Sat 23 May – Sat 20 June | Danny Byrne: Looking Back

Dorset Art Weeks – Venue 149

Winner of the 2025 Dorset Open Exhibition Prize Danny Byrne is a dynamic, portrait painter whose bold, expressive style grew from his early days as a political cartoonist for National Newspapers and caricaturist.

Winner of the Dorchester Museum & Art Gallery Open Exhibition and a three time Dorset Artist Prize champion, he has also appeared on Sky Portrait Artist of the Year. Known for vivid, character rich work, Danny has exhibited with all major art societies and at the Royal Academy, establishing himself as a striking, contemporary voice shaped by satire and fine art flair.

Thurs 11 & Fri 12 June | DYT Double Bill (Green For Ever And Longer & The Snow Queen)

Green For Ever And Longer

As Queen Bee Honey and her Minibeast subjects celebrate in memory of Sir Turnham Green, who saved their wood from developers, two strangers arrive. They have a strange request, but unknown to everyone they’ve also brought danger into the woods… Dorchester Youth Theatre Juniors present Green for Ever and Longer

by Raymond Blakesley

The Snow Queen

Young Company step into a world of ice, courage and unbreakable friendship in The Snow Queen. When Kay’s heart is frozen by a shard of magic, it’s up to Gerda to cross forests, palaces and winter kingdoms to bring him home. A magical adventure about bravery, loyalty and the power of love.

by Shelia Laughton adapted from the classic story by Hans Christian Anderson

Fri 12 June | Dorchester Comedy Club – Marcus Brigstocke and Paul Foot

Dorchester Comedy Club returns this June with a huge night of live stand-up, featuring not one but two headline acts: Marcus Brigstocke and Paul Foot. Plus award-winning MC Rich Wilson is guiding the evening.

This is a full mixed-bill comedy show, delivering the complete comedy club experience from start to finish.

Marcus Brigstocke is one of the UK’s most recognisable and respected comedians. A regular on Live at the Apollo, Have I Got News For You, Mock the Week, and The Now Show, Marcus blends sharp political insight with playful storytelling and big, confident punchlines. His live shows are intelligent, fast-paced, and packed with laughter.

Also, we have the wonderfully eccentric and brilliantly unpredictable Paul Foot. Known for his surreal flights of fancy and cult following, Paul’s unique style has made him a standout on the international comedy circuit. His performances are inventive, clever, and gloriously absurd, the kind of comedy that keeps you guessing and laughing in equal measure.

Holding it all together is your host for the night, Rich Wilson, one of the most in-demand MCs in the country. A past winner of the Comics’ Comic award for Best MC, Rich is renowned for his quick wit, effortless crowd work, and ability to keep the energy high throughout the show.

Expect a packed theatre, huge laughs, and the electric atmosphere that only live comedy can deliver. If you love stand-up at the highest level, this is a night not to miss at The Hardye Theatre.

Line-up subject to change.

Sat 13 June | The Curtain Calls – In A Pickle (Circomedia BA Graduate Show)

Have you heard the nattering and clattering? The circus is in town!

The Curtain Calls is a brand-new show that explores the world of traditional circus and life on the road brought to you by In A Pickle. This newly formed circus company is an eclectic mix of performers, blending technical skill with humour, creativity and human connection.

Featuring a bold ensemble of emerging artists who have trained at Circomedia, one of Europe’s leading schools of Circus and Physical Theatre, The Curtain Calls is packed with riveting acrobatics, rambunctious aerialists, remarkable jugglers and raucous clowns.

 Perfect for families who love a bit of silliness and a lot of skill!

Age Guidance – 8+

Sun 14 June | Pinocchio

by Carlo Collodi, adapted by Oliver Gray

Carlo Collodi’s classic is a perennial favourite. It is the third most translated book in the world, having appeared in no fewer than 260 languages since it was published in 1883, and has never been out of print. Childless toymaker Geppetto buys a piece of wood to make a puppet – little realising the chaos he is about to unleash. The puppet yearns for adventure and runs away, but instead of excitement only finds glorious attractions containing hidden dangers. He returns home hoping to be showered with sympathy and learns his tribulations are just beginning. Running away hasn’t worked; lying won’t work; he must become a real boy to achieve the belonging he craves. Collodi describes the development from puppet to real boy in the same way that useless green timber is matured into useful well-seasoned wood – a transformation only achieved through trials of water and fire. Illyria celebrates this magical coming-of-age tale in a thrilling musical outdoor show.

