EVENTS Diary

Most Rare Vision

Macbeth 

By William Shakespeare

How far would you go to get what you want?

One ambitious man and his ambitious wife. A kingdom up for grabs. Several steps on which he must fall down, or else o'erleap, for in his way they lie...

What happens to our grip on reality when all hell breaks loose? Find out in this high-octane, minimalistic two-hander that explores connection and alienation in a dark and violent world.

Brought to you by new professional theatre company, Most Rare Vision, and featuring Globe-trained, local BLTC veteran Ant Henson (Dial M For Murder, King Lear, The Glass Menagerie) and London-based newcomer Martha Ibbotson, this striking production of Macbeth invites you into Shakespeare's classic thriller like you've never seen it before.

Runs from Monday 21 – Friday 25 April at Bournemouth Little Theatre, before transferring to London from Tuesday 27 – Saturday 31 May at The Bread & Roses Theatre, Clapham.

(Please note that this fast-paced production runs at under 1h 30m straight though, so there is no interval until the end. There will, however, be a Q&A with the cast/Artistic Director of Most Rare Vision in the bar after the show finishes. All are welcome and invited to ask any questions about the show and/or company. The bar will be open both before and after the show to enjoy a refreshment or two).

Tickets: £15; Available online here.

Lyndhurst Drama & Music Society; Tickets: £12; Available online here.

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.

Highcliffe Charity Players Presents

When The Lights Go On Again

Step back in time and experience the unforgettable music of the 1940s with When The Lights Go On Again. This captivating review-style theatre show brings to life the timeless songs, stories and sketches that defined a generation during World War II.

Tickets: £19.50; Available online here.

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

Lymington Players

Boeing Boeing

Written by Marc Camoletti

Translated by Beverley Cross & Francis Evans

Directed by Neil Philips

Get ready for a high-flying comedy!

Enjoy a laughter-filled evening with Marc Camoletti's classic farce, Boeing Boeing. This hilarious play follows the antics of Bernard, a charming bachelor juggling three beautiful flight attendant fiancées, each unaware of the others. With the arrival of a new, faster Boeing jet, Bernard's perfectly timed schedule is thrown into chaos, leading to a whirlwind of mistaken identities, romantic entanglements, and uproarious situations.

Don't miss out on the fun and laughter! Boeing Boeing promises to be a delightful experience for audiences of all ages. Please note the performance may contain mild adult themes. Translated by Beverley Cross and Francis Evans.

This amateur production of Boeing Boeing is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals Ltd. On behalf of Samuel French Ltd. www.concordtheatricals.co.uk.

Tickets: General Admission £14 (Plus Booking Fee), LCA Members £12 (Plus Booking Fee) ; Available online here.

Redlynch Players

Deckchairs

Written by Jean McConnell

This May, Redlynch Players will be taking a little trip to the English seaside to perform a selection of short plays from Jean McConnell’s popular Deckchairs series.

These ‘twist in the tale’ playlets all take place near a seaside promenade and are, by turns, both funny and poignant.

Presenting a variety of scenarios, each playlet has been crafted for two women and explore the relationships between them – often with a humourous surprise! Ranging from a couple of shopaholics out for a jaunt, a reunion at a wedding reception, bickering actresses, and more, Jean McConnell’s scripts sparkle with wit and empathy, and are just the tonic for a spring evening.

Don’t worry, you won’t need to bring a towel to reserve your seat because tickets go on sale from 7 April 2025!

So, come and join Redlynch Players, dig out your suncream and sunglasses and plan a little trip to the beach with them in May!

This amateur production of Deckchairs is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals Ltd on behalf of Smauel French Ltd.

Tickets: £12; Available via phone (01725 510283) or email here – BOOK EARLY!

Spot On Productions; Tickets: £15.50 - £20.00; Available via Box Office (023 8065 2333) or online here.

Bishopstoke Players; Three One-Act Plays (Albert; A Figure Of Insignificance and Lying In State); Tickets: Full price £12, Under 18s £8; Available via phone (07871 006551), email here, or online here.

