A collection of retrospective textile and mixed media art pieces from members of this well established group.

A variety of techniques and subject matter will be represented in the work displayed and the artists will be on hand to discuss the work with visitors.

Open 10am to 4pm daily. Free admission.

Join us for a fun-filled quiz night to support the Shaftesbury Arts Centre Music & Drama Group’s upcoming production of The Sound of Music.

Enjoy an evening of trivia, refreshments including authentic Austrian beer, and help us raise funds for this much-loved musical. Raffle tickets will also be on sale throughout the evening with winners to be announced at the end of the show’s run.

Doors and bar open at 7pm for a 7.30pm start.

Tickets: £6.

Shaftesbury Arts Centre Art Group is a small practical group, meeting at 2pm on Monday afternoons in the Phoenix Room to enjoy painting. We welcome all levels of skill in all mediums.

During the year we have tutors in various mediums and aspects of painting. We have an exhibition once a year in the SAC Gallery and opportunities to join other exhibitions in the gallery at certain times of the year.

Click here for more information about the Art Group or contact Gillian on 07873 740979, email louthlincs1@gmail.com.

Summer Program Art Group 2025

28th April: Paint or draw (what you did at Easter).

5th May: Bank Holiday – No workshop.

12th May: James Budden tutors us in painting techniques.

19th May: James returns, helping us improve our skills.

26th May: Bank Holiday – No workshop.

2nd June: En plein air if weather is fine.

9th June: Still life.

16th June: Joint topic.

23rd June: Ein plein air if weather is fine. Last week before summer break.

15th September: Return for autumn term.

Bridget Jones navigates life as a widow and single mother with the help of her family, friends, and former lover, Daniel.

Back to work and on the apps, she’s pursued by a younger man and maybe – just maybe – her son’s science teacher.

Director: Michael Morris

Featuring: Renée Zellweger, Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, Colin Firth, Isla Fisher, Leo Woodall, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Nico Parker, Shirley Henderson, Jim Broadbent, Celia Imrie, Leila Farzad, James Callis, Joanna Scanlan, Gemma Jones, Sally Phillips.

Details: France/UK/USA | Language: English | 2025 | 2h 5m

Showings:

Tuesday Matinée 17th June – 2pm 

Please note: Our Tuesday Matinées feature subtitles for the hard of hearing and will include an interval.

Wednesday 18th June – 7.30pm

Friday 20th June – 7.30pm

Tickets: From £5.

Painter and printmaker Peter Ursem returns with an exhibition of new, bigger scale works, following his purchase of a new printing press.

Open 10am to 4pm daily. Free admission.

Bridget Jones navigates life as a widow and single mother with the help of her family, friends, and former lover, Daniel.

Back to work and on the apps, she’s pursued by a younger man and maybe – just maybe – her son’s science teacher.

Director: Michael Morris

Featuring: Renée Zellweger, Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, Colin Firth, Isla Fisher, Leo Woodall, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Nico Parker, Shirley Henderson, Jim Broadbent, Celia Imrie, Leila Farzad, James Callis, Joanna Scanlan, Gemma Jones, Sally Phillips.

Details: France/UK/USA | Language: English | 2025 | 2h 5m

Showings:

Tuesday Matinée 17th June – 2pm 

Please note: Our Tuesday Matinées feature subtitles for the hard of hearing and will include an interval.

Wednesday 18th June – 7.30pm

Friday 20th June – 7.30pm

Tickets: From £5.

To join the reading group, the only qualifications required are to enjoy reading and sharing ideas about books, and to be a member of the Shaftesbury Arts Centre.

We meet on the third Thursday of each month from 7.30pm to 9.00pm in the Rutter Room.

Contact Viv Rudd 01747 851619; reading@shaftesburyartscentre.org.uk.

Bridget Jones navigates life as a widow and single mother with the help of her family, friends, and former lover, Daniel.

