Dorset, Somerset &amp; Bristol

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-theatre">THEATRE</h2>



A man goes to jail for a crime he didn’t commit in the stage adaptation of Stephen King&#8217;s novella <a href="https://www.theatreroyal.org.uk/events/the-shawshank-redemption/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Shawshank Redemption</a> at Theatre Royal Bath, Mon 2 – Sun 7 Feb. The show stars Joe McFadden (Holby City, Heartbeat) as Andy Dufresne, Ben Onwukwe (RSC, London’s Burning) as Ellis ‘Red’ Redding and Bill Ward (Corrie) as prison governor Stammas. Felicity Kendal stars in Tom Stoppard&#8217;s <a href="https://www.theatreroyal.org.uk/events/indian-ink/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Indian Ink</a>, satirising the self-importance of both academia and the ruling classes, at Theatre Royal Bath, Tues 10 – Sat 14 Feb.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/12/00-The-Woman-in-Black-2025-production-photos.-Photo-by-Mark-Douet-0X2A1475-ITAG01898.jpg" alt="The Woman in Black 2025 Theatre Royal Bath. Photo by Mark Douet" class="wp-image-114339" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/12/00-The-Woman-in-Black-2025-production-photos.-Photo-by-Mark-Douet-0X2A1475-ITAG01898.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/12/00-The-Woman-in-Black-2025-production-photos.-Photo-by-Mark-Douet-0X2A1475-ITAG01898-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/12/00-The-Woman-in-Black-2025-production-photos.-Photo-by-Mark-Douet-0X2A1475-ITAG01898-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/12/00-The-Woman-in-Black-2025-production-photos.-Photo-by-Mark-Douet-0X2A1475-ITAG01898-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/12/00-The-Woman-in-Black-2025-production-photos.-Photo-by-Mark-Douet-0X2A1475-ITAG01898-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Woman in Black Photo Mark Douet .</figcaption></figure>



<a href="https://www.lighthousepoole.co.uk/event/the-woman-in-black/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Woman in Black,</a> one of the longest running shows in the West End comes to scare the pants off us here in the West Country, at Lighthouse Poole, Tue 17 – Sat 21 Feb.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-comedy">COMEDY</h2>



There are over 30 classic, silent and visual comedy films, talks and shows in the <a href="https://slapstick.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Slapstick Festival</a>, around Bristol, Weds 4 – Sun 8 Feb. <a href="https://amy-mason.com/upcoming-gigs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Amy Mason: Behold!</a> , one of the best reviewed shows of 2026 according to British Comedy Guide takes a surprising, somewhat filthy, dive into connection, intimacy, and other stuff, is at Bristol Old Vic, Mon 23 Feb. The ubiquitous Sue (Bake-Off, Taskmaster, Just A Minute, the list goes on) shares unlikely happenings from her career in her first live show in a decade in <a href="https://www.sueperkinslive.co.uk/#tour" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Eternal Shame of Sue Perkins</a>, at Bath Forum, Sat 28 Feb. He&#8217;s sold out in Bath but there are still a few tickets left to catch Russell Howard&#8217;s brand new show <a href="https://www.bic.co.uk/events/russell-howard-2026" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Don&#8217;t Tell the Algorithm</a>, at the Bournemouth International Centre, Bournemouth, Sat 28 Feb.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-kids-amp-family">KIDS &amp; FAMILY</h2>



Watch our for our February Half Term guide but in the meantime, here are some shows and events to keep you going. It&#8217;s <a href="https://weareweymouth.co.uk/dino-week-feb-2026/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dino Week</a> from Sat 14 – Sat 21 Feb down in Weymouth, with life-size animatronic dinosaurs roaming the town and an Everybody Chase the Dinosaur beach run on Sat 14 Feb, kids&#8217; crafts, a dino trail and Dino Tales – Jurassic Rescue show at the Pavilion throughout the week. Create a miniature safari park at Longleat during <a href="https://www.longleat.co.uk/events/lego-brick-week" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LEGO® Brick Week</a>, Sat 14 – Sun 22 Feb. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="844" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/01/Mark-Thompsons-Spectacular-Science-Show-1920x1080-1.jpg" alt="Mark Thompson's Spectacular Science Show " class="wp-image-115774" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/01/Mark-Thompsons-Spectacular-Science-Show-1920x1080-1.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/01/Mark-Thompsons-Spectacular-Science-Show-1920x1080-1-800x450.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/01/Mark-Thompsons-Spectacular-Science-Show-1920x1080-1-1000x563.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/01/Mark-Thompsons-Spectacular-Science-Show-1920x1080-1-400x225.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/01/Mark-Thompsons-Spectacular-Science-Show-1920x1080-1-768x432.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Mark Thompson&#8217;s Spectacular Science Show </figcaption></figure>



