Lighthouse Poole's Centre for the Arts is the epicenter of cultural excitement this winter, offering a diverse array of events that promise to captivate audiences of all ages. From the beloved tale of 'Paddington in Peru' to the enthralling music of 'BSO: Nutcracker Magic' and the riveting detective fiction of 'Rebus: A Game Called Malice,' there's something for everyone. The rich tapestry of events extends to musical tributes by Martin McAloon and The Overtones, along with captivating performances such as 'FitkinWall: Harpland' and dramatic narratives like 'Gladiator II' and 'Silver Screen: Lee.' Join us for these unforgettable experiences.

A Cultural Odyssey at Lighthouse Poole: From Paddington to Tchaikovsky

Lighthouse Poole's Centre for the Arts in the United Kingdom is set to offer an eclectic range of performances, featuring everything from classical ballet and modern jazz to iconic pop music and theatrical dramas. Spanning from late February to early March 2025, this series of events promises a captivating journey through various artistic forms, with acclaimed performers and innovative productions at the helm.

A Symphony of Arts at Lighthouse Poole: February-March 2025 Events

Lighthouse Poole is set to become a hub of cultural activity with a lineup of diverse events from March 26 to April 2, 2025. Expect an eclectic mix of music, film, and theatrical performances. From classical symphonies inspired by folklore to country music nostalgia, from mountain film adventures to jazz quintets, and operatic dramas to intimate recitals, there's something for every taste. This exciting week at Poole's Centre for the Arts promises to be a memorable celebration of creativity and artistry.

A Week of Culture and Performance at Lighthouse Poole

Lighthouse Poole is set to host a remarkable series of events, showcasing an eclectic mix of music, theater, and cultural performances. From jazz tributes by Tony Kofi to the soulful sounds of Ward Thomas, each event offers a unique experience. Audiences will enjoy the magic of musicals, the intensity of Macbeth, and the vibrant rhythms of African Rhapsodies. Whether you're a fan of classic hits or exploring new artistic horizons, Lighthouse Poole's lineup promises something for everyone, inviting all to be captivated by the arts.

Lighthouse Poole: A Dazzling Array of Artistic Celebrations

Mark your calendars for a diverse array of events at Lighthouse Poole, where an eclectic mix of music, film, and theater come to life starting March 29, 2025. From the soulful rhythm and blues of 'Just My Imagination' to the adrenaline-pumping 'Banff Mountain Film Festival', and the melodious renditions by Harriet, the stage is set for unforgettable experiences. Discover the dramatic operatic performances of 'Turandot' and immerse yourself in Handel's choral masterpiece 'Israel in Egypt'. It's a cultural extravaganza not to be missed.

Experience the Eclectic Artistic Showcase at Lighthouse Poole

Dan also re-formed the legendary Music Hall double act ‘Cosmotheka’ with his father Dave who were huge on the folk scene throughout the 80’s and 90’s until Dan’s uncle, ‘Al’ sadly passed away. Cosmotheka toured the world with Chas and Dave, had several of their own Radio Two programmes and made multiple TV appearances. Dan and father, Dave (one half of the original duo) decided to take the band back out on the road and had great fun headlining Folk Festivals in Bromyard, Whitby, Towersey, Sidmouth, Broadstairs and Upton to name but a few.

Dan Sealey

Lighthouse, Poole's Centre for the Arts 

Featuring storytelling, traditional music, original songs and spellbinding puppetry, this is the perfect show for anyone captivated by myths, magic, music and folklore.

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Tales From The Lighthouse

Lighthouse, Poole's Centre for the Arts

A prized sideman as well as leader, Jim has collaborated with the likes of Gene Harris, Jimmy Smith, Mose Allison, Terry Callier, Teddy Edwards, Johnny Griffin, Frank Wess, Benny Green, Brian Auger, Georgie Fame, Hamish Stuart and Claire Martin, to name but a few. The band he leads this evening features the classic organ trio format, with the fantastic and hugely in-demand ROSS STANLEY on Hammond, and the brilliant TRISTAN MAILLIOT on drums.

Studio Jazz: Jim Mullen Organ Trio

Michael Starring Ben is a hit theatre production starring the UK’s ultimate Michael Jackson tribute star, Ben Bowman. Not only does he look and sound like the King of Pop, but he’s honed his routine so carefully that audiences truly believe they are watching Michael Jackson himself. The show features a live band, dazzling costumes and the performer’s iconic dance routines. It also showcases the greatest hits of Michael Jackson and also of The Jackson 5 including Beat It, Billie Jean, Thriller and Man in the Mirror.

Michael Starring Ben

Whether performing in an intimate venue or a packed stadium, audiences are up on their feet dancing and singing along to the huge success of this tribute to the multi Brit and Grammy Award winning artist.

The Eras Experience – Taylor Swift Tribute

This production of In Other Words has been performed at Theatres including The Arcola, The Traverse, The Tron, York Theatre Royal, CAST Doncaster, Carriageworks Leeds and Everyman Cheltenham. It will be touring to New York for a run Off- Broadway in 2025.