Back to work and on the apps, she’s pursued by a younger man and maybe – just maybe – her son’s science teacher.

Director: Michael Morris

Featuring: Renée Zellweger, Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, Colin Firth, Isla Fisher, Leo Woodall, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Nico Parker, Shirley Henderson, Jim Broadbent, Celia Imrie, Leila Farzad, James Callis, Joanna Scanlan, Gemma Jones, Sally Phillips.

Details: France/UK/USA | Language: English | 2025 | 2h 5m

Showings:

Tuesday Matinée 17th June – 2pm 

Please note: Our Tuesday Matinées feature subtitles for the hard of hearing and will include an interval.

Wednesday 18th June – 7.30pm

Friday 20th June – 7.30pm

Tickets: From £5.

Shaftesbury Arts Centre Art Group is a small practical group, meeting at 2pm on Monday afternoons in the Phoenix Room to enjoy painting. We welcome all levels of skill in all mediums.

During the year we have tutors in various mediums and aspects of painting. We have an exhibition once a year in the SAC Gallery and opportunities to join other exhibitions in the gallery at certain times of the year.

Click here for more information about the Art Group or contact Gillian on 07873 740979, email louthlincs1@gmail.com.

Summer Program Art Group 2025

28th April: Paint or draw (what you did at Easter).

5th May: Bank Holiday – No workshop.

12th May: James Budden tutors us in painting techniques.

19th May: James returns, helping us improve our skills.

26th May: Bank Holiday – No workshop.

2nd June: En plein air if weather is fine.

9th June: Still life.

16th June: Joint topic.

23rd June: Ein plein air if weather is fine. Last week before summer break.

15th September: Return for autumn term.

After her husband’s death, Elizabeth (Dame Judi Dench) decides she wants to re-kindle ‘The Blonde Bombshells’, an (almost) all-female band with which she played during World War II.

Urged on by her granddaughter, Elizabeth hunts for all the old members of the band and urges them to perform. In doing so, she learns more than she knew about the band and its members..

Director: Alan Plater

Featuring: Judi Dench, Ian Holm, Leslie Caron, Olympia Dukakis

Details: UK/USA | Language: English | 2000 | 1h 24m

Showings:

Tuesday Matinée 24th June – 2pm 

Please note: Our Tuesday Matinées feature subtitles for the hard of hearing and will include an interval.

Tickets: £5

Three photographers, each displaying a different and individual approach to their craft.

Open 10am to 4pm daily. Free admission.

Join the Music & Drama Group in an exciting morning of Basic Stage Combat, which is part of our ‘About Drama’ series.

The workshop will be run by MC Combat and will cover basic stage combat techniques, movement and character. This session will be a physical session and has limited spaces available.

Age Restriction 18+

Cost: £10 per person.

Discover the electrifying story of love, adventure and crime that captured the attention of an entire nation.

Starring Tony-Nominee Jeremy Jordan and Olivier-Nominee Frances Mayli McCann, this award-winning production (including Best New Musical – What’s On Stage Awards 2023) re-tells the unbelievable true story of America’s most infamous couple, Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow.

Recorded live at London’s Theatre Royal Drury Lane.

Runtime: 2 hours 20 minutes (including interval).

Tickets: £15. Members, Friends and under 18s £12.50.

Join Shaftesbury Arts Centre’s Music & Drama Group this summer, as they transport you to Austria in 1938 – where Maria brings back music and joy to the von Trapp family as the Nazi’s tighten their hold on Europe.

The Sound of Music is the most beloved musical of the stage and screen and a true love story exploring love in all its forms, from the romantic to the divine.

Tickets: Adults £17.50, Members & Friends £15, under 18s £10.

Please note: seats C1 to C5 will have slightly impaired views of the stage due to the accommodation of the orchestra.

Warning: Strobe lighting will be used during the show.

Join Shaftesbury Arts Centre’s Music & Drama Group this summer, as they transport you to Austria in 1938 – where Maria brings back music and joy to the von Trapp family as the Nazi’s tighten their hold on Europe.

