Dorset, Somerset &amp; Bristol


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



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1125" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/01/00-BillBailey_2024_1000x1000_c896407c3501be7a55d7939b47b5b662_Fotor.jpg" alt="Bill Bailey" class="wp-image-91854" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/01/00-BillBailey_2024_1000x1000_c896407c3501be7a55d7939b47b5b662_Fotor.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/01/00-BillBailey_2024_1000x1000_c896407c3501be7a55d7939b47b5b662_Fotor-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/01/00-BillBailey_2024_1000x1000_c896407c3501be7a55d7939b47b5b662_Fotor-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/01/00-BillBailey_2024_1000x1000_c896407c3501be7a55d7939b47b5b662_Fotor-400x300.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/01/00-BillBailey_2024_1000x1000_c896407c3501be7a55d7939b47b5b662_Fotor-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/01/00-BillBailey_2024_1000x1000_c896407c3501be7a55d7939b47b5b662_Fotor-700x525.jpg 700w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Bill Bailey</figcaption></figure>



<p>Join quirky genius <strong><a href="https://www.bic.co.uk/events/bill-bailey-2024#dates-and-times" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bill Bailey</a> </strong>on a magical, musical mystery tour of the human mind in show <em>Thoughtifier</em> at the Bournemouth International Centre on Tues 2 Feb. <strong>Janey Godley</strong> is Not Dead Yet; she&#8217;s bringing her emotive and amusing show to the<a href="https://redgravetheatre.com/event/2024/02/janey-godley-the-not-dead-yet-tour/1720/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Redgrave Theatre Bristol</a> on Sat 10 Feb and <a href="https://www.tauntonbrewhouse.co.uk/events/janey-godley-the-not-dead-yet-tour/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Taunton Brewhouse</a> on Thurs 15 Feb. Stream of conscious freewheeling stand up from <strong><a href="https://www.lighthousepoole.co.uk/event/ross-noble/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ross Noble</a></strong> at the Lighthouse Poole on Thurs 15 Feb. The former medic, bestselling author, TV writer and performer <a href="https://www.theatreroyal.org.uk/events/adam-kay-undoctored/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Adam Kay</strong></a> will have you in stitches with his new, best-selling show <em>Undoctored</em> at the Theatre Royal Bath on Sun 18 Feb. Europe’s biggest celebration of silent and classic screen comedy, the <a href="https://slapstick.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Slapstick Festival</strong></a>, runs from Weds 14 to Sun 18 Feb with over 30 events. </p>



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



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1125" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/01/00-RickAstley_2024_1000x750_aee4702879816b32a29ee13de41febd5_Fotor_Fotor.jpg" alt="rick astley" class="wp-image-91874" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/01/00-RickAstley_2024_1000x750_aee4702879816b32a29ee13de41febd5_Fotor_Fotor.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/01/00-RickAstley_2024_1000x750_aee4702879816b32a29ee13de41febd5_Fotor_Fotor-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/01/00-RickAstley_2024_1000x750_aee4702879816b32a29ee13de41febd5_Fotor_Fotor-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/01/00-RickAstley_2024_1000x750_aee4702879816b32a29ee13de41febd5_Fotor_Fotor-400x300.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/01/00-RickAstley_2024_1000x750_aee4702879816b32a29ee13de41febd5_Fotor_Fotor-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/01/00-RickAstley_2024_1000x750_aee4702879816b32a29ee13de41febd5_Fotor_Fotor-700x525.jpg 700w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Rick Astley</figcaption></figure>



<p id="block-b0628443-904e-46d0-9c12-e23aa062a5f7">Soak up the music of Johann Sebastian Bach and his contemporaries at mii music festival<strong> <a href="https://bathbachfest.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bachfest</a></strong><a href="https://bathbachfest.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">,</a> with concerts at St Mary’s Bathwick, Guildhall and Bath Abbey from Thurs 15 – Sat 17 Feb. Catch new arrangements of classic YES material for band and vocalists, and the epic <em>Journey to the Centre of the Earth</em> in<strong> <a href="https://bristolbeacon.org/whats-on/rick-wakeman-return-of-the-caped-crusader/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rick Wakeman:</a></strong><a href="https://bristolbeacon.org/whats-on/rick-wakeman-return-of-the-caped-crusader/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Return of the Caped Crusader</a> at the Bristol Beacon on Weds 28 Feb. The Peter Pan of Pop (move over Cliff) <a href="https://www.bic.co.uk/events/rick-astley-2024" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Rick Astley</strong>,</a> is at the Bournemouth International Centre on Thurs 29 Feb with his ninth studio album <em>Are We There Yet?</em></p>