In Other Words

A group of performers are preparing to start their show, but quickly discover they are not alone on stage. Little Monster wants to be part of the fun too! With an invitation to his friends, Dragon, Alien and Unicorn to join him, you can expect comedy and chaos as they help to create a magical show, learning about the joy of books and friendship along the way.

There’s A Monster In Your Show

With a repertoire of unforgettable songs like Meet Me On The Corner, Fog On The Tyne, Lady Eleanor and Run For Home and a reputation for live performance second to none, Lindisfarne’s power to galvanize festival and concert audiences remains undimmed and is guaranteed to get the crowd on their feet and singing along.

Lindisfarne

Experience captivating performance’s that brings the timeless hits and heartfelt stories to life. Enjoy classic hits like “Oh, Pretty Woman,” “Crying,” and “Only the Lonely,” performed with passion and authenticity and relive the magic of the Travelling Wilburys with favourites such as “Handle with Care” and “End of the Line.”

Roy Orbison Story

Those who fail are brutally beheaded. But when an unknown prince arrives, the balance of power in Turandot’s court is forever shaken, as the mysterious stranger does what no other has been able to.

The Royal Opera: Turandot (ENCORE) – Cert TBC

Israel in Egypt is without a doubt Handel’s most spectacular choral showpiece.  Almost certainly the most dramatic choral writing form the 18th century and Biblically epic, from graphic musical depictions of flies, frogs, hailstones, the river Nile turning to blood to the parting of the Red Sea.

Handel: Israel in Egypt

The incredible team involved with The Alice Project have worked with The National Theatre, Bellowhead, Southbank Centre, Kneehigh, BBC and The Bone Ensemble.

The Alice Project

Catriona Bourne is currently studying postgraduate flute performance at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, having been supported during her studies by  a TCL Scholarship, Bibby Award Scholarship, a Michael Hirst Award Scholarship, the Colin Blythe Award  and the Women’s Careers Foundation. She is also a Choral Scholar with the Trinity Laban Chapel Choir at the Old Royal Naval College, in addition to playing harp. While at school Catriona was a UK Finalist in the Rotary Young Musician of the Year Competition, and she performed for Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Alexandra. Catriona read Music at University College, Oxford, where she was a Choral Scholar and Ensemble Isis Scholar. She then attained a PGCE and Master’s in Music Education at Magdalene College, Cambridge, where she received an Instrumental Award from the Faculty of Music and a Lincoln Award and Garrett Award from Magdalene College. Catriona performed as a concerto soloist with Cambridge University Symphony Orchestra in March 2019 and as the flute soloist for a re-working of Saariaho’s flute concerto with Cambridge University New Music Ensemble. More recently, Catriona won the 2022 Harold Clarke Woodwind Competition at Trinity Laban and was a Highly Commended Young Artist at the 2022 Flutes in Tuscany course and concert series in Tereglio, Italy. She was a Finalist in the 2022 Trinity Laban Soloists’ Competition and the 2022 Carne Trust Chamber Competition.

Lunchtime Recital: The Heliconia Duo

The Royal Opera: Turandot – Cert TBC

Due to incredible demand, Harriet has announced more shows on her Trying To Get The Feeling Again Tour, which sees her perform intimate interpretations of her favourite sounds of the 70s, including hits by The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Carole King and The Carpenters, interlaced with her nostalgic original material. This is a unique opportunity to hear Harriet perform songs from the era that inspires her most and share the stories behind her connection to the music. It’s an evening not to be missed!

Harriet

This hugely talented cast of dynamic West End performers bring the music of the Number 1 Group In The History of Rhythm and Blues to the stage with signature hits such as Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone, Ain’t Too Proud to Beg, I Can’t Get Next To You, I Wish It Would Rain and Get Ready.

Just My Imagination

There are two epic film collections, each with a totally different set of films – the 2025 Red Programme (28 March) and the 2025 Blue Programme (29  March). Book before the 30th November to take advantage of our early-bird price of £16.50 per ticket.

Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour 2025 – Blue Film Programme

Alex Clarke won the ‘rising star’ award in the 2019 British Jazz Awards and played in the 2020 BBC `Young Jazz Musician of the Year. Her respect for the tradition of the music can be heard in a melodic and fiercely swinging approach reminiscent of Cannonball Adderley.

Studio Jazz: Alex Clarke-Emily Masser Quintet

There are two epic film collections, each with a totally different set of films – the 2025 Red Programme (28 March) and the 2025 Blue Programme (29  March). Double the adventure and save with the two-show discount!

Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour 2025 – Red Film Programme

Live and Unheard March 2025

After a sombre opening, the overture to Mozart’s most enduring opera skips off in a gleeful, fugal allegro and is notable for the brilliant use of counterpoint and dynamic contrasts. More of a suite than a concerto, Václav Trojan’s Fairy Tales is full of appealing and catchy melodies. The seven short movements each describe a fairy-tale character, such as the sleeping princess, the charming prince and the evil dragon. Thomas de Hartmann’s charming vignettes also delve into the rich heritage of folklore. Having read Dante’s epic poem The Divine Comedy, an episode from the Inferno section fired Tchaikovsky’s imagination: the tale of Francesca, a young woman from Rimini who has been condemned to eternal damnation because of an illicit love affair. After an unsettling introduction, he vividly depicts the driving winds of Hell before the music dies away to a whisper and a pathetic theme on solo clarinet launches Francesca’s tale before building in a long crescendo of passion.