The Sound of Music is the most beloved musical of the stage and screen and a true love story exploring love in all its forms, from the romantic to the divine.

Tickets: Adults £17.50, Members & Friends £15, under 18s £10.

Please note: seats C1 to C5 will have slightly impaired views of the stage due to the accommodation of the orchestra.

Warning: Strobe lighting will be used during the show.

Join Shaftesbury Arts Centre’s Music & Drama Group this summer, as they transport you to Austria in 1938 – where Maria brings back music and joy to the von Trapp family as the Nazi’s tighten their hold on Europe.

The Sound of Music is the most beloved musical of the stage and screen and a true love story exploring love in all its forms, from the romantic to the divine.

Tickets: Adults £17.50, Members & Friends £15, under 18s £10.

Please note: seats C1 to C5 will have slightly impaired views of the stage due to the accommodation of the orchestra.

Warning: Strobe lighting will be used during the show.

A headstrong solicitor’s plan to offload her new born baby to her sister, is derailed when a vulnerable but opinionated teenager steals their taxi.

They set off on a wild journey across Ireland, stealing cars, hitch-hiking, catching ferries and breaking police barricades.

Director: Emer Reynolds

Featuring: Olivia Colman, Charlie Reid, Lochlann Ó Mearáin

Details: Ireland/UK | Language: English | 2022 | 1h 34m

Showings:

15th July – 2pm Tuesday Matinée

Please note: Our Tuesday Matinées feature subtitles for the hard of hearing and will include an interval.

Tickets: £5.

To join the reading group, the only qualifications required are to enjoy reading and sharing ideas about books, and to be a member of the Shaftesbury Arts Centre.

We meet on the third Thursday of each month from 7.30pm to 9.00pm in the Rutter Room.

Contact Viv Rudd 01747 851619; reading@shaftesburyartscentre.org.uk.

Join Shaftesbury Arts Centre’s Music and Drama Group as they perform as part of Shaftesbury Fringe this year with Blue Murder at Gallows Bottom.

A dark comedy served with scandal, chaos and a side of murder!

The village of Gallows Bottom is cut off by a flood and the only place to eat is Monica’s Pasty Palace, where outsiders Jack and Mona encounter some very strange locals. Jack comments that this is a good place for a murder – and he turns out to be correct!

The Music & Drama Group are performing a second and very different play Comfortable, which will be performed following Blue Murder at Gallows Bottom. Join us for one or both of them as part of your Fringe experience.

Age 16+

Tickets: Pass The Hat

Blue Murder at Gallows Bottom is performed by arrangement with Lazy Bee Scripts.

Wizard Guide to Saving the World is concerned with shifting social attitudes and cultural standards, viewed ’n skewed through the eyes of wizards who have been around for ever.

It’s a wizard spell of magical naughtiness and far-fetched silliness, not to mention jokes, danger, Merlin, Arthurian legend, uncomfortable words, love philtres, and charms enough to stop wars or climate change. And a singalong…

Tickets: £7.

Join Shaftesbury Arts Centre’s Music and Drama Group as they present Comfortable as part of Shaftesbury Fringe.

Comfortable is a play by Edwin Preece that delves into the complexities of restorative justice. The play explores the intricate human stories that emerge when individuals confront the concept of making amends and seeking forgiveness.

Set in a prison, a mother comes to visit the person whom she believes is responsible for the death of her son… and all is not completely as it seems.

The Music & Drama Group are also performing Blue Murder at Gallows Bottom. Join us for one or both of them as part of your Fringe experience.

Age 16+

Tickets: Pass The Hat

In this uniquely different hour of critically acclaimed stand-up and storytelling, London-based comedian Robyn Perkins invites you to ask her anything, and she’ll do the rest.