TV astronomer and science author Mark does stuff with exploding elephant’s toothpaste, vortex-generating dustbins and howling jelly babies in <a href="https://www.tauntonbrewhouse.co.uk/events/mark-thompsons-spectacular-science-show/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mark Thompson&#8217;s Spectacular Science Show</a> to Taunton Brewhouse, Sat 21 Feb. Whizz down the open-air all-weather slope at the Mendip Activity Centre in Churchill to a soundtrack of disco classics and modern pop, every day until Sun 22 Feb, from 3.30pm until closing time – <a href="https://mendip.me/book/disco-toboggan/?utm_source=muddystilettos&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=disco-tobogganing&amp;utm_content=" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">book here</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-music">MUSIC</h2>



It’s an all-star line-up of Senegalese musicians, as the <a href="https://www.lighthousepoole.co.uk/event/seckou-keita-homeland-band/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Seckou Keita Homeland Band</a> play Lighthouse Poole, Fri 6 Feb. Secku Keita has made 15 critically acclaimed albums and has won a clutch of prestigious awards, including numerous BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. Classical pianist Imogen Cooper plays Bach, Beethoven and Schubert Impromptus at Cedar Halls in Wells on Thur 12 Feb as part of the <a href="https://cedarshallwells.co.uk/maestro/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Maestro</a> series. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/02/BETH-ORTON_2022-766-Edit-5.jpg" alt="Beth Orton" class="wp-image-115794" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/02/BETH-ORTON_2022-766-Edit-5.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/02/BETH-ORTON_2022-766-Edit-5-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/02/BETH-ORTON_2022-766-Edit-5-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/02/BETH-ORTON_2022-766-Edit-5-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/02/BETH-ORTON_2022-766-Edit-5-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Beth Orton</figcaption></figure>



More manz than boyz, Keith Duffy (Boyzone) and Brian McFadden (Westlife) &nbsp;–&nbsp;now <a href="https://bathforum.co.uk/whats-on/boyzlife-8gps" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Boyzlife</a> – sing the two bandz hits at Bath Forum, Sat 14 Feb. Renowned for her poetic lyricism and genre-blending style, <a href="https://komediabath.co.uk/events/128631772-beth-orton-special-guest-sam-amidon-2026-02-15-19-30-00/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Beth Orton</a>, the BRIT Award-winning, Mercury-nominated singer-songwriter does her stuff at Komedia Bath with guest Sam Amidon, Sun 15 Feb. Oh My God, in <a href="https://www.bic.co.uk/events/kaiser-chiefs-2026" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kaiser Chiefs: More Employment,</a> band celebrate the debut album that catapulted them into the music world’s stratosphere, Bournemouth International Centre, Thurs 26 Feb.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-markets-amp-fairs">MARKETS &amp; FAIRS</h2>



First Sunday of the month? It’s time to browse the designer-makers, vintage, food and drink at the February edition of the <a href="https://www.theclevedonsundaymarket.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Clevedon Sunday Market</a> on Sun 1 Feb. <a href="https://kilvercourt.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kilver Court &amp; Gardens</a> in Shepton Mallet are hosting their very first <a href="https://kilvercourt.co.uk/collections/events/products/vintage-fair" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Vintage Fair</a>, with vintage, pre-loved fashion and homewares in the ballroom and light lunches, cakes and drinks in their very lovely café – plus the Toast clothing outlet, Mulberry and lifestyle and homeware stores – Fri 27 &amp; Sat 28 Feb, 10am – 4pm, free entry. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-art-amp-culture">ART &amp; CULTURE</h2>



<a href="https://www.wellscathedral.org.uk/whats-on?event=102652787" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">A Celebration of Demonstration</a>, a photographic exhibition about the Black Lives Matter demos in London and Somerset opens at Wells Cathedral from Tues 3 Feb – 1 March. See how historic glass and found objects inspire the work and artistic process of one of the UK’s most acclaimed contemporary artists in <a href="https://no1royalcrescent.org.uk/events/current-exhibition/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Handle with Care: Cornelia Parker &amp; Historic Glass</a>, No. 1 Royal Crescent, the beautifully restored town-house museum and gallery (and the very first house built on the Royal Crescent). Sat 7 Feb – Sun 10 May. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/01/I-Refuse-to-be-Silent-Credit-Wayne-Campbell.jpg-1000x667.jpg" alt="I Refuse to be Silent - Credit Wayne Campbell.jpg" class="wp-image-115783" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/01/I-Refuse-to-be-Silent-Credit-Wayne-Campbell.jpg-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/01/I-Refuse-to-be-Silent-Credit-Wayne-Campbell.jpg-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/01/I-Refuse-to-be-Silent-Credit-Wayne-Campbell.jpg-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/01/I-Refuse-to-be-Silent-Credit-Wayne-Campbell.jpg-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/01/I-Refuse-to-be-Silent-Credit-Wayne-Campbell.jpg.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">I Refuse to be Silent. Photo: Wayne Campbell. A Celebration of Demonstration</figcaption></figure>



The new exhibition at Hauser &amp; Wirth in Bruton, <a href="https://www.hauserwirth.com/hauser-wirth-exhibitions/don-mccullin-90/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Don McCullin. 90</a>, includes works featured in the photographer’s 2019 Tate Britain exhibition in London, alongside seminal images across his prolific seven-decade career. More McCullin required? Sat 14 Feb – Sun 12 April. Hop over to <a href="https://holburne.org/events/don-mccullin-broken-beauty/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Broken Beauty</a>, for his images of Roman sculptures from around the world at the Holburne Museum, until Mon 4 May. 



