available via phone (0333 666 3366) or online.

Studio Theatre; Age guidance of 14+ as the play contains themes of sexual violence, abortion, childbirth and forced adoption; Tickets: Full price £15, Under 16s £8; Available in person from Salisbury Information Centre, phone (01722 342860) or online.

Cheriton Players; Tickets: £13; Available online.

Chesil Theatre 

Death And The Maiden

Written by Ariel Dorfman

Directed by Duncan Ley

A riveting psychological thriller that wrestles with truth and doubt, and those questions that still haunt the world over.

A supposed torturer of a fascist regime arrives at the house of Gerardo and Paulina. Over one night they put him on trial for his crimes. But are they right? Is he guilty or innocent? Does a single person’s complicity matter? When should justice and punishment cede to compromise and forgiveness, if only for the greater good?

Adult themes. Contains coarse language and some violence.
After-show Talkback: Sunday 6 April (matinée) and Tuesday 8 April.

No evening performance on Sunday; 2.30pm only on Sunday

Tickets: Adults £18.00, Student / Under 18s £12.00, Group £16.20 (booking fees apply);Tickets: Available online.

New Forest Players Presents

Pack Of Lies

Written by Hugh Whitemore

Directed by Lyn Lockyer

In 1961, Peter and Helen Kroger, two Americans living in a London suburb, were convicted of spying for the Russians and sentenced to twenty years' imprisonment. From these true facts Hugh Whitmore has written a powerfully moving fictional account of the events leading up to their arrest, with the action centred on the totally unsuspecting Jackson household – Bob, Barbara and their daughter Julie. The Jacksons live opposite the Krogers, believing them to be a convivial Canadian couple and their closest friends. Then a mysterious stranger arrives, announcing they are from MI5, and quietly coerces the Jacksons into allowing their house to be used as a surveillance post. In the nightmare months that follow, the Jacksons' decent, happy life is shattered as the truth about their much-loved friends is gradually revealed to them and, helpless in an alien, sordid world of deception and treachery, Barbara reaches breaking point with the agonizing realization that the Krogers have betrayed her and she, in turn, has betrayed the Krogers.

Tickets: £14; Available via phone (01425 542414) or online.

Ferndown Drama Presents

The 39 Steps

Book by John Buchan

Adapted for the stage by Patrick Barlow

Directed by Karen Ward

The comedy version of the classic Hitchcock film, The 39 Steps.

Richard Hannay is in a London music-hall theatre watching a performance by “Mr Memory”, when he meets Annabella Schmidt. Suddenly gunshots are heard, and in the ensuing panic, a frightened Annabella persuades Hannay into taking her back to his flat. Once there, she tells him that she’s running away from secret agents who are standing outside on the street.

Annabella claims to know of a plot to steal vital British military secrets, and tells Hannay that the plot is being masterminded by a man who has part of his little finger missing. For her to stop the plot, she then tells Hannay that she must go to a large house located in a small village in Scotland. She mentions something called "the thirty-nine steps” but doesn’t explain its meaning before she’s murdered during the night.

Fearing that he’ll be accused of Annabella’s murder, Hannay goes on the run. He sneaks out of his flat disguised as a milkman, and then boards a train to Scotland in a bid to follow up on the few clues that Annabella was able to give him before she died.

Hannay, who has now become the target of a nationwide manhunt, goes on to have all sorts of weird and wonderful adventures as he makes his way up to Scotland in a bid to uncover the truth about the plot. During the process he meets a number of interesting characters, some of whom will try to help him, and others who most definitely will not!

Tickets: All £12 (unreserved; booking fees apply); Available from the Box Office (01202 894858) or online.

Milton Musical Society; Tickets: Full £21, Concessions £20 (£2 of each ticket is a donation to the Regent Development Fund), Early bird ticket available until 28 February 2025 (£1 off each ticket); Available from Box Office (01202 499199) or online.

SUSU Theatre Group; Performances: Wednesday - Friday @ 7:30pm, Saturday @ 5:00pm; Visit website for details and how to reserve tickets.

Scaplens Community Players

Echoes Of Love

Written by Katy Nutt

Join Scaplens Community Players for a journey through history!

Hear true stories about real people from Poole and see Scaplens Community Players’ performance of Echoes Of Love, an inspiring, newly written play by a talented local writer. To commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day, this original production brings to life the untold stories of women who remained resilient at home while the men went to war.

This is more than a play; it’s an experience. Don your best vintage attire for a chance to win the "Best Outfit" prize, and prepare to be transported back in time.

Tickets from £11: Available from Box Office (01202 280000) or online, via Scaplens Community Players website (www.scaplenscommunityplayers.com) or by scanning QR code on poster

Scaplens Community Players

Echoes Of Love

Written by Katy Nutt

Join Scaplens Community Players for a journey through history!

