Culture

Artefacts highlighting the plight of refugees around the world to this day will go on display at Dorchester’s Shire Hall Museum. The Grade-I listed museum is the final venue of the British Museum’s UK-wide Spotlight Loan Crossings tour, featuring the Lampedusa cross. Made in 2013 from the remnants of a boat carrying refugees wrecked near the Italian island of Lampedusa, close to the coast of Tunisia, the Lampedusa Cross carries ‘poignant messages about kindness, community and the indifference faced by many refugees’. Alongside the cross will be a display of twelve tiny boats from Syrian-born Issam Kourbajʼs series Dark Water, Burning World, made from repurposed bicycle mudguards tightly packed with burnt matches to represent the fragile vessels used by refugees to make their perilous voyages across the Mediterranean. British Museum curator Jill Cook said: “The Lampedusa Cross reminds us of all the histories that are lost and of the thousands of people who are not otherwise remembered. The wood with its paint blistered by the sun and smelling of salt, sea, and suffering embodies a crisis of our times, as well as hope. “The cross invites discussion of the varied reactions to one of the great tragedies of our time. It is an artefact shaped by tragedy that symbolises those who have nothing and desperately seek to share in a better future. As such, it is touchingly complemented by Issam Koubraj’s little boats.” Shire Hall Museum director Nina Corey said: “Throughout history, people have set out on journeys across our world. “Some are made by choice, others in hope and there are also journeys people have been forced to make. In this exhibition, we’re taking a closer look at the stories behind those journeys. “Inspired by the incredible objects loaned to us by the British Museum, we wanted to explore our local history and the stories of people who travelled through or from Dorset. We were interested not just in the journeys that people made but the reasons and motivation behind them.”

Tales of hope and tragedy with crossings of refugees

POIGNANT: Issam Kourbaj’s Dark Water, Burning World from 2016 and, below, The Lampedusa Cross by Francesco Tuccio and, right, Dorchester’s Shire Hall

When Sony Awardwinning broadcaster David Bramwell’s partner left him for someone she described as ‘younger, but more mature’, he knew he had a thing or two to learn about life. Taking a year off from his work with BBC Radio 3 and 4, David journeyed through Europe and America seeking out extraordinary communities that could teach him how to be a more sharing, loving person. David will deliver his story – The Number 9 Bus to Utopia – at The Gaggle of Geese in Buckland Newton on Sunday, December 11 at 6.30pm as part of the Artsreach programme and the National Inn Crowd project. David’s emotionallydriven quest led him to spiritual retreats, or ashrams, in the heart of Copenhagen; to Findhorn, a Scottish spiritual retreat favoured by Ruby Wax; a paradisal community in California dreamt up by Aldous Huxley, and an entire eco-city being built in the Arizona desert. Most impressive of all was Damanhur, a 1,000strong community in the Alps which, over 23 years, secretly built an underground temple the size of St Paul’s Cathedral, plus a village of tree houses and a tour of Europe with an orchestra of singing plants – all will be explained during David’s performance. Along the way David’s quest raised issues that beset many of us: Why is there so much unhappiness amongst those with wealth and relative freedom? Is getting what you want really utopia? Could alternative communities teach us a better way to be in both our relationships and our modern cities? Inspired by his adventures David returned home with a desire to change not just himself but also his neighbourhood and city. Find out how he succeeded in his humorous and uplifting show, featuring photographs from his trip, that asks some big questions, and finds the answers surprisingly simple… David Bramwell’s monologues, The Number 9 Bus to Utopia, The Cult of Water and The Haunted Moustache, have all been turned into BBC radio programmes and books. David has appeared on BBC Radio’s Saturday Live, The Museum of Curiosity and The Chris Evans Radio Show, but is genuinely at his happiest performing at the back of a pub. Full details for David’s show are available online at artsreach.co.uk Contact The Gaggle of Geese on 01300 345249 to book tickets.