BSO: Fairytales and Folklore

Prepare be taken back through the history of country music featuring songs from Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Shania Twain, Garth Brooks right through to Taylor Swift and Luke Combs.

Country Hits Live

The two fall in love and they profess their devotion to each other at Juliet’s balcony. They secretly get married. The stakes are raised for the young couple when Romeo avenges the death of his friend Mercutio who has been killed by Tybalt, Juliet’s cousin. For this, Romeo is exiled from Verona. Meanwhile, Juliet’s parents are forcing her to marry another suitor.

The Royal Ballet: Romeo and Juliet (ENCORE) – Cert TBC

Don’t miss this joyous and astounding musical reinterpretation. Colourful, vibrant & life affirming, it includes all the hit singles, Diamonds on the Soles of her Shoes, The Boy in the Bubble, Homeless and Graceland’s biggest smash hit, You can call me Al. 

Paul Simon’s ‘Graceland’ reimagined by the London African Gospel Choir

The Guilty Men’s debut album Invisible Confetti is ready to roll. 13 brand new songs recorded in the old-fashioned way: everybody playing live in the studio, intent on catching the moment. Most of the songs were laid down in no more than two or three takes… and with four featured lead vocalists, the album covers a lot of musical bases. Invisible Confetti rocks… with nods to Americana, country, folk, pop, psychedelia… it’s an exhilarating ride from start to finish. All aboard.

The Guilty Men

Led by London’s top comedy compere and award-winning West End burlesque sensations, “Lady Lust” and “Miss Temptation,” and our famous “Tease” group dancers. Combined with cabaret, circus and variety acts from across the UK, set to hit tracks from “Burlesque”, “Chicago” and chart-topping tunes from Cher, Christina Aguilera and many more favourites. “Tease” is a captivating experience that will linger in your memory long after the curtains fall.

Tease

The Collective live shows, and albums, came about after the Levellers decided to do something a bit different with their extensive back catalogue in 2018. Together with members of fellow Brighton group The Moulettes, they went on to record two albums radically reworking their songs – with producer John Leckie (We The Collective) and Sean Lakeman (Together All The Way).

Levellers Collective

Against a backdrop of projections, the cast wield wooden planks, climb shifting walls and move through ropes and swathes of linen to evoke the vast landscapes and interior worlds of Hardy’s Wessex.

Ockham’s Razor: Tess

The Royal Ballet: Romeo and Juliet – Cert TBC

This innovative performance features James Wilton Dance, a European company renowned for its athleticism and grace. Imagine dancers with the fluidity of ballet combined with the dynamism of contemporary dance. Their movements will be set against the backdrop of Canadian cellist Raphael Weinroth Browne’s electrifying performance. Prepare to be surprised! Browne’s cello will transcend the classical realm, creating a powerful and driving soundscape with a heavy metal twist.

Bach Reimagined

The Impressionists are the most popular group in art history – millions flock every year to marvel at their masterpieces. But, to begin with, they were scorned, penniless outsiders. 1874 was the year that changed everything; the first Impressionists, “hungry for independence”, broke the mould by holding their own exhibition outside official channels. Impressionism was born and the art world was changed forever.

Exhibition on Screen: Dawn of Impressionism: Paris 1874 – Cert TBC

Heroes both historical and fictitious as well as superheroes of the Marvel and DC comics are a fertile mine of inspiration for Hollywood and some of the best big screen adventures ever.  With music from the glorious days of Technicolor© to the recent blockbusters of today

BSO: Heroes & Superheroes

She’s released four albums under her own name, including the highly acclaimed ‘Four Stories’ (2014), which broke her on to the national scene, and the latest, ‘Aurora’, inspired by the instrumental compositions of award winning, Grammy nominated U.S trumpeter Tom Harrell.  Zoe says of the latest material: ‘I’ve loved illustrating Tom’s music further with my own lyrics, absorbing his intricate ideas, his serene delivery and portraying it sensitively with my own, awesome musicians, who help bring my words and these compositions to life.”

Studio Jazz: Zoë Gilby Quartet

The time is 1897. Mankind is on the cusp of vast technological change, scientific mastery and media innovation. But poised between traditional beliefs, the threat of the unknown and the shock of the new world, an altogether darker fear is emerging. As a new shadow looms large over England, a small group of young men and women, led by Professor Van Helsing, are plunged into an epic struggle for survival.

Dracula

Writer/director Ed Viney has worked with Chichester Festival Theatre, the National Theatre and the RSC.  He has directed a number of UK tours and most recently co-wrote and directed the “foot-stompingly entertaining” Calf2Cow tour of Sherlock & Watson – A Murder in the Garden.  He is the recipient of the Creative Scotland Four Nations Award for Mamiaith, working with partners in Wales and New England, USA, to create new work for small-scale touring.  Ed is the Festival Director of The Script’s The Thing which last year saw over 70 scripts being presented, linking with venues across Dorset and organisations including BBC Writersroom and National Theatre New Work.