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



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1206" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/01/00-Blue-Beard-pictured-Katy-Owen-Photo-by-Steve-Tanner_Fotor.jpg" alt="Blue Beard, Katy Owen . Photo by Steve Tanner" class="wp-image-92749" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/01/00-Blue-Beard-pictured-Katy-Owen-Photo-by-Steve-Tanner_Fotor.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/01/00-Blue-Beard-pictured-Katy-Owen-Photo-by-Steve-Tanner_Fotor-800x643.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/01/00-Blue-Beard-pictured-Katy-Owen-Photo-by-Steve-Tanner_Fotor-1000x804.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/01/00-Blue-Beard-pictured-Katy-Owen-Photo-by-Steve-Tanner_Fotor-400x322.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/01/00-Blue-Beard-pictured-Katy-Owen-Photo-by-Steve-Tanner_Fotor-768x617.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Blue Beard. Photo by Steve Tanner.</figcaption></figure>



<p>A tyrannical magician meets his match in <a href="https://www.theatreroyal.org.uk/events/blue-beard/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Blue Beard</a>, an exhilarating, beguiling – disturbing – new work by innovative director <strong>Emma Rice</strong> at the Theatre Royal from Fri 2 – Sat 10 Feb (soon to be reviewed by Muddy; watch this space). Fingers on buzzers, your <a href="https://bristololdvic.org.uk/whats-on/starter-for-ten" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Starter for Ten</a> at the Bristol Old Vic from Thu 29 Feb – Sat 30 March is an 80s coming-of-age musical about a student who dreams of appearing on <em>University Challenge</em> starring <strong>Mel Giedroyc.</strong> All 236 episodes of the hit show,&nbsp;<em>Friends</em>, are retold through the eyes of Gunther in <strong>Brendan Murphy</strong>&#8216;s one-man show, <a href="https://www.lighthousepoole.co.uk/event/friend-the-one-with-gunther/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Friend (The One With Gunther</a>, at Lighthouse Poole on Sat 17 Feb.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="block-95635b6c-f011-422b-948c-e7e27923e9c9">DANCE</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1007" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/01/00-Diversity-Supernova_Fotor.jpg" alt="Diversity Supernova" class="wp-image-92757" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/01/00-Diversity-Supernova_Fotor.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/01/00-Diversity-Supernova_Fotor-800x537.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/01/00-Diversity-Supernova_Fotor-1000x671.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/01/00-Diversity-Supernova_Fotor-400x269.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/01/00-Diversity-Supernova_Fotor-768x516.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Diversity, Supernova</figcaption></figure>



<p id="block-cb9e2253-d199-4bdf-9f45-af462931655f">Ballet superstars Matthew Ball and Alina Cojocaru defy gravity in Kim Brandstrup’s mythological double bill <em>Minotaur</em> and <em>Apuleius</em> in <a href="https://www.theatreroyal.org.uk/events/metamorphoses/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Metamorphoses</a> at the Ustinov Studio in Bath until Sat 10 Feb. <strong>Tap Factory</strong>&nbsp;– eight men, high-energy dance, explosive percussion and jaw-dropping acrobatics – are at the <a href="https://www.lighthousepoole.co.uk/event/tap-factory/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lighthouse Poole</a> on Weds 14 Feb. <strong>Ockham&#8217;s Razor</strong> tell Thomas Hardy’s novel <em>Tess of the D’Urbervilles</em> through acrobatic dance, physical theatre and circus in <a href="https://www.lighthousepoole.co.uk/event/tess/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tess</a> at Lighthouse Poole, Wed 21 Feb. Britain’s most-successful dance group, <strong>Diversity</strong>, are on tour with <em>Supernova</em> at the <a href="https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/diversity/bristol-hippodrome/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bristol Hippodrome</a> from Tues 27 Feb – Fri 1 March. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="block-0d039a6d-0fe4-432d-98ea-2e2516423fd8">ART</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1125" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/01/000-5_LAUTREC-Troupe-de-Melle-Eglantine_Fotor.jpg" alt="toulouse lautrec" class="wp-image-91859" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/01/000-5_LAUTREC-Troupe-de-Melle-Eglantine_Fotor.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/01/000-5_LAUTREC-Troupe-de-Melle-Eglantine_Fotor-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/01/000-5_LAUTREC-Troupe-de-Melle-Eglantine_Fotor-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/01/000-5_LAUTREC-Troupe-de-Melle-Eglantine_Fotor-400x300.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/01/000-5_LAUTREC-Troupe-de-Melle-Eglantine_Fotor-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/01/000-5_LAUTREC-Troupe-de-Melle-Eglantine_Fotor-700x525.jpg 700w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo © Musée d&#8217;Ixelles-Bruxelles / Courtesy of Institut für Kulturaustausch, Tübingen</figcaption></figure>