“A smashing success.” ★★★★½ – OutInPerth.com

Age 16+

Tickets: Pass-The-Hat / Pay What It’s Worth

Ever wonder why we are the way we are? Marine biologist turned award-winning comedian Robyn Perkins brings her critically acclaimed panel show to Shaftesbury. 

And this one is all about bad habits – why we make ’em and how we break ’em.

The show previously won the Comedy Award at The Shaftesbury Fringe
in 2023. You’ll get answers to questions you never knew you had.

‘Think QI meets Mock the Week!’ ★★★★½ – Fringe Feed, Perth Fringe World

Age 16+

Tickets: Pass-The-Hat / Pay What It’s Worth

Students of Stagecoach Blandford Forum & Shaftesbury present an hour of songs from a variety of musicals old and new for your entertainment.

For more info about Stagecoach Blandford Forum & Shaftesbury, please visit our website here.

Tickets: Free.

Award-winning comedian Robyn Perkins delivers a new science-comedy-music-game show, and this year it’s about even cooler and weirder animals! 

“Smart, silly, and downright hilarious… kids and adults alike were laughing until our cheeks hurt.” ★★★★★ – KidsInAdelaide.com.au

“Standout scientific fun!“ ★★★★½ – FringeFeed.com.au

Age: Designed for children 6-13 years!

Tickets: Pass-The-Hat / Pay What It’s Worth

Mesmerising, unique, magical bubbleologist, Richard Welsh, brings his comedy bubble show to Shaftesbury Fringe.

Mixing bubbles, music and comedy, Richard engages and delights audiences of all ages. Be amazed as Richard performs some wonderful bubble tricks which will include breathtaking giant bubbles. There will be plenty of interactive entertainment, with the opportunity to stand inside a giant bubble!

Tickets: £8.

Shaftesbury Arts Centre’s Music & Drama Group Youth Theatre return to perform at the Shaftesbury Fringe Festival with something a bit spookier this year.

On a chilling night whilst exploring a dark and creepy attic a group of teenagers find themselves breaking through the thin veil between life and death. The dead will talk, secrets spilled, but what lies behind that veil and who could come through.

Age Restriction 12+

Tickets: Pass The Hat

A theatre show that explores the biggest question of all – ‘What’s the point?’

Features underpants, pompous man-servants, self-deprecating witticisms, an existential crisis and one giant hangover! King Solomon had it all…

Well described as ‘Blackadder meets the Bible’, Life Under The Sun – Part 1 is a dark comedy based on the Book of Ecclesiastes.

“Startling and ambitious” – ★★★★

Age 14+ – due to mature themes and underpants.

Tickets: £10. Under 18s £9.

Join Shaftesbury Arts Centre’s Music and Drama Group as they perform as part of Shaftesbury Fringe this year with Blue Murder at Gallows Bottom.

A dark comedy served with scandal, chaos and a side of murder!

The village of Gallows Bottom is cut off by a flood and the only place to eat is Monica’s Pasty Palace, where outsiders Jack and Mona encounter some very strange locals. Jack comments that this is a good place for a murder – and he turns out to be correct!

The Music & Drama Group are performing a second and very different play Comfortable, which will be performed following Blue Murder at Gallows Bottom. Join us for one or both of them as part of your Fringe experience.

Age 16+

Tickets: Pass The Hat

Blue Murder at Gallows Bottom is performed by arrangement with Lazy Bee Scripts.

Ever wonder why we are the way we are? Marine biologist turned award-winning comedian Robyn Perkins brings her critically acclaimed panel show to Shaftesbury. 

This show is all about the psychology of conspiracy theories and why people believe them. Think QI meets Mock the Week.

Age 16+

Tickets: £8

Join Shaftesbury Arts Centre’s Music and Drama Group as they present Comfortable as part of Shaftesbury Fringe.

Comfortable is a play by Edwin Preece that delves into the complexities of restorative justice. The play explores the intricate human stories that emerge when individuals confront the concept of making amends and seeking forgiveness.