Pot licker

In this most lyrical, poetic and fantastical of his concertos, Beethoven does not abandon Mozartian concerto form but imbues it with a genuinely romantic voice. In a thrilling dialogue between soloist and orchestra, it is ardent and melancholy, heroic and ethereal, anguished and whimsical. Schumann’s Second Symphony was a personal triumph and marked the start of the final phase of his career. It is a reflection not only of his recent health issues but also the feeling of triumph at overcoming the despair that had gripped him for a year. It transports the listener towards redemption in a way that looks back to Beethoven but also predicts the future greats, like Mahler, who were to come. A magnificent energy pervades Brahms’ overture. Opening with two emphatic chordal exclamations its defiant strength is heightened by the return of a poignant little march idea, defining the ‘Tragic’ even more potently than all the muscular thrust before and after it.

BSO: Looking Forward and Back

Part TED Talk, part theatrical performance, Moments demystifies the theatre making process, and creates a thought-provoking piece exploring time, fatherhood and grief. Weaving Katherine Graham, Guillaume Pigé and Alex Judd’s personal stories of becoming parents and reaching midlife with theatrical imagination, they unpick their creative bond, re-evaluate success and make a new show.

Moments & BIRTH

Join Bing and his friends Sula, Pando, Coco, Amma and of course Flop as they get ready to celebrate his special day in the brand-new live stage show, Bing’s Birthday!

Bing’s Birthday

With a repertoire of unforgettable songs like Meet Me On The Corner, Fog On The Tyne, Lady Eleanor and Run For Home and a reputation for live performance second to none, Lindisfarne’s power to galvanize festival and concert audiences remains undimmed and is guaranteed to get the crowd on their feet and singing along.


Mozart’s Sonata K330 is one of these little miracles that only he was capable of, a piece of utter perfection, where the apparent simplicity belies an unfathomable mastery. Beethoven’s Sonata opus 10-3 is a work of immense emotional contrast, between the frankly hilarious last movement, and a slow movement that probes the depth of the human psyche.

Lunchtime Recital: Patrick Hemmerlé Piano

The Symphonic Dances is an exhilarating summary of Rachmaninov’s life’s work – rhythmically animated and truly symphonic, nostalgic and sarcastic. He creates a wondrous kaleidoscope of instrumental colours, from the mellow crooning of an alto saxophone to the dry-bones clatter of a xylophone, and with its incisive dance rhythms inspired by folk and jazz the work finally explodes with visceral energy. More akin to a symphony, Shostakovich’s First Violin Concerto is a real tour de force of a piece, calling on everything in the violinist’s technical arsenal as well as vast physical and emotional stamina. The wide emotional range of its four-movement structure encompasses brooding, elegiac melancholy with savage, mocking sarcasm before it gives itself up totally to a rhythmic energy and brilliance of colour. Sibelius’ gem of a miniature masterpiece, Valse Triste, portrays a dance of death between a woman and the Grim Reaper, and is both haunting and poignant.

BSO: Symphonic Dances

Prince Siegfried chances upon a flock of swans while out hunting. When one of the swans turns into a beautiful woman, Odette, he is enraptured. But she is under a spell that holds her captive, allowing her to regain her human form only at night.

The Royal Ballet: Swan Lake (ENCORE) – Cert TBC

Featuring a dynamic cast of outstanding singers, dazzling choreography and interactive video projection – early booking is advised for what promises to be a high-octane extravaganza for ABBA-lovers everywhere.

Thank ABBA for the Music

Rachmaninov’s Rhapsody, a brilliant showpiece for virtuoso pianist, is probably the most admired of his works. An exercise of both compositional and pianistic prowess, it embodies his late style at its brilliant and witty best and has one of the world’s most irresistible melodies. Moments of Romantic outpourings hurtle towards a typical grandiose conclusion, but at the last moment it wittily becomes a whisper and ends impishly. Although his earlier works had shown flashes of what was to come, the Eroica was Beethoven’s first truly Romantic composition. It opens with two staggering chords that announce to the world the arrival of a new talent, a forceful personality, a man never to be forgotten. From that point on Beethoven was no mere composer – he was a creator of monuments. Strauss’ tone poem is a blend of sonata form and rondo. With Don Juan’s swashbuckling theme and the fountain of semi-quavers that opens the work, it exemplifies his exhilarating orchestral virtuosity.

BSO: Romantic Rhapsody

They formed in London in the year 2000 and had their first hit All Rise in 2001 – a track which still sounds amazing today over 20 years later. Their first appearance came on the Big Breakfast, where as an unknown band they were the ‘family of the week’ appearing on the show from Monday to Friday, and then performed on live TV for the first time that Saturday on CDUK. By the time the track entered the top 10, fans were flocking to see them and Blue fever started!

Blue

Subsequently they’ve expanded their repertoire in all directions and played at many of British Jazz Festivals including Brecon, Swanage, Scarborough, and London. “There is all the musical intelligence you would expect from these four superb jazz musicians, along with a whole lot of heart and joy. There is also an admirably subversive glint in every eye. Damn, do these guys have a good time! (Peter Bacon: the jazz breakfast.com)

Studio Jazz: Chris Batchelor’s Pigfoot

What follows is a madcap medley of impromptu games and spontaneous solutions as the desperate director does his best to keep this faithful production going. But with stage whiskey being swapped, off-the-cuff auditions being held and muffins being eaten (no matter what state they’re in), there’s just no telling what this unique version of The Importance of Being Earnest is going to throw up. Especially when more audience members are drafted in to replace an ever-thinning cast… With the script ripped up and rewritten, can the show reach its fabulous finale, just as Oscar Wilde intended?

