Take a literary tour around the globe

Take a literary trip around the world at the Sherborne Travel Writing Festival from April 14 to 16.

Curated by Rory MacLean, the festival begins on Friday 14 with a talk by John Gimlette entitled The Gardens of Mars, an enticing journey to the fantastical landscapes, beguiling creatures and isolated tribes of tropical Madagascar, from 5pm to 6pm.

This will be followed by Sophy Roberts discussing The Lost Pianos of Siberia, an inspirational and heartbreaking illustrated journey across one of the most remote wildernesses in the world, from 7pm to 8pm.

On Saturday 15, Philip Marsden will deliver The Summer Isles, the story of a single-handed sail voyage along the west coasts of Ireland and Scotland, from 11.30am to 12.30pm.

There will be tea with the authors from 12.30pm to 2pm followed by Anthony Sattin discussing Nomads, The Wanderers that Shaped our World from 2pm to 3pm. From 3.30pm to 4.30pm Justin Marozzi will talk about The Arab Conquests and from 5pm to 6pm Sara Wheeler will give a talk called Glowing Still, stories of remarkable travels from pole to pole via Zanzibar. The day will round out with Colin Thubron talking about The Amur River from 7pm to 8pm.

On Sunday, April 16 famed Dorsetbased explorer

John Blashford-Snell, inset, will discuss his book From Utmost East to Utmost West from 11.30am to 12.30pm followed by another tea with the authors event from 12.30pm to 2pm.

Festival curator Rory MacLean will be joined by Demi Anter to talk about Bowie in Berlin from 2pm to 3pm with Fergal Keane rounding out the festival with The Madness: A Memoir of War, Fear and PTSD from 3.30pm to 4.30pm. Tickets are available at sherbornetravelwriting festival.com and from Winstone’s Book Shop.

Dad and son’s double act all set to do battle

Internationally acclaimed Bash Street Theatre combines live music, physical comedy and circus skills to tell a story as old as time in their brand-new show The Battling Butler. Juggling babies, toddlers on stilts and teaching young Joey to ride his first unicycle are all part of everyday life for single dad Joe Butler in this poignant, family love story involving the everchanging relationship of a father-and-son double act. Using a unique blend of physical theatre, circus skills, original songs and live music, The Battling Butlers is a study of role reversal and the inevitability of change, as the old order makes way for the new.

Based in Penzance in Cornwall, Bash Street Theatre has built an international reputation over the last 30 years, performing silent-comedy, street theatre shows throughout the UK, Europe and beyond. Their latest show is a real family affair, performed by father and son Simon Pullum and Loki Pickering, and featuring original live music from multiinstrumentalist and composer Julian Gaskell. This March the company head back to Dorset for three performances with Artsreach, the county’s rural arts charity.

Artsreach assistant director Yvonne Gallimore said: “Bash Street have been touring to Dorset for many years, and audiences fondly remember shows such as The Lion Tamer and The Strongman n Catch The Battling Butlers at Yetminster Jubilee Hall (01935 873546) on Friday, March 24 at 7.30pm and at Child Okeford village hall (01258 861621) on Saturday, March 25 at 7.30pm. The show will also visit Portland Royal Manor Theatre (03336 663366) on Sunday, March 26 at 7.30pm. Further information and tickets are available online at artsreach.co.uk