Running time: 95-minutes (approx.), including a 20-minute interval.

Recommended for ages 5+ (younger children also welcome).

Our guide to getting the best out of your time outdoors

Come prepared!

Bring your own seat – Low backed chairs, rugs and a cushion are always nice. Combine comfort and style! Please make sure that any chairs and/or umbrellas will not obscure anyone else’s view.

Gather a posse – Bring friends and family (family tickets are available). The more the merrier for a fun day or night out!

Arrive Early – Pick a great spot and enjoy the atmospheric surroundings. There is plenty of room to run about at Maumbury Rings.

Bring a Torch – It’s very helpful to safely find your way back to the car for evening performances.

Wed 17 June | As You Like It (HandleBards)

Pedalling from venue to venue with all of their set, props and costumes on the back of their bikes, the HandleBards area four-strong troupe of actors who are spending the summer bringing environmentally sustainable Shakespeare to venues across the UK.

Join the troupe at Maumbury Rings for a fantastically funny bicycle-powered production of Shakespeare’s ‘As You Like It’.

What’s the play about?

Well-Rosalind and her cousin Celia flee to the Forest of Arden, where they bump into Rosalind’s love interest Orlando. However, Rosalind is disguised as a young man. Cue some local Shepherds getting involved and the stage is set for a wild ride of wooing, hilarious mistaken identity and the odd wrestling match.

This is an outdoor production, so please bring a chair or blanket to sit on, a picnic to dig into, and dress for the weather!

Praise for previous HandleBards performances…

★★★★★-“Explodes with energy and is a genuine treat from start to finish.”-The Stage

★★★★★-“Five stars just don’t seem enough…”-The Sunderland Echo

Our guide to getting the best out of your time outdoors

Come prepared! – Bring whatever you need for a cosy afternoon.

Bring your own seat – Low backed chairs, rugs and a cushion are always nice. Combine comfort and style! Please make sure that any chairs and/or umbrellas will not obscure anyone else’s view.

Gather a posse – Bring friends and family (family tickets are available). The more the merrier for a fun day or night out!

Arrive Early – Pick a great spot and enjoy the atmospheric surroundings. There is plenty of room to run about at Maumbury Rings.

Bring a Torch – It’s very helpful to safely find your way back to the car for evening performances.

Thurs 18 – Sat 20 June | Murdered To Death (Somerleigh Players)

We invite you to Mildred’s country manor for dinner, an unexpected murder and a mess  of mysteries and red herrings, magnified by an investigation run by the inept Inspector Pratt and his unfortunate assistant Thomkins (no not Thompson – definitely Thomkins!).

Miss Maple, who is put in mind of a certain Belgian gentleman, attempts to bring sanity to the situation with her tea and cakes!

Will this Agatha Christie-esque spoof reach a satisfactory conclusion? Come and join the incredible Somerleigh Players for a ridiculously, hilarious evening to find out!

We Know How to Entertain!

Sun 21 June | Midsummer Revels (Green Matthews)

Following on from GreenMatthews highly successful Midwinter Revels, they present their new show Midsummer Revels. Featuring traditional English folksongs, self-written material and toe-tapping dance tunes, Midsummer Revels is a glorious feel-good evocation of sunny days, blue skies and green fields! Songs of the land and sea, town and country are brought to life on a plethora of instruments such as English border bagpipes, mandocello and shawm, all underscored with GreenMatthews’ trademark wit and humour.

“You guys are awesome!” Bill Barclay, Director of Music at Shakespeare’s Globe

Tue 23 June – Sat 8 August| Constable – Generations

2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of John Constable RA, inspiring exhibitions nationwide celebrating one of Britain’s most beloved landscape painters. In 1816, Constable and his wife Maria Bicknell spent part of their honeymoon in Osmington, Dorset, establishing a lasting family connection with the county. Generations brings together works by John Constable’s descendants: the late Richard Constable, his daughter Sasha Constableand her son Valya Constable, alongside selected pieces by other family members. The exhibition celebrates a remarkable artistic lineage, their Dorset connections and the enduring creativity of the Constable family across generations

Thurs 25 & Fri 26 June | When This Is Over – DYT Performance Company

A message sent. An opportunity missed. A choice made in a heartbeat.

Inspired by the innovative work of Company Three, this devised performance weaves together the lived experiences of our company to explore the moments that shift our direction forever. Stories of risk, courage, doubt and hope. At its heart, this is a piece about time: how quickly it moves, how deeply it marks us, and how the smallest decisions can redraw our futures.