…Earnest?

Von Rothbart, arbiter of Odette’s curse, tricks the Prince into declaring his love for the identical Odile and thus breaking his vow to Odette. Doomed to remain a swan forever, Odette has but one way to break the sorcerer’s spell.

The Royal Ballet: Swan Lake – Cert TBC

From the beginning, Brahms’ Third Symphony has proven to be his most evocative. Brahms offers a compelling, highly revealing musical self-portrait, rich with references to his own thoughts about life and love in its striking mixture of passion and pessimism, of restlessness and serenity, With numerous acknowledgments to Wagner and allusions to the same Rhine-based mythology, it provides other fascinations as well. The spirit of Brahms infuses Hough’s Piano Concerto. The title refers to Stefan Zweig’s memoir of his cultural life in Vienna before the First World War and evokes nostalgia for a bygone era when piano concertos were a touring composer-pianist’s calling card. It bridges time, weaving together echoes of the past with virtuosic brilliance. The Variations on an Original Theme is a brilliantly varied portrait gallery of Elgar’s friends, family and neighbours. The musical caricatures contain some of the most charming and deeply felt music Elgar ever penned and these are elaborated upon in this unique performance with Elgar’s descriptions narrated by an actor.

BSO: Notes of Nostalgia

The live music, Irish dancing and banter is infectious and enters the psyche in seconds. The show itself features All Ireland champion musicians and dancers who combine a unique blend of light-hearted audience interaction with fascinating stories about the music and the instruments themselves.

The Irish House Party

At times narrative, and at others abstract, Hidden is a powerful blend of artforms. At the cutting edge of live performance and digital integration, gravity-defying choreography, a pulsing soundscape and a shape-shifting set are drawn together by digital projections into a living film. In this shadowy world, can hidden voices ultimately push through to the light?

Motionhouse: Hidden

The Princesses, Snow White, Belle, Cinderella, Rapunzel and Elsa, are tired of their royal duties, so they decided to come together and make the ultimate pop girl group. Cinderella’s fairy godmother has given her a magic wand so she can give the other princesses a new look and style.

Princess Live!

Join us for an energetic festival of music from the talented and enthusiastic young people of this year’s Salvation Army Territorial Youth Band and Choir.  Come and be inspired by the combined voices of the Choir and the sound of the Band in this concert of predominately Christian music.

Youth Makes Music

Hangover Hill and Lighthouse present three more highly rated acts as they have a rare opportunity to experience a larger stage in our monthly unsigned music night.

Live and Unheard February 2025

Jason Donovan, has delighted audiences worldwide with his versatility as an actor, singer and all round entertainer. He has amassed a rich catalogue of hits, and Doin’ Fine 25 is set to be a sensational culmination of his outstanding achievements to date. Doin’ Fine 25 Tour is a long awaited follow up to Doin’ Fine 90, which fans still talk about to this day! This show promises to be a musical feast of a night of unforgettable tunes, featuring a dynamic selection of Jason’s most beloved songs from stage shows such as ‘Joseph’, ‘Priscilla’, ‘Rocky Horror’ and ‘Grease’  to nods to his TV work like Neighbours and Strictly and of course his biggest pop hits like ‘Especially For You’, “Too Many Broken Hearts’ ‘Any Dream Will Do’ and ‘Sealed with a Kiss’.   Jason said: “I am so excited about this tour.  My performing career has been an incredible ride, and I can’t wait to celebrate it by performing the songs that have been such an important part of my life. It’s going to be a fantastic show, and I look forward to sharing all those special moments with my fans.”

Jason Donovan – Doin’ Fine 25

The Bon Jovi Experience features smash-hits such as Livin’ On a Prayer,’ Always,  It’s My Life,  You Give Love a Bad Name,  Bad Medicine and many more. Our talented musicians and charismatic front man, Tony Pearce, deliver an authentic and high-energy rock ‘n’ roll extravaganza that will have you singing and dancing all night!

The Bon Jovi Experience

Immerse yourself in a phenomenal celebration of Bon Jovi’s timeless classics as the official band to Bon Jovi recreates the magic that defined an era with electrifying energy – transporting you back to the heyday of stadium rock.

With over a decade of experience unravelling scams and posing undercover, Nick shares essential strategies to keep your money safe. He exposes the staggering scale of the scam industry and the urgent need for self-protection, as authorities convicted only 0.1% of fraud cases in Britain last year.

Nick Stapleton

From international arenas to stellar performances on Britain’s and Holland’s Got Talent, starring former cast members from the smash hit show, Starlight Express, the Roller Boys have conquered it all.