Chesil Theatre 

Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons

Written by Sam Steiner

Directed by Tom Humphreys

“Doesn’t matter what we’re saying. We just need to be loud.” Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons explores a new world where the government imposes a Hush Law, limiting everyone to 140 words a day. Watch as a young couple navigate their way through love and intimacy, discovering how to communicate in the silence: communication about dead cats, activism, eye contact and lemons, lemons, lemons, lemons, lemons.

Contains adult themes and language. 
No Interval. Running time: about 90 minutes.
After show Talkback: Tuesday 20 May

No evening performance on Sunday; 2.30pm only on Sunday; Tickets: £12 – £18, booking fees may apply; Available online here.

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.

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

Wimborne Drama Productions

Calendar Girls

Written by Tim Firth

Directed by Sali Pike

Calendar Girls to Strike a Pose at the Tivoli, Wimborne

Based on the true story of WI members who posed nude for a calendar to raise money for charity, Calendar Girls, written by Tim Firth, is a comedy-drama about friendship, loss and courage that will make you laugh and cry.

When Annie’s husband, John, dies of leukaemia, she and best friend, Chris, resolve to raise money for a new settee in the local hospital waiting room. They manage to persuade four fellow WI members to pose nude with them for an “alternative” calendar, with a little help from hospital porter and amateur photographer, Lawrence. But when media interest in the women’s charitable venture grows, the Calendar Girls find themselves exposed in ways they’d never expected, revealing more than they’d ever planned.

Directed by Sali Pike, this amateur production of Calendar Girls is being performed by Wimborne Drama Productions at the Tivoli Theatre from 22 – 24 May. Amongst the cast are Lesley James, Julie Sissons, Heather Birchenough, Leah Jane, Bethan Morris and Tracey Nicholls.

Tickets: Evenings £18.50, Saturday matinee £16.50; Available via Box Office (01202 885566) or online here.

Poulner Players; Tickets: £15; Available via phone (0333 666 3366), from Greyfriars Community Centre or online through Poulner Players website here or Ticket Source 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.

The Bridge

And A Nightingale Sang 

Written by C P Taylor

Directed by Wendy Mason

Performances: Thursday - Saturday @ 7:30pm; Sunday @ 2:30pm

Travel back in time and indulge in an evening of classic charm and wartime spirit. The Bridge welcomes you to a World War II inspired event like no other, where history meets celebration!

Immerse yourself in a captivating theatre performance featuring familiar local talent, complemented by themed music in the bar from The Bridge’s very own female close harmony group, Straight Banana, channelling the sounds of The Beverley Sisters and The Andrews Sisters.

And A Nightingale Sang is a gem of a play. Set in the North of England, it traces the lives of a working class family throughout the six year period of the war, evoking telling glimpses of small lives eked out on the edge of momentous events. It is gentle, funny, sad and joyous in equal measure.

The Bridge are delighted to welcome back Wendy Mason to direct this play in honour of the 80th anniversary of VE day.

Tickets: £16; Available online here.

Swanage Drama Company

Caught In The Net

Written by Ray Cooney

Directed by Brian Travers

From the company which gave you Jack And The Beanstalk and last year's hilarious farce, Cash On Delivery, Swanage Drama Company presents another farce.

Caught In The Net is the sequel to Run For Your Wife, which finds the bigamist taxi driver John Smith still keeping his two families in different parts of London, both happy and blissfully unaware of each other. However, his teenage children, a girl from one family and a boy from the other, have met on the Internet and are anxious to meet in person since they have so much in common – age, surname and a taxi driving dad!

Keeping them apart plunges John into a hell hole of his own making. His lodger Stanley could be a saviour, but he is about to go on holiday with his father, who turns up thinking he is already at the guest house! The situation spirals out of control as John juggles outrageously with the truth! Join Swanage Drama Company for a laughter filled evening, directed by Brian Travers.

Tickets: Adults £15, Concessions £13, Youth Member £9; Available from Box Office via phone (0333 666 3366), in person or online here.

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.

Maskers Theatre Company; Tickets: £15; Available online here.

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

Maskers Theatre Company (On Tour); Tickets: £15; Available online here.

Maskers Theatre Company (On Tour); Tickets: £15; Available online here.

Maskers Theatre Company (On Tour); Tickets: £15; Available online here.