The Dorset Theatre Festival - all summer long!
We are back to explore more into the magic that is the Dorset Playhouse and the magnificent Dorset Theatre Festival.
The Dorset Theatre Festival has a rich history that dates back to 1929 when the Dorset Playhouse, the festival's summer home, first opened its doors to local thespians. The Playhouse, an intimate 298-seat theatre, was built from two pre-revolutionary barns and has been a hub for the community ever since.
The festival itself began in 1976 when John Nassivera and Jill Charles, under the name Harlequin, Ltd., rented the Dorset Playhouse for the summer to present a professional season of theatre. Today, the festival is a vibrant cultural resource and an integral part of the community, producing theatre that matters.
From June to September, the Dorset Theatre Festival mounts four main stage productions, drawing from some of the country's most talented playwrights, actors, and directors. The festival has become a “national incubator for new play development,” according the their website, nurturing new plays and playwrights who are innovative, authentic, and bold.
2023 saw four major productions and was host to over 10,000 patrons during the productions. First, last summer was Misery, based on Stephen King’s terrifying novel. In July, to lighten things up a little bit was Still, a “witty, realistic, and revealing World Premiere comedy about how people change... or don't.” August brought the third production that provided fast-paced laughs, Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson – Apt. 2.b., by playwright Kate Hamill. Finally, with only two weeks of production was The Thanksgiving Play, a “groundbreaking satire straight from Broadway with the American origin story in its comedy-crosshairs.” With a line-up like this, one can only wonder if the season will be a sell-out to subscribers alone!
Along with the theatrical productions, Dorset Theatre Festival hosts musical performances – Natalie Merchant performed a sold-out show not too long ago. In addition, there continue to be spin-offs of the festival, engaging new performers and playwrights such as the New Play Reading Series, Young Playwrights Program, an annual writers retreat, and the Women Artists Writing Group.
So, whether you're a theatre enthusiast or simply looking for an intimate night out, the Dorset Theatre Festival is a must-visit.