TICKETS PLEASE: David Bramwell and his latest book, The Number 9 Bus to Utopia Broadcaster’s on the bus to Utopia

Full house and standing ovation for Scouse opera

Blood Brothers, The Lighthouse, Poole REVIEW by Diana Holman There was an atmosphere of excited anticipation at the Lighthouse on the opening night of Blood Brothers, Willy Russell’s musical that has been described as a Liverpudlian folk opera. Every seat in the theatre was filled as the curtains opened on the dramatic scene of the tragic death of the Johnstone twins, which is a haunting premonition of the story’s final ending. Niki Colwell Evans was a wonderful Mrs Johnstone, taking her from a bubbly teenager who loved dancing and looked a bit like Marilyn Monroe through the austere years of the 1950s that turned her into a povertytrapped single mum struggling to feed her three growing children and pregnant with twin boys – her husband’s parting gift before he left. The affluent and scheming Mrs Lyons, desperate to adopt one of the twins was well played by Paula Tappenden. The atmosphere of foreboding that lurks behind the fun and laughter throughout the performance was skilfully created by the narrator, Richard Munday whose dark figure moved stealthily through every scene. Twins Mickey (Josh Capper) and Eddie (Jay Worley) were amazing as they moved from little boys playing cowboys and Indians to young men from different worlds who had retained their instinctive twins’ bond. It was a fantastic performance by the whole cast and creative team, richly deserving its standing ovation and numerous curtain calls.

SHERBORNE GUITAR TUITION 01935 389655 ahiahel@live.com

GETTING ARTY: Linda Ashe has been working with pupils from several schools in the Dorchester area Art group back to make its mark in Poundbury show

Following Art in Poundbury’s very successful first exhibition this summer, the group is returning to Poundbury’s Jubilee Hall with a new exhibition, just in time for Christmas. The new exhibition, Making Our Mark, from December 3-11, will be a visually enticing display of work from all ages, amateur to professional. This time, Art In Poundbury (AiP) has partnered with Artwey and will showcase a far broader range of work from 145 artists – with painting and photography on the walls as before, but also more artisan 3D work –everything from glass etching to silverwork, wood to driftwood, and textiles to wool sculptures. An exciting programme of Meet the Artist sessions is planned, where each day you’ll get to meet 2D or 3D artists and talk about how they work. And visitors can get arty and make an origami heart to hang on the exhibition’s handmade Christmas tree. Getting creative with some of our younger and much older artists in the run-up, is conceptual artist Linda Ashe, who’s creating a large community installation for the exhibition. She’s been working with Damers First School, The Prince of Wales School and Melrose Court retirement community, who’ve been busy making a huge number of paper and raffia baubles for the display. As well as all the fabulous art, prints and cards to see and buy, AiP is also fundraising for the local Food Share, which is supporting many local families. There will be a prize draw of three works of art, framed and ready to go, plus a chance to bid in a silent auction, to have your portrait or a pet portrait created by a local artist. This exhibition is a real team effort, from all the AiP volunteers and community stewards to the local businesses who have been fabulous. Exhibition lead Judy Tate said: “Putting on a professionally curated exhibition of this size is a big challenge, even second time around! And it wouldn’t be possible without a fantastic band of local volunteers and businesses. So, a big thank you to you all for your energy and enthusiasm.” n Making Our Mark at Jubilee Hall, Queen Mother Square, Poundbury, DT1 3BW runs from Saturday, December 3 –Sunday, December 111 between 10am and 4pm. And until 8pm on Wednesday, December 7 with a free glass of wine. Free entry for more details visit artinpoundbury.co.uk

The Perfect Gift for all Lovers of Dorset

DOWNSTREAM DORSET,

River Tales and Local History by Mary van Coller

282 pages full of snippets, facts, place names and colour photographs Available for £19.95 +p&p online at www.downstreamdorset.co.uk www.countrybooks.biz Supporting the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance service Published by Spiral Publishing Ltd & Country Books