Hear true stories about real people from Poole and see Scaplens Community Players’ performance of Echoes Of Love, an inspiring, newly written play by a talented local writer. To commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day, this original production brings to life the untold stories of women who remained resilient at home while the men went to war.

This is more than a play; it’s an experience. Don your best vintage attire for a chance to win the "Best Outfit" prize, and prepare to be transported back in time.

Tickets from £11: Available online, via Scaplens Community Players website (www.scaplenscommunityplayers.com) or by scanning QR code on poster

Scaplens Community Players

Echoes Of Love

Written by Katy Nutt

Join Scaplens Community Players for a journey through history!

Hear true stories about real people from Poole and see Scaplens Community Players’ performance of Echoes Of Love, an inspiring, newly written play by a talented local writer. To commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day, this original production brings to life the untold stories of women who remained resilient at home while the men went to war.

This is more than a play; it’s an experience. Don your best vintage attire for a chance to win the "Best Outfit" prize, and prepare to be transported back in time.

Tickets from £11: Available online, via Scaplens Community Players website (www.scaplenscommunityplayers.com) or by scanning QR code on poster

Maskers Theatre Company; Tickets: £15; Available via phone (0333 666 3366) or online.

Poole & Parkstone Productions [P&P Productions]; Tickets: from £22; Available from Box Office (01202 280000) or online here.

BMT Productions

Singin' In The Rain

Directed by Rob Arrowsmith

Musical Direction by James Stead

Choreography by Beth Gibson-Green

Performances: 7:30pm each evening; Relaxed Performance: Thursday 29 May @ 2:30pm; Matinee: Saturday 31 May @ 2:30pm

Step into the Golden Age of Hollywood with BMT's upcoming production of Singin’ In The Rain! Get ready to be swept off your feet by the timeless charm and dazzling spectacle of Singin’ In The Rain, the beloved musical that has captivated audiences for generations!

Join Don Lockwood, Kathy Selden, and Cosmo Brown as they navigate the tumultuous transition from silent films to the talkies in 1920s Hollywood. With unforgettable songs like ‘Good Mornin'’, ‘Make 'Em Laugh’, and the iconic ‘Singin' In The Rain’, this show promises to deliver non-stop entertainment, laughter and romance. Experience the magic of spectacular dance numbers, stunning visuals, and REAL RAIN, all in a heartwarming story that celebrates the joy of performing and the power of dreams. Whether you’re a long-time fan or discovering this classic for the first time, Singin’ In The Rain is a must-see theatrical event that will leave you humming and tapping even once you have left the theatre!

BMT are excited to return to The Regent stage, hot on the tailcoats of their hugely successful productions of Guys And Dolls, Shrek: The Musical, and last year’s dazzling spectacle, Disney's The Little Mermaid. BMT always bring together some of the best local talent, and this year is no exception with professional experience both on and off stage to bring a top quality theatrical production to Christchurch! Don't miss out – get your tickets now and be part of an unforgettable night at the theatre. Let Singin’ In The Rain shower you with joy and nostalgia!

WARNING: Attendees may get wet!

Tickets: Full price £23, Concessions £20; Available from Box Office (01202 499199) or online.

Wimborne Musical Theatre Society

The Sound Of Music

Music by Richard Rodgers; Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II

Book by Howard Lindsay and Russell Crouse 

Suggested by The Trapp Family Singers by Maria Augusta Trapp

Directed by Duncan Trew

Musical Direction by Alastair Hume

Choreography by Jenny Jalie

Wimborne Musical Theatre Society (WMTS) is thrilled to be returning to The Tivoli Theatre to stage their next major musical this summer: Rodgers and Hammerstein’s beloved classic The Sound Of Music.

The Sound Of Music tells the story of Maria Rainer, a free-spirited young woman whose aspiration to become a nun is derailed when she takes the job of governess to the seven von Trapp children. At first unsure, she slowly finds herself winning the hearts of the children, and eventually, their widower father Captain von Trapp.

Set against the backdrop of 1930s Nazi-occupied Austria, it’s a well-known tale which truly captures the spirit of hope against an everchanging political landscape.

Continually enjoyed by audiences young and old, the stage musical features all of the timeless songs from the much-loved soundtrack, including ‘Do Re Mi,’ ‘Edelweiss,’ ‘My Favourite Things,’ and, of course, the eponymous ‘The Sound of Music.’

Excitingly, 2025 marks the film’s 60^th anniversary year, so don’t miss out on celebrating this June for what will be sure to be your all-time favourite thing this year!

Tickets: EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT until 31 March 2025: Online - Adult £18, Child (Under 16) £14 (plus booking fee), Via Box Office - Adult £17, Child (Under 16) £13; After 1 April 2025: Online - Adult £19, Child (Under 16) £15 (plus booking fee), Via Box Office - Adult £18, Child (Under 16) £14; Available via Box Office (01202 885566) or online.

SUSU Theatre Group; PREVIEW PERFORMANCES before taking show to Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August 2025; visit website for details and how to reserve tickets.