The Rollerboys

Communicating with fiery passion Grieg’s Piano Concerto is imbued with a Nordic quality echoing traditional Norwegian dances and instruments. The striking, opening gesture (perhaps one of the most recognisable in all classical music based upon descending seconds and thirds) is but one sign of how Norwegian folk music was making its impact upon his emerging style. It continues with many attractive themes, a thrilling cadenza and much dazzling originality. Sibelius’ First Symphony is significant in that never before had a work of such stature emerged from Northern Europe, unveiling the previously unheard character of Nordic music, sounding both ‘old’ and ‘new’ at the same time. It is clearly a work by a skilled composer who already had a musical voice of his own, and much of the musical personality that makes the later symphonies so distinctive is already visible. Passionate yet reflective, Vasks’ music represents a symbol of hope for his Latvian homeland, conveying the message to never give up on beauty, even when the world is filled with turmoil and violence.

BSO: Northern Lights

Aided by his corvid companion Crowbert and a collection of curious contraptions, Mr West demonstrates the fundamental principles of scientific enquiry and tackles some of the trickiest questions in the history of humanity.

Crafty Fools: Adventures in Science!

Drawing inspiration from the intricate connection between juggling and magic, Heka transports audiences into a mesmerising realm where reality blurs with illusion. Heka transcends boundaries, inviting spectators on a journey where objects materialise and vanish, levitate, and transform before their eyes. Yet, beneath the surface lies a tantalising question: what is real and what is merely a trick of perception?

Heka

Since then, the  event has seen tremendous growth. It has established itself as an internationally recognised event, attracting an ever-increasing number of entries and seeing the very best in terms of drumming talent.  Sponsorship from various high profile companies has meant that the competition has continued to improve, both in terms of popularity and scale of production with many finalists have gone on to be the busiest drummers in the uk.

Zildjian Young Drummer of the Year 2025

Young Drummer of the Year 2025

Valentine’s Day presents the perfect opportunity to take a pause and focus on someone special. Enjoy an a selection of classical music’s most romantic pieces of music ever written, from the worlds of film, opera and ballet. From scores inspired by Shakespeare’s tale of two star-crossed lovers, including Prokofiev’s powerful ballet suite and themes from the Romeo and Juliet films of Franco Zefferelli and Baz Luhrmann, to modern tearjerkers from Miss Saigon and Titanic, the evening is all set for your romantic rendezvous.

BSO: Valentine Classics

For the first time all the hits, attitude and fashion are brought to the stage by this incredibly talented cast of musicians, singers and dancers that will take you on a rollercoaster ride you will never forget Featuring hits originally performed by The Sex Pistols, The Clash, Blondie, The Damned, Ramones, Buzzcocks, Sham 69, The Undertones, Tom Robinson Band, Ian Dury and The Blockheads, The Police, The Jam, Generation X, Siouxsie and The Banshees, The Pretenders, Joy Division, The Stranglers, The Rezillos, and many, many more.

Pretty Vacant

Tommy Smith and Gwilym Simcock collaborate to bring two generations of UK jazz mastery to the stage in world-class performances. Their intimate, intensely musical duets, with a repertoire drawn from many musical avenues, have delighted audiences at events across Scotland and the UK.Tommy Smith, OBE is one of the world’s leading saxophonists .A presence on the global jazz scene since his teenage years, when he toured internationally with vibes virtuoso Gary Burton’s Whiz Kids quintet, Smith has gone on to record with the definitive jazz label, Blue Note and work with myriad jazz greats, including Chick Corea, Jaco Pastorius, Dame Cleo Laine, John Scofield, Randy Brecker, Jack DeJohnette, Arild Andersen, Dizzy Gillespie and Trilok Gurtu to name but a few. Since leaving Berklee College of Music, an experience that shaped his affirmative approach to jazz, he has recorded over thirty solo albums for Blue Note, Linn, ECM and his own Spartacus Record label, toured 50+ countries and performed with many influential figures in modern twentieth-century jazz.

Studio Jazz: Tommy Smith & Gwilym Simcock Duo

Aged just 10, she and her siblings left Trinidad and sailed alone to join their parents. But Floella’s excitement for her new life in England is short-lived, with her family subjected to racism and intolerance in 1960s’ London.

Coming To England

Recording their debut album, 2014’s ‘From Where We Stand’, whilst still in school, the duo have since cemented themselves as pioneers in the UK Country and Americana scene; not least for the follow-up album ‘Cartwheels’ released in 2016 going to No.1 in the UK Album Charts, the first by a UK country act to top the charts.

Ward Thomas

Written in the summer of 1919, the Cello Concerto represented, for Elgar, the angst, despair and disillusionment he felt after the Great War, and an introspective look at death and mortality. It signified Elgar’s farewell to the way of life as he had known it. The music is private and poignant but it still remains a richly lyrical and noble work with the solo cello in full focus with its bold statements and heart-rending themes. Taking the late Romantic ideal of transfiguration, summing up a lifetime of musical experience, and pushing the orchestral genre to its extreme, Tod und Verklärung portrays a dying man who recalls the great loves of his past. It is an emotional cauldron of sheer magnificence. It seems fitting that Beethoven composed his First Symphony at the dawn of a new century.  Despite its homages to the older generation, it is very much a forward-looking work with glimmers of the innovations to come from the great composer.

