A wealth of culture and amazing experiences will be on offer at Dorchester Arts this spring.

Dorchester Arts has announced its exciting new programme of upcoming events, to be held across four venues in Dorset from February to April. 

A definite highlight of the season will be comedian Rich Hall on Friday, February 10 at The Hardye Theatre, as he performs his acclaimed new show Shot From Cannons. 

And on Saturday, March 18, Dorchester Arts will be welcoming the iconic Kiki Dee and Carmelo Luggeri as part of their The Long Ride Home tour. 

An unmissable experience will be held on Thursday, April w0 at Dorchester's St Mary's Church, when spellbinding violinist Rachel Podger will be joined by the young Corvus Consort in a programme of Bach. A rare chance to see and hear these music makers play together.

Tributes

Three iconic female singers are celebrated within the season. One Night of Adele (Christina Rogers) will be held at the Hardye Theatre on Friday, February 17; Piaf (Christine Bovill) at the Corn Exchange on Saturday, March 4; and finally Cloudbusting: The Music of Kate Bush on Saturday, April 22 at the Hardye Theatre. 

Plus, there will be a celebration of the Songs of Leonard Cohen (Keith James) to end the season on a high note on Saturday, April 29.

Family

Local theatre makers Dorsetborn will bring their family show Georgia and the Iceberg to Dorchester on Tuesday, February 14 just in time for half term. 

Sunday, March 12 sees the return of Top Secret: The Magic Of Science, presented to complement the Dorchester Science Festival and fun for the whole family. 

And finally, Wednesday, March 12 sees Tales From A Thousand and One Nights from Dragonboy Productions – a fantastical theatre production of the wonderful stories of the Arabian Nights.

Film

A new venture for Dorchester Arts is the showing of classic 1980s films on its big new screen and sound system, to complement Dorset Museum's I Grew Up Eighties exhibition. 

Blade Runner is showing on Wednesday, February 15 and Cocktail on Saturday, February 25 – with cocktails available!

Classical music

A welcome return will be made on Saturday, February 11 when acclaimed vocal group Tenebrae performs at St Mary's Church in Dorchester. 

Plus, there will be a free morning concert on Thursday, February 23 performed by the Dorchester Piano Quartet at the Corn Exchange.

Theatre

Three theatre performances begin on Thursday, March 9 with Rose, a bittersweet tale of two young people on the outside. 

On Friday, March 24 theatre company Pursued by a Bear presents Nothing On Earth - a fantastical heart-catching, time-travelling tale of female experiences and women taking flight. 

And in a complete change of tone Wednesday, April 26, cutting edge company Ridiculusmus presents a double bill of Beautiful People, and So….

Music

And finally, to the wealth of different genres of music that can be enjoyed…

Thursday, February 16 sees Joe Stilgoe perform 100 Years of Theatre at the Hardye Theatre. 

For jazz fans, on Friday, February 24 Dorchester Arts will welcome jazz artist Byron Wallen; and then Mike Denham and the Sunset Café Stompers on Friday, April 14. 

On Sunday, March 26 the popular Budapest Café Orchestra will be in town and Friday, March 31 sees something unusual in Anne Boleyn - Wolf At The Door, an exploration of Tudor music in the Great Hall at historic Athelhampton House.

Finally, folk fans will be delighted to know that on Thursday, February 9 Dorchester Arts welcomes Churchfitters; and on Saturday, March 11 local folk favourites, the acclaimed Ninebarrow, will be performing at the Hardye Theatre for the first time. 

Full details on the full programme and tickets are available on the Dorchester Arts website dorchesterarts.org.uk