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33 Salisbury International Arts Festival “This year’s Salisbury International Arts Festival is designed to warm spirits, lighten hearts and inspire us all to lift our heads above the challenges of the current moment. Outstanding artists of stage and screen will be joined by local voices, bringing communities together in a spirit of hope and optimism. The opening weekend will see Gorilla Circus’ daring aerial performers tower over the Market Square in free performances of Unity . Nearby, in Guildhall Square, Dark fi eld invite audiences to take Flight in an immersive 40ft shipping container resembling an Airbus 320. Salisbury’s Rack Close will see the welcome return of The Lord Chamberlain’s Men, performing Twelfth Night with an all-male cast. Extending beyond the city, A Beautiful Thread promises a unique celebration of Thomas Hardy at Stonehenge. Anton Lesser and Lucia Bonbright join Orchestra of the Swan to bring Hardy’s words to life in a glorious blend of music and spoken word in front of the iconic Stone Circle. Dance, opera, music and spoken word take centre stage at Salisbury Playhouse. Highlights include solo dance work Songs of the Bulbul by Aakash Odedra and Swansea City Opera’s uplifting Shoulder to Shoulder inspired by stories from the Men’s Shed. Leading vocalist Jacqui Dankworth, author Joanne Harris, and actress Hermione Norris are just a few of the names taking the stage during the festival. This year also marks the fi ftieth anniversary of the transformation of St Edmund’s Church into Salisbury Arts Centre. There will be plenty of opportunities to celebrate with a free Evensong and a Family Fiesta where everyone is invited to join the party.” 24 May – 8 June: Various locations in SALISBURY, Wiltshire. wiltshirecreative.co.uk . Performance STEPHEN BAILEY + JOEY PAGE + GRAEME COLLARD 11 May Lighthouse, 21 Kingland Road, POOLE, BH15 1UG. 8pm. 01202 280000 / lighthousepoole.co.uk . Comedy. ‘SHEILA’S ISLAND’ 14 – 16 May Corn Exchange, High East Street, DORCHESTER, DT1 1HF. 7.30pm. £15 / £13. 01305 266926 / dorchesterarts.org.uk . ‘SEVEN DRUNKEN NIGHTS’ 15 May Lighthouse, 21 Kingland Road, POOLE, BH15 1UG. 7.30pm. 01202 280000 / lighthousepoole.co.uk . “Spectacular tale celebrating The Dubliners, Ireland’s favourite musical sons, in authentic style.” LUKE WRIGHT: ‘JOY’ 15 May Lighthouse, 21 Kingland Road, POOLE, BH15 1UG. 8pm. 01202 280000 / lighthousepoole.co.uk . “Come let a little joy into your life with a raconteur and wordsmith at the top of his game.” Sha f tesbur y Conclave (12A) Film Society 16 May @ 8pm £7.50 / £6.50 / £5.50 Karren Burkett and G M Jones Gallery, 21 - 27 May 10am - 4pm each day Anora (18) Hilltop Cinema: 7 May @ 7.30pm, 11 May @ 5pm £7.50 / £6.50 11 - 13 Bell Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 8AR Peter Ursem ‘New Press New Art’ Gallery, 18 - 24 June 10am - 4pm each day 01747 854321 • shaftesburyartscentre.org.uk Lyrical Strings Violin and guitar music 25 June @ 1pm £12 / £10 Ar t s Cent re ‘FLIGHT’ RICHARD HERRING: ‘CAN I HAVE MY BALL BACK?’ 16 May Salisbury Arts Centre, Bedwin Street, SALISBURY, SP1 3UT. 7.30pm. £23.50. 01722 320333 / wiltshirecreative.co.uk . “Richard talks bollocks and severed gonads in his much-anticipated return to stand-up comedy.” ‘THE PLAY’S THE THING’ 16 May Lighthouse, 21 Kingland Road, POOLE, BH15 1UG. 8pm. 01202 280000 / lighthousepoole.co.uk . “A one person Hamlet.”