BSO: Cello Elegy

With songs by Joe Stilgoe (Zog and Zog and The Flying Doctors), The Baddies is a wickedly hilarious adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s smash-hit story. A laugh-out-loud riot for all the family.

The Baddies

A majestic work showcasing a whirlwind of virtuosity, but above all a sublime poetic journey where music is pure emotion. Nottingham based Senegalese composer and kora player Seckou Keita is proud to present African Rhapsodies: an epic project created in collaboration with Italian composer and musician Davide Mantovani This enchanting work for kora and orchestra celebrates Africa’s magical 22-stringed harp and gives it the position of prominence granted for centuries to the violin, piano and flute. It makes us wonder if Bach or Beethoven might have composed for kora had they traveled to Africa in their lifetime. Seckou builds on that notion by way of his own imagination, which is greatly sparked by his lengthy fascination with crossing cultural borders.

BSO: African Rhapsodies

Relive some of the greatest songs of all time from artists such as Donna Summer, Gloria Gaynor, Earth, Wind & Fire, Sister Sledge and Chic.

Lost in Music

A one-man (and one puppet) musical journey through a zombie outbreak, combining live performance, puppetry and animation. Ridiculous, dark, sometimes gruesome, warm, funny and sad.

Do Zombies Dream of Undead Sheep?

After a debut hit tour in 2024, This spectacular 4 piece band is back bigger and better than ever. With beautiful vocal harmonies, and foot-stomping drums they will have you on your feet playing all of Mumford & Sons’ very best hits, including Little Lion Man, I Will Wait, The Cave, Roll Away Your Stone and many more. This is a stomp and holler not to be missed!

The Mumford & Sons Story

With staging ‘full of wolfish imagination and alarming surprise’ (★★★★★ The Guardian), the immersive 5.1 cinema surround sound places the audience inside the minds of the Macbeths, asking are we ever really responsible for our actions?

MACBETH: David Tennant & Cush Jumbo – Cert 12A

Lunchtime Recital: Isabella Gori and Viola Lenzi (piano duo)

Tony Kofi is one of the best and also most in-demand British saxophonists whose previous visits to Lighthouse have been very popular. Tony has played tribute to many of the great names of  jazz – Monk, Cannonball, Coltrane. But this band (which has been playing as a unit since 2015) will be exploring material by John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Hank Mobley, Sam Rivers, Wayne Shorter, Joe Henderson and Dexter Gordon amongst others as they pay homage to some of the giants of the tenor saxophone.

Studio Jazz: Tony Kofi Tenor Legacy

From the streets of New Jersey to the dizzying heights of the West End and Broadway, this incredible music has delighted audiences for over 5 decades, The Best of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons features all your favourite songs including Sherry, My Eyes Adored You, Big Girls Don’t Cry, Can’t Take My Eyes Off You and many more.

Peter Andre in The Best of Frankie Valli

The critically acclaimed Supersize Polyphony programme of choral music on a colossal scale, made Armonico Consort famous across the British Isles. Back with even more daring and adventurous staging in 20 – 40, and even 60 different voice parts, we will once again sing 360 degrees around the audience, totally immersing them in their sound.

Spem in Alium / Supersize polyphony 2

Stravinsky’s great ballet has gone through a fascinating series of metamorphoses since first conceived as a concert piece, inspired by the immensely popular puppet plays of 19th century Russia. The score is one of his most brilliant achievements, bursting with the energy and inventiveness of youth. From the opening bar it positively dazzles with its colour and energy, often so gestural that even in a concert performance, the images of the dancers are vividly conjured up. The Chamber Symphony Op.110a is in fact a transcription for string orchestra by erstwhile BSO Principal Conductor, Rudolf Barshai, of the String Quartet No.8. Whilst visiting a still decimated Dresden in 1960, Shostakovich wrote it in just three days dedicating it to “victims of fascism and war”. It is a gripping portrayal of the brutality of conflict – jagged, dynamic rhythms in the central sections are contrasted by elegiac outer movements that never fail to move the senses. Mozart’s first fully mature piano concerto with its technical demands and depth of expression, is alone among his early concertos.

BSO: Petrushka

Journeying back to his school days, Hoffmann relives his childhood romance with Olympia, a model student in every sense. Doomed love follows him into adulthood, where the dancer, Antonia, is taken from him too soon. Meanwhile, the sensual courtesan Giulietta has her own secret agenda. As memory and fantasy becomes increasingly blurred, will Hoffmann find the enigmatic Stella before it is too late?

The Royal Opera: The Tales of Hoffman (ENCORE) – Cert TBC

Join Bournemouth Symphony Chorus in a singing workshop followed by an informal run through of songs from some of the greatest Broadway shows including Guys and Dolls, Jesus Christ Superstar and Rodgers and Hammerstein.

Big Sing 2025: Broadway Melodies

Our main speaker will be the daughter of Holocaust survivor, Yehuda Bacon. He was born in Czechoslovakia and in 1942 his family were deported to Terezin. In 1943 he was deported to Auschwitz. He was eventually liberated from Gunskirchen. As soon as he was released, he drew small sketches of the gas chambers and crematoria which were used as testimony in Eichmann’s trial in 1961.