Set in a prison, a mother comes to visit the person whom she believes is responsible for the death of her son… and all is not completely as it seems.

The Music & Drama Group are also performing Blue Murder at Gallows Bottom. Join us for one or both of them as part of your Fringe experience.

Age 16+

Tickets: Pass The Hat

After playing to a packed room at last year’s Shaftesbury Fringe, Alex Love returns with his highly interactive show that sold-out the 2024 Edinburgh Fringe.

Part stand-up, part actual pub quiz, after learning some new facts, the audience will be split into teams to compete against others for prizes. Will you be a winner? Age 16+

“It is hilarious… Love appears to be the epitome of those times you are in the shower thinking, ‘Oh, it would have been really cool if I had said THAT’. The Armando Iannucci-an repartee – a skill I greatly admire… This audience thoroughly enjoyed themselves.” – Art Murmurs.nz.

“Whether winners or losers, everyone left happy… A skilful host with a twinkle in his eye.” ★★★★ – Broadway Baby.

“Alex Love is great fun.” – The Scotsman.

Tickets: £8. Under 18s £6.

A comedy dance show about balance.

Stephanie has a history of falling over a lot, accidentally kneeing herself in the face, and falling in love with total kn*bheads. In this show she uses a mixture of stand-up
and dance to talk about bodies, sex, dancing, liking yourself, consent and healing, Also, there are cartoon bears and burlesque.

“Devastating technique… natural comic timing and delivery” – Chortle

“Gloriously silly… wonderfully unpretentious” – Broadway Baby

Age 16+

Tickets: £8. Under 18s £5.

Join Shaftesbury Arts Centre’s Music and Drama Group as they perform as part of Shaftesbury Fringe this year with Blue Murder at Gallows Bottom.

A dark comedy served with scandal, chaos and a side of murder!

The village of Gallows Bottom is cut off by a flood and the only place to eat is Monica’s Pasty Palace, where outsiders Jack and Mona encounter some very strange locals. Jack comments that this is a good place for a murder – and he turns out to be correct!

The Music & Drama Group are performing a second and very different play Comfortable, which will be performed following Blue Murder at Gallows Bottom. Join us for one or both of them as part of your Fringe experience.

Age 16+

Tickets: Pass The Hat

Blue Murder at Gallows Bottom is performed by arrangement with Lazy Bee Scripts.

Award-winning comedian Robyn Perkins delivers a new science-comedy-music-game show, and this year it’s about even cooler and weirder animals! 

“Smart, silly, and downright hilarious… kids and adults alike were laughing until our cheeks hurt.” ★★★★★ – KidsInAdelaide.com.au

“Standout scientific fun!“ ★★★★½ – FringeFeed.com.au

Age: Designed for children 6-13 years!

Tickets: Pass-The-Hat / Pay What It’s Worth

Join Shaftesbury Arts Centre’s Music and Drama Group as they present Comfortable as part of Shaftesbury Fringe.

Comfortable is a play by Edwin Preece that delves into the complexities of restorative justice. The play explores the intricate human stories that emerge when individuals confront the concept of making amends and seeking forgiveness.

Set in a prison, a mother comes to visit the person whom she believes is responsible for the death of her son… and all is not completely as it seems.

The Music & Drama Group are also performing Blue Murder at Gallows Bottom. Join us for one or both of them as part of your Fringe experience.

Age 16+

Tickets: Pass The Hat

Mesmerising, unique, magical bubbleologist, Richard Welsh, brings his comedy bubble show to Shaftesbury Fringe.

Mixing bubbles, music and comedy, Richard engages and delights audiences of all ages. Be amazed as Richard performs some wonderful bubble tricks which will include breathtaking giant bubbles. There will be plenty of interactive entertainment, with the opportunity to stand inside a giant bubble!

Tickets: £8.

