Dorset touring arts charity Artsreach continues to bring professional performances to village halls, pubs and other community spaces right across Dorset in 2023.

Its new spring programme features 29 artists and companies, set to perform 59 live dates in 42 rural communities.

With the support of the Arts Council England and Dorset Council, rural venues across the county will host a variety of live music, theatre, dance, storytelling, poetry, family shows and more right in the heart of their communities.

Music lovers can enjoy a real medley of styles and genres from both national and international musicians including world jazz group Moscow Drug Club, vocal harmony quartet Windborne, exhilarating Balkan Klezmer band She'Koyokh, rising folk stars Janice Burns & Jon Doran, gypsy-jazz band Latchepen, FiFi La Mer with a journey into French music, experimental trio Coracle, and The Neil Maya jazz Quartet.

Artsreach will also continue their partnership with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, bringing a trio of flute, harp and cello to rural venues across the county, plus a 14-piece chamber ensemble to Swanage.

Theatre-goers can expect the usual mayhem and lots of audience interaction, plus all your favourite Elvis songs in a brand-new comedy, 'Elvis in Blue Hawaii', from Spitz & Co.

Silent Faces explore permission, patriarchy and pop music through their trademark style of playful and political physical theatre in 'Godot is a Woman'.

Expect a roller-coaster ride across classic monologues and Scottish landscapes in 'The Scottish Play', a funny, moving and immersive experience from Bard in the Yard.

New Perspectives presents the UK premiere of Kate Hewlitt's bittersweet comedy 'The Swearing Jar', blending quirky characters with heartbreak and humour, and Bash Street Theatre are back with a unique blend of physical theatre, circus skills, original songs and live music in 'The Battling Butlers'.

Pursued by a Bear Productions bring a fantastical, heart-catching, time-travelling tale of female experiences and women taking flight to Dorset in 'Nothing on Earth'.

Expect an absorbing, poignant glimpse of a bygone time as two silent movies by Frank Borzage are brought vividly to life by an original score performed live by Sonic Silents.

Part comedy show, part cooking show, George Egg is back with 'Set Menu'; the best bits, the most delicious jokes, and the funniest food cooked live on stage.

Using a captivating blend of theatre, comedy and music, acclaimed storyteller James Rowland tells the tale of a remarkable friendship he made when he was a lonely, unhappy teenager in 'Learning to Fly'.

The Ridgeway Singers & Band invites you to join them for 'Tea with William Barnes', a musical celebration of the Dorset poet's birthday served alongside a Dorset Cream tea, plus Dorset Music Unboxed!, a collaboration with the Dorset History Centre to bring to life traditional music, folksongs and carols from hidden in its archives.

Skilfully weaving myth, song, folktales and legends of the African diaspora with an astonishing personal story, Phil Okwedy shares his captivating compelling, lyrical and warm show, The Gods Are All Here.

Based in the South West, the ambitious and innovative Project Dance present 'Fragments', the intimate story of a young couple who learn to fall in love with each other again, piece by piece, memory by memory.

Blending Kathak dance and live music with a chef cooking live on stage, expect a truly magical, multicultural feast for all the senses as Balbir Singh Dance present 'Love & Spice'.

There's plenty for families to see too, with three brilliant productions touring Dorset during February half term.

Paddleboat Theatre present 'Hansel & Gretel, a sensory story full of magic, gentle interaction, and integrated signing with an enchanting woodland set, playful characters, and poetic storytelling.

Dorsetborn Theatre invite you to join them for a brrr-illiant adventure filled with puppetry, jokes, and a heart-warming original story in 'Georgia and the Iceberg', and finally, Monstro Theatre set out to prove that people can be made to believe anything in their wild new Puppet Musical 'The King of Nothing', inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's The Emperor's New Clothes and packed with songs, puppetry, slapstick and more!

Artsreach will also continue its series of Inn Crowd performances specifically designed for rural pubs.

Intertwining storytelling and song, 'Thirst' by Callum Patrick Hughes is both a love letter to sobriety and a celebration of all things alcoholic; exploring life, family, theatre, religion and most importantly the positivity of the pub.

Join poet Brenda Read-Brown on a riotous celebration of growing older in 'But I Haven't Finished Yet', a brand-new show to delight and entertain audiences, however advanced in life they may be!

Finally, acclaimed stand-up poet, storyteller and lo-fi theatremaker Jonny Fluffypunk is back with a brand-spanking new show about searching for the hero inside yourself, without involving M-People.

Grab a bar stool, pull up a pint and enjoy these fantastic bespoke performances!

This is just a taster of everything happening around Dorset with Artsreach this spring. Full details and tickets are available at www.artsreach.co.uk and outlets where you can pick up a copy of the programme include libraries and tourist information centres.

You can also find Artsreach on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date with the latest rural touring news.