EVENTS Diary

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.