Dorset’s touring arts charity, Artsreach, has released details of its special Christmas gift to audiences across the County this winter; a series of performances available to enjoy online in the comfort of your own home, from Christmas classics and comic theatre to a seasonal celebration with a truly Dorset twist!
Catch the festive musical comedy ‘Christmas.Time.’ by Near-ta theatre and acclaimed filmmaker Brett Harvey at anytime over the weekend of the 12-13 December. It’s Christmas Day and Charlie and Toby are serving time at Her Majesty’s pleasure. But why shouldn’t they be having a Merry Christmas in spite of their incarceration? What’s stopping them from creating Christmas around them? And so they set off on their festival of carols, Claus, Christ and custody… Join them on a fantastical adventure through Dickens, pantomime, musicals, Christmas dinner, Christmas films and more!
‘A Christmas Carol’ by David Mynne launches at 8pm on Monday 14 December, and will be available to enjoy online anytime until midnight on Sunday 27 December. Celebrate the festive season with this mesmerising performance of Charles Dickens’ timeless, transformative story ‘A Christmas Carol’, devised, adapted and performed especially for film by veteran Cornish actor and founder member of Kneehigh, David Mynne. Expect Dickens’ original words with added silliness. Silliness? Bah humbug!
Finally, enjoy ‘A Dorset Christmas with The Ridgeway Singers and Band’ – hear the story of how our ancestors celebrated Christmas in this brand new film featuring music, song, story and dance. Artsreach is delighted to have supported The Ridgeway Singers and Band, led by Tim Laycock and Phil Humphries, to capture an alternative festive offering that’s truly inspired by Dorset! With tunes and songs from the Puddletown and Hinton St Mary manuscripts and new carols in the West Gallery tradition, interspersed with readings, archive photographs and other images from across Dorset, plus a special performance of ‘While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night’, expect a heart-warming seasonal celebration of all things Dorset! This brand new film, captured and edited by Pageant Productions, will be available to watch anytime from 4pm on Sunday 20 December until Sunday 3 January.
Artsreach Co-Director Kerry Bartlett said “Whilst 2020 might not have turned out to be the 30th anniversary year we had planned for our charity, the support Artsreach has received from our volunteers and our audiences during these difficult months has been incredible. Obviously we can’t wait to welcome communities back to live events in 2021 but we hope that in the meantime, we can spread some Christmas cheer to our audiences at home through this digital programme.”
E-tickets for all events are available from the Artsreach website, and whilst the events are free to view, donations to Artsreach are welcomed. For further information and to register, visit www.artsreach.co.uk

The Ridgeway Singers
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