Holocaust Memorial Day 2025

Forest Holme Hospice Charity presents Strictly Extravaganza 2025! Join their gala dinner and evening of entertainment raising money for a good cause. Who will claim the 2025 title and win the glitter ball trophy?

Strictly Extravaganza 2025

The festive charms of The Nutcracker will captivate audiences of all ages. When Clara is gifted a Nutcracker doll who magically comes to life, an enchanting adventure unfolds; a dramatic battle with the Mouse King ensues, and dancing snowflakes fill the stage.

The Nutcracker

A triple Grand Slam winner, World Cup finalist and England’s longest-serving captain will talk leadership, skill and camaraderie. Unafraid to speak his mind, Carling famously described the Rugby Football Union executives as “57 old farts”. So what was it like leading his country from the age of 22 for an astonishing 59 games? How did he prepare his team for facing Jonah Lomu? Was Jerry Guscott the greatest centre he played with or against? Did it mean more to him playing for England or the British and Irish Lions? How did the amateur years compare to the professional era?

An Evening with Will Carling

A graduate of Birmingham and Trinity Laban Conservatoires, Daniel is the ‘go-to’ bassist for A-list jazz stars including Nubya Garcia, Binker Golding, Camilla George and many others. Jazz FM’s 2021 ‘Instrumentalist of the Year’, Daniel’s ‘Boxed In’ then picked up the best Parliamentary Jazz Album gong in 2022, whilst new album, Balance, has also been creating major waves. In the interim, Dan has been headlining Ronnie Scott’s with his Big Band, which reads like a who’s who of the new London jazz scene, including Nubya, Cassie Kinoshi and many others.

Daniel Casimir

Red Riding Hood is tasked with delivering bread to her Grandmother, deep in the heart of the fairy-tale forest. But en route, Red meets a cunning Wolf who tricks her into taking a different path. Along the way, Red stumbles into a colourful cast of characters, including a scary witch, a talking cat and a rather persuasive Peddler.

Screen on Stage: Royal Opera House – Wolf Witch Giant Fairy (Cert TBC)

Hailing from South Wales this energetic 5 piece are made up of Shane Callaghan (lead vocals/guitar), Callum Bromage (guitar/ vocals), Jay Evans on (bass/vocals), Will Scott (drums) and Sam Curtis (keyboards). As a live band they ensure that you will see one of the best shows around. Their hooky, instantly relatable music has been featured as a Planet Rock Track of The Week, on ITV, BBC Radio 2 Johnnie Walker Show and Sky Sports to name a few. The stunning debut album was recorded at the highly renowned Real World Studios and produced by Grammy Award winning Oli Jacobs, (Peter Gabriel, The 1975).

Live and Unheard: Legends 2025

Music includes all of Strauss’ greats such as the Fledermaus Overture, Thunder and Lightning Polka, The Emperor Waltz, Radetzky March and, of course, The Blue Danube!

BSO: New Year’s Day Viennese Gala

Experience the warmth and joy of Christmas with a concert devoted to the best traditional carols ever written. Join in the singing with the Bournemouth Symphony Chorus and Youth Chorus. Favourites include O Come All Ye Faithful, Good King Wenceslas, O Little Town of Bethlehem, The First Nowell, God Rest You Merry Gentlemen and Hark the Herald Angels Sing. With a selection of Christmas music the evening is the perfect way to start the Christmas holiday in the company of family and friends, with a good-old sing-along.

BSO: Celebration of Christmas Carols

Carols by Candlelight has become a firm tradition of Armonico Consort’s festive programme over the past 22 years and is the most highly anticipated concert of the year. The Armonico Consort singers sublime choral arrangements of traditional favourites and newly discovered works will really get us in the Christmas spirit.

Carols By Candlelight

Julia Trevelyan Oman’s period designs bring festive charm to Peter Wright’s beloved Royal Ballet production, as fairy tale magic comes together with spectacular dancing in this unforgettable classic ballet.

The Royal Ballet: The Nutcracker – Cert TBC

Christmas just isn’t Christmas without the BSO’s Last Night of the Christmas Proms concert! This year we are thrilled to welcome the talents of pianist and singer extraordinaire, Joe Stilgoe, who will be showcasing his musical talents with a hamper full of Christmas musical goodies alongside all your favourite orchestral treats.

BSO: Last Night of the Christmas Proms

Giovanni, the Italian maestro of dance, takes centre stage in ‘The Last Dance’, a mesmerising production that transcends the boundaries of live performance.

Giovanni Pernice

Live and Unheard April 2025

The concert includes everyone’s favourite West End and Broadway classics, Les Misérables, We Will Rock You, Dirty Dancing, Hairspray, West Side Story, and the toe-tapping Jersey Boys. Relive all your favourite productions in one epic evening.

Lighthouse Poole

22 - 23 Apr, 2025

Giovanni Pernice

Apr 24, 2025

Live and Unheard April 2025

Apr 24, 2025

Dreamcoat Stars

Apr 25, 2025

What Dreams May Come

Apr 25, 2025

The Magic of the Beatle

Apr 19, 2025

Dan Sealey

Apr 15, 2025

Tales From The Lighthouse

Articles & News

Lighthouse Poole