<p id="block-331c1754-a026-447e-b750-47d7d50dc1cb">Relive your childhood (or your parents&#8217;) with rare books, original artwork and artefacts from Ladybird’s golden years, at <a href="https://www.victoriagal.org.uk/event/wonderful-world-ladybird-book-artists" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Wonderful World of the Ladybird Book Artists</a> at Victoria Art Gallery in Bath until Sun 14 April. At the same gallery, Toulouse-Lautrec’s collection of posters evoking turn-of-the-century Parisian nightlife are exhibited together for the first time ever in <a href="https://www.victoriagal.org.uk/event/toulouse-lautrec-and-masters-montmartre" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Toulouse-Lautrec and the Masters of Montmartre,</a> on until Sun 29 Sept. Over in Bruton, in Hauser &amp; Wirth Somerset&#8217;s latest exhibition, <a href="https://www.hauserwirth.com/hauser-wirth-exhibitions/present-tense/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Present Tense</a>, 23 contemporary artists respond to the current cultural climate of the UK (hmm, should be interesting) until Sun 28 April. On tour from the Hayward Gallery, <a href="https://www.lighthousepoole.co.uk/event/georgia-okeeffe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Georgia O’Keeffe: Memories of Drawings</a>, 21 photogravures of drawings produced when she was establishing herself as a major figure in American Modernism is on at Lighthouse Poole until Sat 24 Feb.</p>



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



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="750" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/01/00-the-egg-feel-me_Fotor.jpg" alt="the egg feel-me" class="wp-image-92760" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/01/00-the-egg-feel-me_Fotor.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/01/00-the-egg-feel-me_Fotor-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/01/00-the-egg-feel-me_Fotor-400x300.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/01/00-the-egg-feel-me_Fotor-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Feel Me</figcaption></figure>



<p>We&#8217;ll be putting together a half term guide but in the meantime, take a look at The egg, Bath&#8217;s dedicated children&#8217;s theatre. They always have brilliant shows for kids of all ages (and a great little café).  Two have caught our eye this month. <a href="https://www.theatreroyal.org.uk/events/breathe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Breathe</a>, a journey through a busy forest – from the perspective of an acorn – with puppets and music, suitable for 5 years+ is from Sun 11 – Tues 13 Feb. Interactive show <a href="https://www.theatreroyal.org.uk/events/feel-me/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Feel me,</a> asks  children 13 years+ who and what they care about in the digital age, as stories unfold live on stage; Tues 20 – Weds 21 Feb.  </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="block-d1a78e2d-0867-4f3e-8909-6ed226032d37">WHAT ELSE?</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="749" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/01/00-Evanescent-Bristol-Light-Festival_Fotor-1000x749.jpg" alt="
Evanescent at the Bristol Light Festival
" class="wp-image-92753" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/01/00-Evanescent-Bristol-Light-Festival_Fotor-1000x749.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/01/00-Evanescent-Bristol-Light-Festival_Fotor-800x599.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/01/00-Evanescent-Bristol-Light-Festival_Fotor-400x300.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/01/00-Evanescent-Bristol-Light-Festival_Fotor-768x575.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/01/00-Evanescent-Bristol-Light-Festival_Fotor.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Evanescent at the Bristol Light Festival</figcaption></figure>



<p>Eat your way around Exmoor&#8217;s best restaurants and pubs on the cheap during the <a href="https://exmoorfoodfest.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Exmoor Food Fest</a>, running until the end of the month. Immerse yourselves in inflatable bubbles, see astronauts floating in a flower galaxy and have a go on illuminated swings during the <a href="https://bristollightfestival.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bristol Light Festival</a>, from Fri 2 – Sun 11 Feb. Watch other, braver, people do scary things in the great outdoors at the <a href="https://www.banff-uk.com/england" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Banff Film Festival World Tour 2024,</a> with screenings in Bath, Wimborne, Poole, Christchurch and Bristol from Fri 13 Feb. Wellbeing festival <a href="https://www.welcometobath.co.uk/rebalance-bath-festival-of-wellbeing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rebalance Bath</a>, continues around the city until Sun 18 Feb, with an eclectic range of events, including dating tips from relationship expert <a href="https://komediabath.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873642474" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Paul C. Brunson</a> (<em>Married at First Sight UK</em> &amp; <em>Celebs Go Dating</em>) at Komedia Bath on Weds 7 Feb.</p>


FOMO free February: What’s On near you

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