With tap-dancing mermaids, magical fairytales, world-class puppets and a pair of brand new wellies, four fantastic family productions will be touring across Dorset this October half-term with Artsreach.
Tessa Bide – ‘The Tap Dancing Mermaid’
Gather round for the Moon’s magical story about a tippetty-top tap dancer who he has been watching at night in Tess Bide’s ‘The Tap Dancing Mermaid’. Marina Skippett creeps out of her house every night to shuffle and stomp on the boardwalk to the sounds of the sea. She can’t tap dance at home any more since her evil, tractor-sized Aunty banned it! But then, one moonlit night, Marina meets a mysterious, watery boy swimming in the sea and her life is never the same again! Full of stunning puppets and original live music to sing along to, the tap-dancing will make you want to stick 50ps to your shoes and join in! Recommended 3+
Mon 27 Oct, 4pm. Cerne Abbas Village Hall. 01300 341332
Tue 28 Oct, 10:30am. Sturminster Marshall Village Hall. 01258 857814
Tue 28 Oct, 4pm. Cecil Memorial Hall, Cranborne. 01725 517883
Silly Boys – ‘The Elves & The Shoemaker’
Three children wander through a dark forest, cold hungry and lost. Stopping for a rest, they decide to share some of the weird and wonderful stories they have heard along the way. Join Silly Boys and find out what happened to the jolly old shoemaker, discover the dreadful fate of the Gingerbread Man and laugh in astonishment at The Emperor’s New Clothes in their brand new show ‘The Elves & The Shoemaker’! Expect a hilarious, wacky and heartwarming take on some of the world’s favourite fairytales in this magical new show. With reimagined using puppetry, live music and a giant dose of silliness, it’s the perfect treat for all the family! Recommended 4+
Sat 1 Nov, 3pm. Winfrith Village Hall. 01305 852117
Sun 2 Nov, 3pm. Hazelbury Bryan Village Hall. 01258 817212
o-region – ‘Stay Brave, Brian Gravy’
It’s Brian Gravy’s twelfth birthday and all he wants is for Mum and Dad (Mona and Hugo) to stop fighting. Oh and maybe a pair of sensible shoes. Things get serious, when, after a visit to a dubious expert, Brian’s parents decide to file for divorce…. from him! Lost, alone and in danger of going down the toilet for good, can Brian save the day with only a host of imaginary friends and a brand new pair of wellie boots? Cornish based o-region return to Dorset with ‘Stay Brave, Brian Gravy’, a stylised fantasy utilises physical comedy and original songs to explore in a uniquely humorous way, separation, individuality and the importance of friendship. Think Roald Dahl with added Cornish quirkiness! Recommended 7+
Sat 1 Nov, 5:30pm. Briantspuddle Village Hall. 01929 471819
Sun 2 Nov, 4pm. The Exchange, Sturminster Newton. 01258 475137
Horse + Bamboo – ‘Hansel & Gretel’
Hunger gnaws at the stomach like a dog on a bone. If only there were a cake, a cake as big as a house! Sometimes, if you want something enough, it might just happen. But getting what you want isn’t always all it’s cracked up to be. With succulent music and film, puppets and masks, Horse + Bamboo have baked up a delicious treat of a show – dark, chewy and delicious at heart, coated with a sprinkle of something light, sweet and zesty. ‘Hansel and Gretel’ promises to be a feast for the senses. This world famous travelling theatre company returns to the Artsreach circuit for the first time in 18 years. Recommended 5+
Tues 4 Nov, 6:30pm. Portesham Village Hall. 01305 871925
