Entertainment & arts
The latest entertainment and arts news, including coverage of the Mowlem, the Swanage Drama Company and the music, film and arts festivals in Swanage and Purbeck.
The seabed laid bare in Wild Seas exhibition at Durlston Castle In an attempt to reveal the mystery of what lies under the sea along our Jurassic coastline, a new exhibition has just opened. 
The Mowlem – despite Covid, the show must go on! Swanage’s independent theatre and cinema, The Mowlem has revealed details of its festive programme scheduled for the run up to Christmas. 
Swanage loses one of its nearest multiplexes as Poole Cineworld closes Film fans in Swanage will have to look elsewhere to catch the latest releases as the town loses one of its nearest multiplexes with the temporary closure of Poole’s Cineworld. 
Albert Memorial gets planning permission to be re-erected in Prince Albert Gardens After fifty years of neglect, the obelisk that was erected in Swanage to commemorate the life of Prince Albert has been given permission to be rebuilt. 
Bringing live music back to Swanage, the Legion hosts first gig since lockdown The Royal British Legion in Swanage takes its first step back into regular live music, with a night of uplifting rhythm and blues with Hugh Budden and Andy Stone. 
After six months of lockdown, Mowlem to reopen its doors! After coronavirus forced it to close, The Mowlem theatre in Swanage is to finally reopen with a cinema screening of Matthew Bourne’s ballet, The Red Shoes. 
Purbeck lockdown art goes on exhibition The Isle of Purbeck Arts Club members are revealing what they got up to during lockdown in an exhibition - SEE ORIGINAL ART OF LOCAL SCENES 
Special celebrations for Purbeck Coast 101.2 FM The community radio station for Swanage and the surrounding area, Purbeck Coast 101.2 FM is marking its first birthday with a special week of broadcasting. 
‘That’s the way to do it’ – Punch and Judy returns to Swanage! Refusing to be beaten by a global pandemic, Professor Joe Burns is as pleased as Punch to be back with a socially distanced show We’ve all got the blues as another Swanage festival is cancelled With the Swanage Blues Festival not until October 2020, there was still a glimmer of hope it may go ahead but now it too has been scuppered. 
“Absolutely gutted” says Swanage Carnival team Swanage Carnival should have been in full swing this week but despite the cancellation due to coronavirus, the committee are still hoping to raise a smile. 
Durlston art exhibition gets last minute go ahead With most events cancelled, it's a small miracle that Swanage-based artist Tony Kerins' exhibition has opened at Durlston Castle. 
Swanage art gallery bucks high street trend While many shops are struggling in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, Purbeck New Wave Gallery opens today in bigger and better premises in the High Street. 
Santa gives creative boost to Swanage school kids Funding including a donation from Rotary's Santa sleigh fundraiser, means 150 art goody bags are going to Swanage pupils to get them creative over summer. 
Swanage Town Crier wins world’s first virtual town crier competition! Despite stiff international competition, Swanage Town Crier, Andrew Fleming has become the first ever virtual town crier world champion. 
Swanage Library to partially reopen with a ‘bag of books’ system Library users will be able to get their hands on real books from Swanage Library as part of a phased reopening. 
The Purbeck Gazette keeps going, despite cash crisis A collapse in advertising revenue means The Purbeck Gazette isn’t currently being printed but the June edition is out online from today. 
Defying studio closure, Purbeck Coast FM stays on air Despite government guidelines forcing the community radio station to close its studio on Swanage Pier, it’s managed to continue to broadcast throughout the pandemic crisis. 
Further blow to Swanage, as Carnival is cancelled With a "heavy heart" organisers say Swanage’s biggest annual event, that brings in over a million pounds into the town, won't go ahead. 
Painted pebble mania sweeps Swanage Swanage Bay is famous for its beautiful sandy beach but now pebbles have started to pop up everywhere! 
2020 season announcement by Swanage Rep Theatre Company The Swanage Rep Theatre Company says that regretfully, this year's performances are to be postponed. 
Latest Durlston art exhibition opens to visitors, but not as planned … ‘A Dorset Wanderland’ hasn’t been cancelled but instead it’s been moved online, to be viewed from an appropriate social distance! 
Catch it, archive it, catalogue it – Capture Dorset’s history in the making People in Swanage and across the county, are being sought to keep a diary about the impact of coronavirus on their community. The Mowlem to close “until further notice” Due to the Government’s coronavirus advice that people should avoid theatres, the Mowlem in Swanage has announced that it's closing from Thursday. Blues Festival kicks off at the Legion The Swanage Blues Festival got off to a rip-roaring start on Thursday with a brilliant evening of entertainment. 
Big Blues party swings into town The 33rd Swanage Blues Festival gets underway this Thursday, with music fans filling the pubs and venues across the town. Renovation of the Mowlem under consideration, as new board members appointed Three new trustees have been appointed to the Mowlem board and a major renovation project is currently under consideration. 
Corfe Castle featured in new Harry Rednapp documentary Harry Rednapp appears on ITV television in a documentary that features him taking part in an archery contest at Corfe Castle. 
Foot stomping success for The Swanage School’s production of Fame The musical, Fame, performed by a cast from The Swanage School, played to packed audiences at the Mowlem. 
Jazz festival headline acts revealed with bigger vision for 2020 The Swanage Jazz Festival is going to be a three day affair in 2020, boosted by the success of last year’s event. 
Opening fanfare for Swanage Bandstand restoration The Swanage Bandstand opening ceremony goes ahead, despite the rain, following a two and a half year restoration programme. Swanage Carnival 2019 gives more than £28,000 to charity A record number of visitors to the 2019 Swanage Carnival meant £28,000 has been donated to 26 good causes.