Events round-up: August highlights

WIMBORNE ART CLUB SUMMER EXHIBITION

Until August 4

Wimborne Art Club welcomes all visitors to its 40th Anniversary Summer Exhibition of original paintings, browsers and cards. The exhibition, at Church House in High Street, Wimborne, is open daily from 10am to 4.30pm until Saturday, August 4.

W: wimborneartclub.org.uk

RINGWOOD SUMMER OF MUSIC

August 4

The Furlong shopping centre in Ringwood is hosting a Summer of Music in conjunction with the Acoustic Connection, with free live entertainment in its courtyard area featuring fresh new music talent from the local area.

Visitors can enjoy music from Kez Hinton, Lee Rasdall-Dove, Innercity Smugglers and Wild Ash Hill on August 4 between 11am and 3pm.

Funds raised from voluntary contributions will be given to Julia's House children's hospice.

W: thefurlong.co.uk/whats-on/ringwood-summer-music

ROMEO & JULIET RSC

August 7, tickets £14.75

What if your first true love was someone you’d been told to hate? Ripped apart by the bitter divisions of their parents, two young people will risk everything to be together.

The most famous story of love at first sight explodes with intense passion and an irresistible desire for change. Will this spark a revolution or will division continue to tear through generations?

Romeo and Juliet will be broadcast from RSC in an encore performance at Lighthouse, Poole at 1.30pm on August 7.

T: 01202 280000 W: lighthousepoole.co.uk

SWING UNLIMITED BIG BAND

August 11, tickets from £10.50

Founded over a decade ago, Swing Unlimited Big Band have built a reputation as the South of England's premier big band, with music ranging from Glenn Miller and the American song book through to disco, funk and rap.

This year's Music from the Movies has the theme of Magic and Fantasy. Expect music from Harry Potter, Disney, Lord of the Rings and classic songs from legendary artists such as Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and many more.

T: 01202 499199 W: regentcentre.co.uk

THE PROCLAIMERS

August 11, tickets £34.25

It has been 31 years since Scottish twins Craig and Charlie Reid aka The Proclaimers emerged. Since then, their enduring appeal across generations has carved a niche for themselves where pop, folk, new wave and punk collide as the emotional honesty, political fire, wit and sing-along raucousness of their songs and their extensive touring has enlightened and entertained fans throughout the world. They have even inspired a musical, the play and film Sunshine on Leith, which had its fourth UK run this year.

August sees The Proclaimers add to their magnificent songbook with the release of their 11th studio album and another UK tour, with a date at Bournemouth's Pavilion Theatre on August 11.

T: 0844 576 3000 W: bic.co.uk

THE LUNA CINEMA

August 15-16

Open air cinema company The Luna Cinema will be paying a visit to Lulworth Castle this month as part of its summer season, with outdoor screenings of Moulin Rouge on August 14 and Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone on August 16, both at 8.30pm.

Audiences are welcome to bring along picnics, however, all events will have hot food for sale and a full bar on site, in partnership with headline bar sponsors, Estrella Damm. Premium tickets are available at all screenings, which include a branded director’s chair in prime position in the arena, fast track access and a complimentary drink at the Luna Bar.

W: thelunacinema.com

RENA GARDINER

Until August 18

A new exhibition of prints and books by Dorset Artist Rena Gardiner is on show at the Priest's House Museum and Garden in Wimborne until August 18. Rena was an artist, printer and publisher who hand crafted and produced a range of illustrated guides to towns and villages, religious buildings and historic houses. At the height of her career she received commissions from the National Trust, abbeys and cathedrals.

This exhibition of 15 of Rena’s prints and paintings is drawn from two private collections. They are displayed alongside a selection of her self published guide books and examples of two of her sketchbooks from her travels.

T: 01202 882533 W: priest-house.co.uk

EVITA

August 21-25, tickets from £16

Following its smash hit runs in London Bill Kenwright’s production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s, Evita, is thrilling audiences once again across the UK, with dates at Bournemouth's Pavilion Theatre from August 21 to 25.

Telling the story of Eva Peron, wife of former Argentine dictator Juan Peron, Evita follows Eva’s journey from humble beginnings through to extraordinary wealth, power and iconic status which ultimately lead her to be heralded as the ‘spiritual leader of the nation’ by the Argentine people.

T: 0844 576 3000 W: bic.co.uk

MAMMA MIA SPECTACULAR

August 25, tickets from £25

The Regent Centre in Christchurch celebrates the release of Mamma Mia 2: Here We Go Again with a movie and music extravaganza over the Bank Holiday Weekend. ABBA's Angels tribute act will be meeting and greeting guests as they arrive, before taking to the stage for a singalong of ABBA's favourite hits. This will be followed by a screening of the eagerly anticipated sequel to Mamma Mia, starring Amanda Seyfried, Meryl Streep, Julie Walters, Colin Firth, Pierce Brosnan, Cher and Stellen Skarsgård.

Guests, who are encouraged to arrive in their best '70s gear, can enjoy complimentary drinks courtesy of Conker Gin, glitter ball candy floss by Cloud Candy Floss and white chocolate truffles from Coco Confectionary, as well as pre-show entertainment from Urban Health and Fitness.

VIP upgrade packages are on offer for £15 extra per person, including exclusive use of the Circle Bar, two further complimentary drinks, popcorn and additional snacks as well as a DVD of the original 2008 film.

T: 01202 499199 W: regentcentre.co.uk

BEST OF WHAM!

August 31, tickets from £22.50

Re-live the music of George, Andrew, Pepsi and Shirlie with the Best of WHAM! at Wimborne's Tivoli Theatre on August 31. One of te most enduring pop groups of the 1980s, WHAM! sold more than 28million records in just four years, topping the charts with three albums, four number one singles and 11 top ten hits.

The Best of WHAM! Show includes all those hits, a few B-side favourites and a couple of early George Michael bonus songs. This fun-loving, vibrant, megamix tribute to the pop sensation of the 80s will be loved by ‘Young Guns’ of all ages, so come along to the ‘Club Tropicana’ (*Sorry. Drinks not free.)

T: 01202 885566 W: tivoliwimborne.co.uk

SELFIE WALL TRAIL

Until September 2

Ambassadeur Art gallery has joined forces with Bournemouth and Poole Tourism and a variety of artists to create a series of 11 murals throughout the town to make fun, vibrant and colourful backdrops for people's photos.

The Selfie Wall Trail stretches from Sandbanks to Southbourne taking in Branksome Chine, Alum Chine, Bournemouth Pier, Pier Approach, Boscombe Beach and Fisherman's Walk and can be followed on foot, by bike or aboard the land trains on certain parts of the route until September 2.

Designs include a kaleidoscopic heart of butterflies, The Owl and The Pussy Cat, hungry sharks, giant ice creams, cuddly toys in pop colours and sky rockets.

W: bournemouth.co.uk/ideas-and-inspiration/selfiewalltrail