Bristol will be all lit up with illuminated artworks – from installations in Cabot Circus car park to a gigantic sleeping cat on Cascade steps – during the <a href="https://bristollightfestival.org/bristol-light-festival-2026/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bristol Light Festival</a>, Thurs 19 – Sat 28 Feb. <a href="https://arnolfini.org.uk/whatson/mouniraalsolh/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mounira&nbsp;Al Solh:&nbsp;A land as big as her skin,</a> at the Arnolfini, Bristol, Sat 28 Feb – Sun 24 May, is a multidisciplinary exhibition of the Lebanese artist’s work including her critically acclaimed Venice Biennale pavilion installation A Dance with her Myth from 2024, taking visitors on a journey through Middle Eastern mythology to contemporary times. Somerset-based artist Fiona Campbell has been shortlisted for The John Ruskin Prize, one of UK’s most respected cross-disciplinary art award; you can see her pop up solo show <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DUC4akMjsTb/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tethered Lines; Matter Becoming</a> at No.6 Bruton, Fri 27 Feb – Sun 8 March.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dance">DANCE</h2>



Rendez-Vous Dance recreates the legendary 1930s Parisian nightclub in <a href="https://www.westlandsyeovil.co.uk/whats-on/dance/the-monocle-from-rendez-vous-dance/10252#title" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Monocle</a>, at Westlands Yeovil, Tues 2 Feb. Eight blokes deliver an electrifying show with dance, acrobatics, music and comedy in <a href="https://weymouthpavilion.com/shows/tap-factory-2/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tap Factory</a>, Weymouth Pavilion, Tues 17 Feb. Argentine Tango King and Strictly legend Vincent Simone brings a touch of Buenos Aires to Taunton in <a href="https://www.tauntonbrewhouse.co.uk/events/vincent-simone-tango-passions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Vincent Simone: Tango Passions</a>, Taunton Brewhouse, Mon 23 Feb.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-else">WHAT ELSE?</h2>



Eat your way around <a href="https://exmoorfoodfest.com/restaurants/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Exmoor’s best restaurants and pubs</a> on the cheap during the <a href="https://exmoorfoodfest.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Exmoor Food Fest</a>, running throughout February. Bet you&nbsp;– and your dog&nbsp;– will have a brilliant day out at Wincanton Racecourse on <a href="https://www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/wincanton/events-tickets/kingwell-hurdle-day/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bet MGM Kingwell Hurdle Day</a> on Sat 14 Feb. Not only is it one of the racecourse&#8217;s biggest fixtures of the year but it&#8217;s a doggie day out too, with dog shows, classes, races and all kinds of pet-related stalls.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="928" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/01/grill-4709068_1280.jpg" alt="grilled fish" class="wp-image-105192" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/01/grill-4709068_1280.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/01/grill-4709068_1280-800x495.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/01/grill-4709068_1280-1000x619.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/01/grill-4709068_1280-400x247.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/01/grill-4709068_1280-768x475.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image by Stavros Kallis from Pixabay</figcaption></figure>



Iconic beauty spot The Blue Pool near Wareham – a nature reserve with a lake that really is blue, as light reflects off miniscule clay particles suspended in the water&nbsp;– turns every colour under the moon in <a href="https://bluepooltearooms.co.uk/illuminate/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Illuminate </a>from Fridays to Sundays until Sun 8 Feb; every day from Fri 13 – Sun 22 Feb.<a href="https://www.welcometobath.co.uk/rebalance-bath-2025/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> ReBalance Bath</a>, a three-week festival of feelgood activities to enhance mental and physical wellbeing, with uplifting events – a third of them are free – and offers at some of the city’s top hotels and spas. Until Mon 16 Feb.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-"></h2>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-in-the-mood-for-more">IN THE MOOD FOR MORE?</h2>



<ul>
<li><a href="https://dorsetsomerset.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/arts-culture-things-to-do/must-see-shows-music-comedy-art-dorset-somerset-amp-bristol-spring-2026/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The must-see shows, music, comedy and art in Dorset, Somerset &amp; Bristol this spring</a></li>



<li><a href="https://dorsetsomerset.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/snowdrops-dorset-somerset/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Great Snowdrop Gardens Trail of Somerset and other snowdrop stunners in Dorset</a></li>



<li><a href="https://dorsetsomerset.muddystilettos.co.uk/wellbeing/health-wellbeing-creative-retreats-events-somerset-dorset-amp-bristol-spring-2026/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Health, wellbeing and creative retreats and events in Somerset, Dorset &amp; Bristol this spring</a></li>
</ul>

Fabulous February: What’s on locally this month

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