OMG, have you heard? Jill and Jackie sit down to work with every intention of not indulging their terrible addiction to gossip…

But Pheme on reception told Jill something huge and she can’t contain it any more. And Jackie will just die when she finds out… or at least… someone will. A new play by Lucy Frederick about the epic joy (and dangers) of gossip.

Cast: Stephanie Laing & Robyn Perkins.

Age 18+

Tickets: Pass-The-Hat / Pay What It’s Worth

Magical legend The Great Baldini returns to Shaftesbury Fringe.

More Family Magic tells the story of his, and Baldwin the magical dog’s, life from
their first tricks to the height of their careers – attempting Houdini’s greatest escape. The show is packed with magic, sweets, puppetry, sweets, water, sweets, eggs, sweets, and escapology. It’s hilariously silly… with sweets.

The Great Baldini is an award-winning member of the Magic Circle, and 22/23 Bristol Stage Magic Champion.

“Incredible” – Front Row, BBC Radio 4

“Charming, engaging, and charismatic. A pleasure” – FringeReview

Age 3+

Tickets: £10. Under 18s £7. Babes in arms admitted free. Latecomers welcome.

Sunjai Arif is an act who can quickly win over any audience with his warm personality and high-energy comedy.

Lose yourself to the irresistibly joyful chaos of a stand-up ‘tour de force’ (★★★★★ Bunbury
Magazine). Expect everything from puppetry to mediumship as Sunjai tackles family, identity, life, death and drugs, with his trademark loveable cheekiness…

Age 14+

“Truly entertaining” – Dorset Echo

Tickets: Pass The Hat

Treat yourself to a deliciously witty and hilarious hour as comedian Andrew White works up latest his star-spangled stand-up show ahead of a national tour in November.

 ‘A plethora of memorable gags… a relevant and witty comedian’ ★★★★ – Chortle
‘Rampantly engaging’ ★★★★ – The List
‘Charisma to burn and an eye for sharp punchlines’ – British Comedy Guide
‘Go see him, he’s sublime’ – Maisie Adam

Age 16+

Tickets: Pass The Hat

The movie of the sellout musical by Andrew Lloyd Weber and Tim Rice, Evita tells the story of Argentina’s controversial First Lady, Eva Perón.

Her huge political influence and constant charity works earned her scorn and fear from the military and upper classes but adoration and love from the workers and descamisados. Evita’s legendary life is displayed before your eyes as the most hated and most beloved woman in Argentina.

Director: Alan Parker

Featuring: Madonna, Antonio Banderas, Jonathan Pryce, Jimmy Nail

Details: USA | Language: English/Spanish | 1996 | 2h 14m

Showings:

22nd July – 2pm Tuesday Matinée

Please note: Our Tuesday Matinées feature subtitles for the hard of hearing and will include an interval.

Tickets: £5

Gillian Anderson (Sex Education), Vanessa Kirby (The Crown), and Ben Foster (Lone Survivor) lead the cast in Tennessee Williams’ timeless masterpiece, returning to cinemas.

As Blanche’s fragile world crumbles, she turns to her sister Stella for solace – but her downward spiral brings her face to face with the brutal, unforgiving Stanley Kowalski.

From visionary director Benedict Andrews, this acclaimed production was filmed live during a sold-out run at the Young Vic Theatre in 2014.

Tickets: £15. Members, Friends and under 18s £12.50.

This is the second joint exhibit by three Dorset artists whose individual work and styles are as complementary as they are contrasting.

Bare Orange Art’s new lino cut printed and painted wall hanging collection continues the ‘Broken Circles’ theme, with local wildlife providing the main inspiration.

Nick Dale Artist specialises in paintings inspired by the rugged beauty and rural charms of South West England, with an eye for vibrant colours and detail.

Fusiology Glass Art brings a collection of unique and colourful fused glass pieces. Plus, a distinctive fusion of silver and fused glass jewellery inspired by pattern and textures.

Open 10am to 4pm daily. Free admission.