These are their stories. Their turning points. Their futures in the making.

From a Blueprint by Ned Glasier and Company Three. An amateur production by arrangement with Nick Hern Books.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS PERFORMANCE WILL BE MADE UP OF UNALLOCATED SEATING. YOUR TICKET ISN’T NUMBERED, ON THE NIGHT OF PERFORMANCE, YOU WILL BE FREE TO CHOOSE WHERE YOU SIT.

Sat 27 June | Buddy Holly & The Cricketers

All Holly’s hits and classics from his rock ’n’ roll pals are played live on stage by these five amazing young actor-musicians, who always delight crowds with their fabulous show.  Featuring raw rock ’n’ roll, beautifully haunting ballads, energetic performances – and some genuinely hilarious moments – there is no live event that delivers a better Buddy experience. Audiences of all ages all over the globe have found it impossible to stay in their seats. From Dundee to Dubai, Swansea to Sweden, Taunton to Thailand and all across the USA, thousands of fans have shown their appreciation with standing ovations and shouts for “more!”

So, whether you’re young in years or young at heart, this night with Buddy and the boys really is guaranteed to have everyone singing along to the music and dancing in the aisles.

Whatever the season, whatever the excuse to party, Everyday is a Holly Day with Buddy Holly and The Cricketers!

“The audience were dancing in the aisles and roaring for more” The Stage

“Buddy brilliant!” Graham Norton, BBC One

“Fantastic…The best… tremendous night out…I can’t praise the show enough” The Kent and Sussex Courier

“Christmas just wouldn’t be Christmas without Buddy Holly and The Cricketers” Somerset County Gazette

Thurs 2 & Fri 3 July | The Return Of The Native

Thomas Hardy’s The Return of the Native is a profound exploration of human desires and the indomitable forces that shape destiny. Set against the haunting backdrop of Egdon Heath, the novel tells the story of Eustacia Vye, a young woman whose passionate longing for escape and fulfilment drives the narrative inevitably towards its tragic conclusion.

With live music, high energy, multi role playing, humour and inventiveness, yet another English classic novel is brought wonderfully to life, Hotbuckle style!

Sun 5 July | The Big Bad Wolf – The Plandits

Come on a madcap, rock ‘n’ roll musical journey of plotting and scheming with folklore’s most notorious villain – The Big Bad Wolf. Exiled to the Deep Dark Wood, he parties hard and rocks out every night with his cronies, far away from the goody-goody townspeople of Fairytaleville. But whatever happened to Little Red Riding Hood? Did the Three Little Pigs go on to have a successful career in techno music? Does his Fairy Godmother have what it takes to change the ways of a hardened carnivore?

The Plandits are back on the road with this original, high-energy show bursting with live music, punk attitude, and plenty of laughs.

Age Guidance – 4+

Our guide to getting the best out of your time outdoors

Come prepared! – Bring whatever you need for a cosy afternoon.

Bring your own seat – Low backed chairs, rugs and a cushion are always nice. Combine comfort and style! Please make sure that any chairs and/or umbrellas will not obscure anyone else’s view.

Gather a posse – Bring friends and family (family tickets are available). The more the merrier for a fun day or night out!

Arrive Early – Pick a great spot and enjoy the atmospheric surroundings. There is plenty of room to run about at Maumbury Rings.

Bring a Torch – It’s very helpful to safely find your way back to the car for evening performances.

Bring a Picnic

Wed 8 July | Milly Riquelme

Milly Riquelme is a Cuban pianist, composer and singer, who began her musical journey at the age of two showcasing her skills on a television programme featuring child prodigies. She earned a Musicology degree with Honours from the High Institute of Arts in Havana and has since worked as a pianist for various Cuban bands including the popular Conexion Salsera.

She frequently collaborates with her husband, Tom Toomey of The Zombies, as well as working with renowned musicians such as the Cuban violinist Omar Puente, most recently, with the prestigious Piano Tampa Academy in the USA, providing special piano arrangements and compositions.

Thurs 9 July | I, Dido

After her recent hit Across the Square, Non Vaughan-O’Hagan returns to Dorchester Arts with I, Dido – a newly-revised version of her acclaimed play about the life of Dido Elizabeth Belle. This lively rehearsed reading explores the life of a young woman – the mixed-race daughter of a British Navy Captain and an enslaved woman – navigating privilege, prejudice and the tangled bonds of family in Georgian England. Expect an evening of drama and discovery as this powerful play takes its next steps toward full production. Come and be part of the process!